Sciatica: Fast facts

Sciatica describes pain, weakness, tingling, or numbness that you may feel  in your back, your buttock, your leg, or your foot.

The sciatic nerve is the  largest nerve in the body.

It is formed by the nerve roots coming out  of the spinal cord into the lower back.

The nerve runs down through the buttock, and then its branches extend down the  back of the leg to the ankle and foot.

Sciatica can happen when there is pressure  or irritation on a part of the nerve or its nerve roots.

This may be caused by a herniated disc.