What causes sciatica and how do you treat it?

Sciatica is one of the most common back-related complaints, and doctors say it can cause pain that radiates from the lower back all the way down the leg.

Dr. Lacy Anderson says that the condition occurs when a bulging disc or bone spur in the lower back compresses the sciatic nerve. This pressure can cause pain in the buttocks that goes down the back of the thigh, into the leg and sometimes into the small toe.

Dr. Anderson says that it may not hurt all the time, but you might feel severe pain if you move the wrong way, like lightning traveling down your leg.

How is sciatica treated?

Sciatica is a form of nerve pain that does not respond well to narcotic pain medications. Instead, doctors recommend anti-inflammatory drugs, nerve pain medications like gabapentin or pregabalin and sometim