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Published on: 5/21/2025

How Is Lumbago Related to Sciatica?

Courtney Bloomer

Reviewed by Courtney Bloomer, DO

Emergency Medicine

Lumbago is another term for lower back pain, while sciatica is pain that travels down the leg from the lower back. They are related because lumbago can be a symptom of sciatica.

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Explanation

Lumbago and sciatica are two conditions that affect the lower back, but they are not the same thing. Lumbago is a general term used to describe pain in the lower back. This pain can be due to many causes, such as muscle strain or arthritis.

Sciatica, on the other hand, refers to pain that travels from the lower back down through the buttocks and into one or both legs. This happens when something, like a herniated disc, presses on the sciatic nerve.

How They Are Related:

  • Cause: Lumbago can be a symptom of sciatica if the lower back pain is caused by pressure on the sciatic nerve.
  • Symptoms: While lumbago is just in the lower back, sciatica involves pain that moves down the leg.

Understanding these conditions can help in managing them better. If you have symptoms, it's important to talk to a healthcare provider to find out what's causing the pain and how to treat it.

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