This pain, which is caused by the irritation of the sciatic nerve, starts in the buttocks or lower back and radiates down one or both legs. Nerve compression is the most common cause of sciatic pain. Almost 90% of affected people recover from sciatica without surgery. Sciatic nerve pain, sciatic neuropathy or Sciatica is not a medical diagnosis, but a symptom of an underlying spine problem. Therefore, to administer an effective treatment plan, the root cause must be identified. Some common lower back problems that can originate sciatica include degenerative disc disease, lumbar spinal stenosis, lumbar herniated disc and spondylolisthesis.