From what I understand the sciatic is a nerve that runs from your hip down the leg, when the nerve is pinched this is called sciatica. In the past I experienced chronic problems with my sciatic nerve, which oddly enough have ceased with the birth of my last child in 2000. While having problems I was sent to physical therapy(which at times helped, but at other times seemed to worsen the pain) and told to take anti-inflammatory medication (ie: advil) as needed.