Low back or lumbar pain refers to discomfort in the lower back's five spinal bones (lumbar vertebrae).

Sciatic pain follows the sciatic nerve, which originates from five lower spinal nerves that merge into a large nerve extending to the legs and feet. Pressure on these nerve roots can occur due to bulging discs or joint swelling between vertebrae.

However, spine abnormalities like bulging discs are common in people over 40 and even in younger individuals, often without causing pain.

If a doctor's neurologic exam finds no muscle weakness, reflex loss, bowel or bladder issues, or skin sensation loss, serious nerve root compression is unlikely.

Most bulging disc pain resolves naturally within weeks or months. If pain persists without nerve root compression, the brain may be contributing to the symptoms.

If medical evaluations do not identify any disease or injury, or if treatments fail to provide expected improvement, it is likely that the brain plays a role in generating or contributing to the pain or illness. This is called a neuroplastic symptom.