Sciatica refers to nerve pain that starts in the low back or buttocks and moves into the leg(s). There is a common misconception that sciatica is a condition, but in fact it is a symptom of various disorders. Conditions that can cause sciatic symptoms include misalignments of the lumbar spine, herniated or bulging discs, pregnancy and childbirth, in addition to lifestyle factors like sedentary time, repetitive motions, and sitting on your wallet or phone in your back pocket. These conditions can cause compression or irritation of the sciatic nerve, which is the largest single nerve in the body.