The pain follows a nerve, not just the back

Sciatica is pain that starts in the lower back or buttock and runs down the back or side of the leg, sometimes into the foot. It often burns or tingles. A cough or a bend can shoot it further. The usual cause is a slip disc pressing a lumbar nerve root. A tight spinal canal can cause a related pain that shows up more as heaviness after walking.

The name describes the route of the pain. It is not, by itself, a complete diagnosis. Hip arthritis, a sacroiliac joint, and some nerve problems outside the spine can imitate it. An examination separates these.

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What a first episode often needs

If the leg is strong, the foot lifts normally, and the bladder and bowel are working, a first episode is usually treated without surgery. Short relative rest, then walking, simple pain relief, and physiotherapy are the usual start. Many discs shrink back enough over weeks that the nerve settles.

Staying in bed for many days makes the back stiffer and is rarely useful. Heavy lifting and long driving are worth pausing while the pain is sharp. If pain is unchanged after several weeks of proper care, or if it keeps you from sleeping and working, it is reasonable to see a spine surgeon with an MRI.

Signs that should not wait

These can mean the nerve, or a bundle of nerves, is under more pressure than a home plan can cover.

  • The foot slaps down, or you cannot stand on your toes or heel
  • Weakness that is new this week and getting worse
  • Numbness in the private area or inner thighs
  • Trouble starting urine, leaking, or loss of bowel control
  • Pain after a fall, or with fever and a history of cancer

If surgery is discussed

The common operation for a soft disc fragment is to remove the piece that is pressing the nerve, through a small opening. It is aimed at leg pain more than at every bit of back ache. Results vary, and a disc can herniate again at the same or another level. Ask how your MRI matches your weak muscle, what the surgeon will not operate on, and how follow-up works in Gurgaon.

Dr. Deepak Kumar sees sciatica at both of his clinics. The consultation fee at Brain & Spine Care is ₹1000. The consultation fee at Aarvy Healthcare is ₹1000. Surgery costs are quoted separately, after the procedure is clear.