Common causes of sciatica include:

Slipped or herniated disk Spinal stenosis Piriformis syndrome (a pain disorder involving the narrow muscle in the buttocks) Pelvic injury or fracture Tumors Spondylolisthesis

Sciatica pain can vary widely. It may feel like a mild tingling, dull ache, or burning sensation. In some cases, the pain is severe enough to make a person unable to move.

The pain most often occurs on one side. Some people have sharp pain in one part of the leg or hip and numbness in other parts. The pain or numbness may also be felt on the back of the calf or on the sole of the foot. The affected leg may feel weak. Sometimes, your foot gets caught on the ground when walking.

The pain may start slowly. It may get worse: After standing or sitting During certain times of the day, such as at night When sneezing, coughing, or laughing, especially if caused by a herniated disk When bending backward or walking more than a few yards or meters, especially if caused by spinal stenosis When strain