What are low back pain and sciatica?

Information for the public

Low back pain is soreness or stiffness in the back, between the bottom of your rib cage and the top of your legs. Most people's low back pain is described as 'non-specific'. That means the pain is unlikely to be caused by an infection, a fracture or a disease like cancer.

A common symptom of sciatica is pain going down one or both legs. Sciatica sometimes also causes numbness or tingling down your leg. It's often caused when your sciatic nerve (which runs from the back of your pelvis through your buttocks and down to your feet) is irritated, causing pain.