Health encyclopaedia

Health encyclopaedia - Alphabetical Topic List

Causes of Sciatica

Each sciatic nerve is made up from six or seven large nerve roots emerging from the bottom of the spinal cord in the lumbar and sacral region (the lower part of the back). Sciatica is usually caused by pressure on these nerve roots due to squeezed-out material from the pulpy centre of one of the intervertebral discs (the discs lying between the vertebrae of the spine). This is the process inaccurately called slipped disc.

Sciatica can also be caused by nerve pressure from other sources.

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