Sciatica (cont.)

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Sciatica Pain Slideshow

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Medical Author:

Catherine Burt Driver, MD

Catherine Burt Driver, MD, is board certified in internal medicine and rheumatology by the American Board of Internal Medicine. Dr. Driver is a member of the American College of Rheumatology. She currently is in active practice in the field of rheumatology in Mission Viejo, Calif., where she is a partner in Mission Internal Medical Group.

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Medical Editor:

William C. Shiel Jr., MD, FACP, FACR

Dr. Shiel received a Bachelor of Science degree with honors from the University of Notre Dame. There he was involved in research in radiation biology and received the Huisking Scholarship. After graduating from St. Louis University School of Medicine, he completed his Internal Medicine residency and Rheumatology fellowship at the University of California, Irvine. He is board-certified in Internal Medicine and Rheumatology.

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When to Seek Medical Care

Call your doctor if any of the following conditions occur:

The pain is not improving after several days or seems to be getting worse.

You are younger than 20 years of age or older than 55 years of age and are having sciatica for the first time.

You presently have cancer or have a history of cancer.

You have lost a large amount of weight recently or have unexplained chills and fever with back pain.

You are HIV positive, or you use IV drugs.

You continue to have trouble bending forward after more than a week or two.

You notice weakness is getting more pronounced over time.

You should go to a hospital's emergency department if any of the following occur along with sciatica.

The pain is unbearable, despite trying first aid methods as described in the home care section.

The pain follows a violent injury, such as a fall from a ladder or an automobile crash.

The pain is in the back of your chest.

You are unable to move or feel your legs or feet.

You lose control of your bowels or bladder or have numbness in your genitals. These may be symptoms of cauda equina syndrome (a serious nervous system condition caused by damage to the nerves at the end of the spinal canal).