Sciatica's Two Main Causes - How to Tell Which One You Have

Many of us have felt pain coming from the low back radiating into the butt or down the legs (Sciatica). It makes sense that something is compressing or pinching the sciatic nerve, but what? As the sciatic nerve exits the spine it passes through small openings called foramina. The two most common causes which make the foramina smaller and irritate that nerve: the disc is herniated (bulging) or the facet (two projections of the upper vertebra articulating with two projections from the lower vertebra) is touching the nerve.