Sciatica that doesn’t cause pain in legs?

I have had horrible lower back pain. It’s in my lower spine. I have also had some tingling in my left foot, so I went to the doctor and he said it’s probably sciatica. I was confused because I have had sciatica flare ups in the past and they always cause pain down my left left. This doesn’t feel like a sciatica flare up. Do your flare ups always feel the same or are they different/ more or less severe sometimes?