Symptoms
Pain that begins in the lower spine (lower back) and runs down your butt and the back of your foot is a sure sign of sciatica. You may feel discomfort anywhere covering the nerve, and the most common feeling is pain from the lower back and buttocks to the back of the thigh and leg.
The types of pain vary and may range from a dull ache, a burning sensation, and severe or terrible pain. Sometimes you feel it as a shock or an electric wave. It gets worse when you cough or sneeze, and prolonged sitting causes its symptoms. Often only one side of your body is affected.
Some people may feel numbness and muscle weakness in the affected leg or foot. You may feel pain in one part of your leg and numbness in another.