One of the questions I frequently get asked in my practice is what is the difference between sciatica and sciatic nerve. Many patients tell me that they have a problem with their sciatic nerve and that is why they came in to be seen. The term sciatica come from the latin ‘sciaticus’ and is used to describe pain affecting the back, hip, and outer side of the leg, caused by compression of a spinal nerve root in the lower back, often owing to degeneration of an intervertebral disk.

The chronic pain syndrome is a complex medical problem that needs to be treated with a multi pronged approach. For example, individuals with chronic sciatica, chronic low back pain or chronic neck and shoulder pain not only have physical impairments due to the deconditioning process but they also typically have a significant fear of movement and fear of re-injury that affects their ability to overcome their chronic pain syndrome.