Does this sound like sciatica?

Got a very painful ache at the left side of the bottom of my back, every now and again it shoots down my leg but I can't think of any cause like pulled muscle, twisted etc
Is this sciatica or something else?

The sciatic nerve is the longest nerve in the body; it runs from your pelvis right down the side/back of your leg.
Most common causes of sciatic pain are due to a prolapsed lumbar disc pressing on the nerve or a problem with the joint to the left or right of your spine called the sacro-iliac joint also causing pressure.
Rest, anti inflammatory medication and pain killers will often sort the trouble, but sometimes it is necessary to have skilled manipulation or traction administered by a physiotherapist or possibly an osteopath.

Im sure it is sciatica...The nerve is the biggest one in the body..

Sounds like it.

Sounds like it could be sciatica, but check with your doctor. My husband has a similar problem that was diagnosed as sciatica the last time, but on this time around the same dr said it was more likely to be a disc that has slipped and is putting pressure on the nerve.

yup sounds that way ive had it for years sigh

Try some stretching.. stretching the periformis and the quadradis lumbaris will help with the pain.

Certainly sounds like sciatica,...does it affect the bottom of your foot as well? If so,...it's sciatica. You don't have to pull a muscle or anything like that,... a sneeze can cause it. It's just the way one can move that can cause it,....my bf has it too and he got it from coughing very hard.

Sciatic pain goes down the back of your leg, in a thin line, following your nerve. Sometimes you can trace the line into the top of your foot and into your big toe. It will be on one side of your body only. If feels like somebody is sticking a knife into you.

It definitely sounds like sciatica.Don't want to upset you but if it is it will probably get worse before it gets better,

You've got some very good answers here and the one from Veronica Alicia is brilliant. I have a friend who is an osteopath and he would tell you the same. You need some gently massage and manipulation by an Osteopath and lots of rest. Once you've had sciatica, though, it can come back. Anything can cause it - turning awkwardly, lifting something, sneezing or coughing. You can even cause the problem when you are turning in bed in your sleep and wake up with the pain. An Osteopath will be able to fix it for you, but it's not cheap - first consultation plus treatment in the UK is around 拢40 for about an hour and for any treatments after that are 拢30 at time for approx half an hour.

Hope you are soon pain free. x

lye on your back and get someone to lift your legs up for you if you have a trapped sciatic nerve this will release it . god it feels so good.

definately sounds like sciata.It usually comes from an old back problem as its pressure on the nerve which causes pain , tingling or numbness. A bulging disc could cause the pressure. Exercise may help if you can download some information otherwise its the doc.

It sounds possible however it more likely to be a prolapsed intervetebral disc putting pressure on nerve. Between your veretbral bodies that make up your spinal column are soft gelatinous discs that act as shock absorbers for the spine. They absorb some of the shock that can be transferred from your legs when you do things such as jump. When a disc herniates out of place it can put pressure on a spinal nerve giving it a false sensation which results in pain. As it goes down your leg and it could be your lower back in the lumbar region.