Sciatica produces pain and other symptoms due to something pressing or rubbing on the sciatic nerve. This pressing or rubbing can be related to a specific injury, but sciatica can also develop over a longer time frame without a pre-existing injury. This can often be very confusing and worrying but shouldn’t be a cause for alarm. Things that can cause sciatica include: Injuries to the discs between the vertebra in our spine Spinal stenosis – an age related process whereby the part of the spine where nerves pass through becomes narrowed A build up of muscular tension in the buttock which then irritates the sciatic nerve Other back injuries Whatever the cause of your sciatica, there is a lot that can be done to help reduce the irritation on the nerve and reduce your pain levels and other symptoms.