Don't know what to do

Hello Anonymous,

Welcome to EmpowHER. Thank you for sharing your concern with our community.

How long have you been going to physiotherapy? Have you spoken with the physician who made the diagnosis of sciatica?

As you may have been told, sciatica is nerve pain.

It refers to pain that radiates along the path of the sciatic nerve, which branches from your lower back through your hips and buttocks and down each leg. Typically, sciatica affects only one side of your body.

Sciatica most commonly occurs when a herniated disk, bone spur on the spine or narrowing of the spine (spinal stenosis) compresses part of the nerve. This causes inflammation, pain and often some numbness in the affected leg.

Pain that radiates from your lower spine to your buttock and down the back of your leg is the hallmark of sciatica. You might feel the discomfort almost anywhere along the nerve pathway, but it's especially likely to follow a path from your low back to your buttock and the back of your thigh and calf.

Sometimes it can feel like a jolt or electric shock. It can be worse when you cough or sneeze, and prolonged sitting can aggravate symptoms. Usually only one side of your body is affected.

Some people also have numbness, tingling or muscle weakness in the affected leg or foot. You might have pain in one part of your leg and numbness in another part.

Anonymous, I suggest you speak with your doctor about the persistent pain. You may need treatment with steroid injections or possibly surgery if your symptoms do not improve.

You can get more information on our sciatica page https://www.empowher.com/condition/sciatica

Please keep us updated,
Maryann