Lower Back Pain & Sciatica: What’s the Difference?

Lower back pain and sciatica are often talked about together, but they’re not actually the same thing.

Lower back pain is pain or discomfort felt around the lower part of your back, usually between the bottom of your ribs and your buttocks. It can happen for many different reasons, including muscle strain, joint problems, injuries, poor movement patterns, or changes to the discs in your spine. Sometimes, the cause is obvious, while other times it can be difficult to pinpoint exactly why your back is hurting.

Sciatica, on the other hand, involves irritation or compression of the sciatic nerve or the nerve roots that form it. The sciatic nerve travels from your lower back, through your buttocks and down the back of your leg. Because of this, sciatica can cause symptoms that travel beyond the lower back.

You might notice sharp, shooting or burning pain, as well as tingling, numbness or weakness in the buttock or leg. These symptoms often affect one side of the body.

One common cause of sciatica is a problem in the lower back, such as a herniated disc or narrowing around the spinal nerves. When a nerve root becomes irritated or compressed, the pain or other symptoms can travel along the nerve and be felt further down the leg.

It’s important to remember that not all lower back pain is sciatica. You can have lower back pain without any involvement of the nerves. Sciatica specifically refers to symptoms caused by irritation or compression affecting the sciatic nerve pathway.

Knowing the difference can help you better understand what you’re experiencing and know when it may be worth seeking professional advice.