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DictionarysciaticaSciatic nerve pain
noun

sciatica

sigh-AT-ih-kuh/saɪˈætɪkə/

Pain along the sciatic nerve, often extending down the leg.

The marked pain path illustrates sciatica down the back of the leg.

Older white adult holds buttock with subtle red pain path down back of thigh beside chair, non-graphic sciatica.
Etymology
sciaticaLatinsciatic disease

Latin sciatica appeared in a phrase meaning “sciatic disease,” whose ancestry refers to hip pain. The English name identifies pain along the sciatic nerve, which can extend down the leg.

In context

ThinkTech Hawaii11:27
back bumping into a nerve and causing that pain into your butt that can run down your leg. And my patient who I just explained to you was having some sciatica.
Drop the Mic on Back Pain, Hawaii! (Movement Matters)

More examples

  • The clinician assessed whether his symptoms were consistent with sciatica.
  • The record noted a previous episode of sciatica.
  • Her sciatica made the long drive uncomfortable.

Forms

sciatica

Similar words

backache
Backache describes pain in the back; sciatica concerns pain along the sciatic nerve's distribution.
neuralgia
Neuralgia is nerve pain generally; sciatica identifies a particular pattern.