Sciatica is a common condition caused by irritation or compression of the sciatic nerve, leading to pain that can radiate from the lower back down the leg. It can also be caused by compression of a nerve in the lower back. At MedStar Health, our comprehensive sciatica care options include advanced treatments for low back pain to help you find lasting relief. Our expert spine specialists provide personalized diagnosis and treatment options at convenient locations throughout Washington, D.C., Baltimore, Maryland, and Virginia.
Symptoms
Sciatica can cause a wide range of symptoms that may feel different from person to person. The most common sign is sharp, shooting pain that radiates from the lower back down through the buttocks and leg. This pain often follows the path of the sciatic nerve and can make activities like standing, walking, and sitting difficult.
Other symptoms of sciatica may include:
- Burning sensations in the lower back, hip, or leg
- Numbness or tingling (“pins and needles”) that spreads into the calf, foot, or toes
- Muscle weakness in the leg or foot
- Decreased flexibility or mobility
Sciatica symptoms can range from mild discomfort to severe pain that limits daily life. If your symptoms last more than a few days or interfere with normal activities, it’s important to seek care.
Causes and risk factors
This condition is caused by the compression or irritation of a nerve root in the lumbar portion of the spine or by irritation of the sciatic nerve as it travels down the leg. It can occur due to many factors, including injury, age, disc herniation, vertebrae slips, and spinal narrowing. It can also happen when the sciatic nerve is compressed or irritated by a muscle as it travels down the leg. Sciatica develops when the sciatic nerve or its nerve roots in the lower spine are compressed, pinched, or irritated. This pressure disrupts normal nerve function and can cause pain, numbness, or weakness along the path of the nerve.
Common causes of sciatica may include:
- Traumatic injury
- Aging
- Herniated or slipped disc (disc herniation)
- Spondylolisthesis (vertebrae slips)
- Spinal stenosis (narrowing of the spine)
- Muscle spasms or tightness
- Pregnancy
- Diabetes
While sciatica can happen to anyone, understanding these causes and risk factors can help you take steps to protect your spine health.
Treatments
Typically, the sciatica pain specialist will recommend lifestyle changes (sometimes including physical therapy) to relieve sciatic pain. This may include physical activity, limiting repetitive motions that cause strain, limiting prolonged periods of sitting, stretching exercises, and posture correction.
The specialist may also recommend medication like over-the-counter pain relievers, narcotics, muscle relaxants, anti-seizure medications, and even some kinds of antidepressants. In the most severe cases, doctors may recommend surgery to correct an anatomical cause of debilitating sciatic pain.
Our locations
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MedStar Health: Neurosurgery at Bel Air
12 MedStar Blvd. Ste. 300 Bel Air, MD 21015
MedStar Health: Neurosurgery at Chevy Chase
5454 Wisconsin Ave. Ste. 1225 Chevy Chase, MD 20815
MedStar Health: Neurosurgery at Ellicott City
9501 Old Annapolis Road Ste. 220 Ellicott City, MD 21042
MedStar Health: Neurosurgery at MedStar Franklin Square Medical Center
9103 Franklin Square Dr. Ste. 301 Rosedale, MD 21237
MedStar Health: Neurosurgery at MedStar Washington Hospital Center
110 Irving St., NW Ste. G019 Washington, D.C., 20010
MedStar Health: Neurosurgery at Pikesville
1838 Greene Tree Rd Ste.245 Pikesville, MD 21208
MedStar Health: Neurosurgery at Timonium
2118 Greenspring Drive 2nd Fl. Timonium, MD 21093
MedStar Health: Neurosurgery at Annapolis
2114 Generals Highway suite 101-B Annapolis, MD 21401
MedStar Health: Neurosurgery at Wilkens Avenue
4660 Wilkens Avenue Ste. 100 Baltimore, MD 21229
MedStar Health: Orthopedics at Westminster
412 Malcolm Dr. Ste. 200 Westminster, MD 21157
MedStar Health: Orthopedics at MedStar Georgetown University Hospital
3800 Reservoir Road NW Washington, D.C., 20007
MedStar Health: Orthopedics at MedStar Washington Hospital Center
106 Irving Street NW Physician's Office Building, North Ste. 5000 Washington, DC 20010
MedStar Health: Orthopedics at Ellicott City
9501 Old Annapolis Road Dorsey Hall Medical Center Suite 220 Ellicott City, MD 21042
MedStar Health: Orthopedics at Hunt Valley
2 Loveton Circle Sparks Glencoe, MD 21152
MedStar Health: Orthopedics at Timonium
2118 Greenspring Dr. Timonium, MD 21093
MedStar Health: Orthopedics at MedStar Harbor Hospital
2900 South Hanover St. Baltimore, MD 21225
MedStar Health: Orthopedics at MedStar Franklin Square Medical Center
9101 Franklin Square Dr. Medical Arts Bldg. Ste. 200 Baltimore, MD 21237
MedStar Health: Orthopedics at Perry Hall
5009 Honeygo Center Dr. Ste. 210 Perry Hall, MD 21128
MedStar Health Orthopedics at Annapolis Bestgate Road
810 Bestgate Rd. Suite 310 Annapolis, MD 21401
MedStar Health: Orthopedics and Sports Medicine at Bel Air
12 MedStar Blvd. 3rd Floor Bel Air, MD 21015
MedStar Health: Orthopedics at Brandywine
13950 Brandywine Road 2nd Floor Brandywine, MD 20613
MedStar Health: Orthopedics at Wheaton
11915 Georgia Ave. Wheaton, MD 20902
MedStar Health: Orthopedics at Leonardtown
23503 Hollywood Road Suite 101 Leonardtown, MD 20650
MedStar Southern Maryland Hospital Center
7503 Surratts Rd. Clinton, MD 20735
MedStar Health: Spine Center at MedStar Union Memorial Hospital
3333 North Calvert St. Johnston Professional Building Ste. 655 Baltimore, MD 21218
MedStar Health: Spine Center at Chevy Chase
5454 Wisconsin Ave. Barlow Bldg. 11th Floor Chevy Chase, MD 20815
301-215-4470
MedStar Health: Spine Center at McLean
1420 Beverly Road Ste. 210 McLean, VA 22101
MedStar Health: Neurosurgery at MedStar Harbor Hospital
2900 S. Hanover St. 1st Floor Baltimore, MD 21225
MedStar Health: Neuroscience at MedStar Georgetown University Hospital
3800 Reservoir Road, NW Pasquerilla Healthcare Center 7th Floor Washington, D.C., 20007
MedStar Health: Neurosurgery at Vienna
8230 Boone Boulevard Ste. 360 Vienna, VA 22182
Our providers
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Spine Surgery
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Evelyne S Akoth, MD PA
Spine Surgery & Neurosurgery
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Zeena Dorai, MD
Spine Surgery & Neurosurgery
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Victor Xiaocong Du, MD
Spine Surgery & Neurosurgery
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Mark H Iguchi, MD
Spine Surgery & Neurosurgery
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Seyed Babak Kalantar, MD
Neurosurgery, Spine Surgery & Orthopedic Surgery
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Christopher Gene Kalhorn, MD
Spine Surgery & Neurosurgery
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Robert Bryan Mason, MD
Spine Surgery & Neurosurgery
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Kevin Michael McGrail, MD
Neurosurgery & Spine Surgery
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Charles A. Miller, MD
Spine Surgery & Neurosurgery
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Susan Cecilia Moreno, MD PA
Spine Surgery & Neurosurgery
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Mani Nathan Nair, MD
Neurosurgery & Spine Surgery
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Faheem Akram Sandhu, MD
Spine Surgery & Neurosurgery
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Charles L. Schnee, MD
Neurosurgery & Spine Surgery
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Jugal Kaushik Shah, MD
Neurosurgery & Spine Surgery
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Rizwan Ahmad Tahir, MD
Spine Surgery & Neurosurgery
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Oliver O. Tannous, MD
Spine Surgery, Orthopedic Surgery & Neurosurgery
Show All Spine Surgery
Frequently asked questions
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How is sciatica different from general lower back pain?
While lower back pain is very common and can have many causes, sciatica is a specific type of pain that radiates down the leg. It typically starts in the lower back or buttock and travels along the path of the sciatic nerve.
Sciatica pain often feels sharp, burning, or shooting, and it may be accompanied by numbness, tingling, or weakness in the leg. In contrast, general lower back pain tends to stay localized in the back.
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How long does sciatica pain typically last?
The length of time sciatica lasts can vary widely depending on what’s causing it. Some people experience brief flare-ups associated with muscle pain that resolve within a few hours or days. Others may have pain that lasts for several weeks or months if a nerve in the lower back is being compressed or pinched.
Most cases improve with nonsurgical care such as physical therapy, activity modification, and anti-inflammatory treatments. However, if pain persists or becomes severe, our spine specialists can identify the underlying cause and recommend advanced options, including surgery when needed.
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Can exercise or walking make sciatica worse?
Not necessarily. In most cases, it’s better to stay active than to stop exercising altogether. The key is to avoid movements or activities that make your pain worse. Gentle exercise, like physical therapy, is actually part of most treatment plans for sciatica.
Low-impact activities such as walking, swimming, using a stationary bike, or elliptical training are often safe and beneficial. If an activity increases your leg or back pain, it’s best to pause and talk with a spine specialist.
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When is surgery recommended for sciatica?
Surgery for sciatica is only recommended in certain cases. The most common reason is when a pinched nerve in the lower back, often caused by a herniated disc, is putting significant pressure on a nerve.
If pain is disabling or not improving with other treatments, your doctor may discuss surgical options to relieve the pressure on the nerve. However, most people with sciatica do not need surgery and will improve over time with nonsurgical care such as physical therapy, medications, or cortisone injections to reduce inflammation.
Our spine specialists across the region can help you decide if surgery is right for you.
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What should I expect during my first sciatica consultation?
At your first visit, your provider will take time to understand your symptoms and identify the source of your pain. This starts with a detailed discussion about when your pain began, where you feel it, and what activities make it better or worse. A physical exam helps your spine specialist determine whether the problem is coming from the lower back, the sciatic nerve itself, or surrounding muscles.
Depending on what’s found during your exam, your provider may recommend imaging tests such as an MRI or begin with nonsurgical treatments like physical therapy, medication, or other conservative options.
Our specialists take a personalized approach, helping you understand what’s causing your sciatica and guiding you toward lasting relief.