Editing Sciatica (section)

==Definition==
[[File:Sciatica.jpg|thumb|Sciatica often results in pain radiating down the leg.]]
The term "sciatica" usually describes a [[symptom]]—pain along the [[sciatic nerve]] pathway—rather than a specific condition, illness, or disease.<ref name=Valat2010/> Some use it to mean any pain starting in the lower back and going down the leg.<ref name=Valat2010/> The pain is characteristically described as shooting or shock-like, quickly traveling along the course of the affected nerves.<ref>Bhat, Sriram (2013). ''SRB's Manual of Surgery''. p. 364. {{ISBN|9789350259443}}.</ref> Others use the term as a [[diagnosis]] (i.e. an indication of cause and effect) for nerve dysfunction caused by compression of one or more lumbar or sacral nerve roots from a spinal disc herniation.<ref name=Valat2010/> Pain typically occurs in the distribution of a [[Dermatome (anatomy)|dermatome]] and goes below the knee to the foot.<ref name=Valat2010/><ref name="pmid17585160" /> It may be associated with [[neurological]] dysfunction, such as weakness and numbness.<ref name=Valat2010/>