10/03/2026
💡 WHAT IS SCIATICA?
Think of the sciatic nerve as a major highway for electrical signals traveling from your brain to your leg and foot. When that highway gets compressed or irritated (often by a herniated disc, spinal narrowing, or muscle tension), it sends "distress signals" in the form of pain.
🚫 KEY SYMPTOMS (The Sciatica Checklist)
Sciatica symptoms can vary from person to person, but here are the most common indicators:
Radiating Pain: The hallmark symptom. It’s typically a deep ache, burn, or electric shock feeling that travels from your lower back, through the buttock, and down the back of the leg (rarely both legs).
Increased Pain with Sitting: Sitting for long periods, bending, or even twisting often makes the pain worse.
Muscle Weakness: You might notice your leg or foot feeling "heavy" or weak. In severe cases, this can lead to "foot drop," where you have difficulty lifting the front of your foot.
Numbness & Tingling: Many people describe a "pins and needles" sensation, loss of feeling, or a consistent electric-shock feel in the leg or foot.
Lower Back Pain: While leg pain is usually more severe, it’s often accompanied by pain in the lumbar (lower) spine.
