The sciatic nerve is the longest and largest single nerve in our body. It originates from the base of the spine of either side and runs all the way down to your foot, passing through the glutes along the way. Its main role is to give power to the muscles of leg and foot.
Sciatica is any pain that an individual experiences via a compression or irritation to this nerve, same consequence as someone stepping on a hose!
Some common causes of sciatic nerve compression steaming from the back and glutes include:
1. Spinal disc bulges or herniations - these can often push directly on the spine
2. Lumbar spine stenosis - narrowing of the holes where to nerve exits the spine, commonly due to arthritis
3. Piriformis Syndrome - when the sciatic nerve gets compression by the piriformis muscle, a real pain in the a**!!!
4. Degenerative disc disease - when your discs begin to lose their height and shrink
5. Spondylolisthesis - this is when your have a vertebra that has moved forward or backwards
Any questions let me know in the comments and I'm happy to help !
Angelo Campanella