Back pain affects millions of people around the world every year. Understanding the differences between sciatica and other back pain is important for understanding what kind of treatment you need. Here are some differences between sciatica and other back pain:

• Spinal Stenosis: Spinal stenosis involves the narrowing of the spinal canal which can cause pain, numbness, and weakness in the back and legs. 
• Herniated Discs: Herniated discs can cause sciatica if it presses on a sciatic nerve, but can cause localized back pain depending on which nerve the disc affects.
• Muscle Strain: Muscle strain tends to localize pain in the lower back. Unlike sciatica, this pain doesn’t radiate down the leg.