Sciatica is a condition that affects as many as 40% of people at some point in their lifetimes. The sciatic nerve is the body’s longest nerve and is a very important one. The sciatic nerve pathway starts in the lower back and goes through the hips, glutes, and down the back of each leg. Sciatica is an irritation of the sciatic nerve and is characterized by pain, numbness, and tingling that radiates from the lower back and down the back of the leg of the affected side. Pain from sciatica can manifest as an ache, burning sensation, or an electric shock.