Symptom guide
Sciatica
Pain, tingling or numbness that travels through the buttock and down into the thigh, calf or foot.
Below are the conditions that commonly present this way. This is a starting point for reading, not a diagnosis — these patterns overlap, and some have causes outside the spine altogether. Only an examination can connect a symptom to a cause.
Conditions that may present as sciatica
The usual cause of sciatica. Most improve within three months without surgery.
A narrowed canal crowds the nerves. Leg symptoms build with walking, ease with sitting.
One vertebra slipped forward on another. Stable in many people, unstable in some.
Some symptoms need urgent care rather than reading. If you have sudden weakness, numbness in the saddle area, or a change in bladder or bowel control, go to an emergency department.
Request a consultation
Find out what is actually wrong.
An examination is what connects a symptom to a cause. Bring your imaging and any previous operative notes.
One number for all six offices