What is the name of the condition caused by compression or irritation of the sciatic nerve?

The condition caused by compression or irritation of the sciatic nerve is known as sciatica. This typically manifests as pain, tingling, or numbness that radiates along the path of the sciatic nerve, which runs from the lower back down through the hips and buttocks and down each leg. The pain associated with sciatica often occurs when the nerve is compressed due to a herniated disc, spinal stenosis, or a similar condition.

While herniated discs can lead to sciatica as a result of nerve compression, they are not a condition in themselves but rather a potential cause. Radiculopathy refers to a broader term for any pinching or irritation of spinal nerves, which can include sciatica but also encompasses other types not related to the sciatic nerve specifically. Cervical spondylosis pertains to age-related wear and tear on the spinal disks in the neck, which does not directly refer to the sciatic nerve. Thus, while each of these terms relates to conditions affecting the spine and nerves, sciatica is specifically defined by discomfort or dysfunction directly involving the sciatic nerve.