Sometimes, intense leg pain stems from back-related issues. Pain that comes and goes, especially when pressure is applied to the knees, shins or feet, can be sciatica. The sciatic nerve is the single biggest nerve in our bodies: Whether it’s injured during an accident or has simply worn down over time, this nerve can really impact day to day life. But how exactly does sciatica work? And, more importantly, how can we tell if leg and lower back pain is sciatica, itself? Let’s take a closer look. Why Does Sciatica Happen? More often than not, sciatica happens due to a herniated disk. Your vertebrae, or your spine’s bones, are each cushioned by soft, flexible and round disks. About Herniated Disks These disks are pretty durable, but they’re not immune to injury. If they wear down with age, or if they’ve taken the brunt of an accident’s force, they can ‘herniate,’ or be forced through a vertebrae’s small openings. When this happens, the disk might apply pressure on the sciatic nerve...