Whether the pain or numbness is worse after sciatica develops depends largely on which is more severely damaged, the nociceptive or tactile nerves of the sensory branch of the sciatic nerve. When sciatica arises, it can lead to irritation and damage to the nerve. The sciatic nerve is a mixed nerve, with both motor and sensory nerves, and only damage to the sensory nerve can cause symptoms of pain and numbness. Only damage to both the nociceptive and tactile nerves can lead to symptoms of pain and numbness. Heavy damage to the nociceptive nerve will lead to more painful symptoms. A more severe injury to the tactile nerve will lead to more severe symptoms of numbness.