The sciatic nerves are the largest and longest nerves in the body. They exit your lower spine and group together in the pelvis, then split off into two branches, with a branch running down the back of each buttock, leg and into the foot.
When one of these nerves becomes inflamed, the condition is called sciatica. Symptoms include pain radiating from the lower back into the buttock and down the back or outside of the leg. The pain can come on suddenly, like a lightning bold, or it can present itself as a dull, nagging toothache type of pain.
Often times sciatica is caused by a misalignment in the lower spine. If a vertebrae shifts out of place, it can put pressure on the sciatic nerve, which results in irritation and inflammation. The good news is that this type of sciatica can often be successfully treated through a series of painless chiropractic adjustments.
[Source: ChiroCommunity.com]