Sciatica is pain caused by general compression and/or irritation of one of five nerve roots that are branches of the sciatic nerve. The pain is felt in the lower back, buttock, and/or various parts of the leg and foot. In addition to pain, there may be numbness, muscular weakness, and difficulty in moving or controlling the leg. Typically, the symptoms are only felt on one side of the body.

• Age: Age related changes in the spine are the mostcommon causes of sciatica. Yoy are likely to have some deterioration in the disks in ypur back by the time you are 30, and the most people who develop herniated disks are in their 30s and 40s.
• Occupation: A job that requires you to twist your back, carry heavy loads or drive a motor vehicle for long periods make you more prone to develop sciatica.
• Physical activity: Although walking or jogging has been associated with an increase risk of sciatica, exercise in general has not. In fact people who sit for prolonged periods or have a sedentary lifestyle are more likely to develop sciatica than active people are.
• Genetic factors: Sometimes genetic factors also may cause sciatica.
• Diabetes: This condition, which affects the way your body uses blood sugar, increases your risk of nerve damages.

• Pain in the rear or leg that is worse when sitting.
• Burning or tingling down the leg.
• Weakness, numbness or difficulty moving the leg or foot.
• A constant pain on one side of the rear.
• A shooting pain that makes it difficult to stand up.

• Avoid lifting things heavier than 10 pounds when you have a painful sore back. And if you do lift, make sure that your knees are bent and you lift with your arms.
• Rest in bed for a day two when the pain is severe. Lie down on the firm mattress on your unaffected side with the affected side held straight and with several pillows under the knee to support it.
• Apply ice pack to the sore buttocks for 15 minutes several times a day.
• Provide some relief to the affected buttock by applying the heating pad, having a shower or hot bath.

• If your job puts you at risk to back pain, exercise regularly.
• Strengthen your abdominal and back muscles through exercise, so you can maintain a healthy back.