Sciatica is the term used to describe nerve pain in the buttocks, legs and feet. It is caused when the sciatic nerve – the longest nerve in the body – becomes compressed or irritated. If you’re suffering with pain that radiates down the back of your leg and into your feet, it could be sciatica.

The sciatic nerve starts at the lower spine before running through the buttock, down the back of the thigh and into the foot. It’s an important nerve that sends signals from the spinal cord to the entire lower body.