You may think that pain appears suddenly. One day you feel fine, then the next your back goes into spasm, your neck feels stiff, or your shoulder starts aching seemingly out of nowhere. But in many cases, pain isn't actually the first sign that something is wrong.

Sciatica is one of those words people often use to describe any kind of back or leg pain, but true sciatica is a very specific condition involving irritation or compression of the sciatic nerve. In this blog, we’ll explain what sciatica actually is, common symptoms and causes, and the treatments that may help you recover comfortably and safely.