Centralization, truth or myth?

Dear fellow suffers,

I've been reading a lot online about sciatica and one term that keeps coming up is centralization. From what I understand, it means that for healing to occur, the pain should move from the lower leg back toward the lower back.

Is this really the main sign that you're on the right track to recovery? Have any of you experienced this, and did your symptoms improve as the pain centralized? Can you heal without centralization?

Would love to hear your experiences and thoughts!