Sciatica Tests & Diagnosis

The sciatic nerve is located in your back and runs from your spinal cord to the buttocks and hips and down the back of each leg. The term "sciatica" isn't actually a condition on its own, but a symptom of another problem that affects the nerve.

Cause

• A common cause of sciatica is a pinched nerve in your lower spine, often caused by a herniated disc. Other reasons could be degenerative disc disease, pregnancy and spinal tumors.

Symptoms

• Sciatica is the shooting pain you experience from your lower back to your buttocks and down your leg. Tingling or weakness can also occur.

Risk Factors

• Certain risk factors can make you more likely to develop sciatica, such as prolonged sitting, diabetes and age. If your job requires you to twist your back or carry heavy loads, you could have a higher chance of experiencing sciatica.

Diagnosis

• After recording your medical history and performing a physical exam, your doctor will ask you to perform certain physical tests to diagnose what might be causing your sciatica. These tests include walking on your toes or heels and lifting one leg at a time while lying on your back.

Additional Tests

• Your doctor may order additional imaging tests, such as X-rays, a CT scan or MRI to check for physical problems that may be responsible for your pain, such as a herniated disc that is compressing a nerve.

Treatments

• Because sciatica is a symptom that can be caused by a various number of things, treatment depends upon a correct diagnosis of the exact cause. Pain relief can therefore range from simple stretching exercises to complex back surgery.