Sciatica -- pain, weakness, numbness, and other discomfort along the path of the sciatic nerve -- often accompanies low back pain, which afflicts every adult from time to time, costing billions of dollars in healthcare and lost days of work. Low back pain and sciatica can baffle physicians and other medical professionals, arising without warning and continuing for long periods of time.

Sciatica is a symptom of a problem at some point along the sciatic nerve rather than an ailment in and of itself. A herniated disc in the back, spinal stenosis and piriformis syndrome are medical disorders that can cause sciatica. Individuals who have sciatica are often crippled by it, and are driven to seek relief from conventional medical treatment, alternative therapies, and "miracle" cures.


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