Sciatica is a common symptom of a herniated disc within the lower back of the human body that applies pressure on the sciatic nerve. The ailment is caused by a herniated disc in the lower back that results in pain and numbness of the buttocks that extends down the leg of the individual with the disease. The pain caused by sciatica happens mostly on one side of the body. The pain gets worse after the individual with the disease gets up from a sitting position, stands, walks, sneezes coughs, laughs, or bends backward. The pain also comes mostly at night.