Pain down your leg?
Understand the cause.
Sciatica is pain that travels along the sciatic nerve pathway. Review your symptoms, imaging and prior care to understand which treatment options fit your situation.
Request a Sciatica Evaluation (Form)Telehealth or in person. Your request does not confirm an appointment.
A careful review before a surgical decision.
Sciatic pain may be linked to a herniated disc, spinal stenosis or another cause. Your evaluation reviews symptoms, examination, imaging and previous treatment before discussing the appropriate next step.
Bring your imaging
Bring available lumbar imaging, reports and details of treatments you have tried.
Discuss the alternatives
Review previous care, nonsurgical options, expected benefits, limitations and risks.
Choose the appropriate next step
Surgery is discussed when symptoms, examination and imaging support it. No outcome is guaranteed.
Experience & careful judgment
Meet Dr. Cornacchia.
Louis G. Cornacchia III, M.D., FAANS, FACS
A board-certified neurosurgeon with 30 years of spinal cord stimulation experience.
More about Dr. Cornacchia’s experience and SCS device decisions
Spinal cord stimulation experience
Experienced neurosurgical judgment before device decisions.
A spinal cord stimulator is a medical device decision, but it is also a diagnosis decision. Apteum’s evaluation is designed to clarify whether SCS is reasonable, whether another spine problem needs attention, and what goals should define success for you.
He works with a community of experienced pain-management doctors and with Medtronic, Boston Scientific, and other manufacturers.
Manufacturer relationships do not imply endorsement of a specific device for every patient. Brand and system selection should be based on clinical need, anatomy, MRI considerations, programming goals, prior device history, and shared decision-making.
Additional systems as clinically appropriateYour evaluation focuses on listening, reviewing your imaging and explaining your options clearly. Nonsurgical care is considered when appropriate, and surgery is discussed when it fits your case.
Your evaluation focuses on your diagnosis, prior care and goals. Discuss the expected benefits, limitations, risks and alternatives before choosing your next step. An evaluation is not a commitment to surgery or an implant.
Read Dr. Cornacchia’s training and experience →How spinal cord stimulation works
Watch this explanation created by Dr. Cornacchia. Spinal cord stimulation is one option for selected patients after evaluation; it is not appropriate for every cause of pain and does not replace the discussion of the treatment on this page.
Full sciatica information, treatment and FAQs
Sciatica
Sciatica is a common condition causing pain along the sciatic nerve pathway. Apteum Spine provides comprehensive diagnostic and treatment options to address the root cause of your sciatic pain.
Your request does not confirm an appointment.
Understand your condition. Know your options.
The first step is understanding what is causing your symptoms. We review your history, imaging, and previous treatment so you can understand which options deserve consideration.
- Listen
Your history, symptoms, and goals.
- Review
Your imaging and previous treatment.
- Explain
Your options and the next steps.
Information for your evaluation
What Is Sciatica?
Sciatica refers to pain that radiates along the path of the sciatic nerve — the longest and thickest nerve in your body. It typically affects only one side of your body. Sciatica most commonly occurs when a herniated disc, bone spur, or spinal stenosis compresses part of the nerve, causing inflammation, pain, and often some numbness in the affected leg.
What Causes Sciatica?
The most common cause of sciatica is a herniated disc in the lumbar spine. Other causes include spinal stenosis (narrowing of the spinal canal), spondylolisthesis (a vertebra slipping forward), piriformis syndrome, and in rare cases, tumors or infections. Risk factors include age, obesity, prolonged sitting, diabetes, and occupations that require heavy lifting or twisting.
When Should You See a Doctor?
While mild sciatica usually goes away over time, you should seek medical attention if the pain is severe, doesn’t improve with self-care, or if you experience sudden, severe pain in your lower back or leg, numbness or muscle weakness in your leg, or difficulty controlling your bowels or bladder, which could indicate a serious condition called cauda equina syndrome.
Common Symptoms
- Pain radiating from the lower back down the leg
- Sharp, burning sensation or electric shock-like pain
- Numbness or tingling in the leg or foot
- Weakness in the affected leg
- Pain that worsens when sitting
Treatment Options
- Physical therapy and stretching exercises
- Anti-inflammatory and pain medications
- Epidural steroid injections
- Minimally invasive discectomy
- Nerve block procedures
- Minimally invasive surgical decompression
What Is Sciatica?
Sciatica refers to pain that travels along the path of the sciatic nerve — the longest nerve in the body — usually affecting one side of the body. It most often occurs when a herniated disc, bone spur, or narrowing of the spinal canal compresses part of the nerve, causing pain, inflammation, and sometimes numbness or weakness in the leg. At Apteum Spine, our focus is on finding the true cause of your sciatic pain, not just masking it, and treating it with the least invasive approach that works.
Common Symptoms
• Pain radiating from the lower back into the buttock and down the leg
• Sharp, burning, or electric shock–like pain
• Numbness or tingling in the leg or foot
• Weakness in the affected leg
• Pain that worsens with prolonged sitting
Treatment Options
We start conservative whenever appropriate and escalate only as needed:
• Physical therapy and targeted stretching
• Anti-inflammatory and pain medications
• Epidural steroid injections or nerve blocks
• Minimally invasive microdiscectomy or decompression when conservative care hasn’t worked
Surgery is recommended only when it is truly necessary — and when it is, the goal is precision, minimal tissue disruption, and a faster recovery.
What Causes Sciatica?
The most common cause is a herniated lumbar disc. Other causes include spinal stenosis (narrowing of the spinal canal), spondylolisthesis (a vertebra slipping forward), and degenerative disc disease. Risk factors include age, prolonged sitting, excess weight, diabetes, and jobs involving heavy lifting or twisting.
When to See a Doctor
Mild sciatica often eases with time and self-care. Seek prompt evaluation if pain is severe, doesn’t improve, follows an injury, or comes with progressive numbness or leg weakness. Seek emergency care for sudden, severe weakness or loss of bladder or bowel control, which can signal a serious condition called cauda equina syndrome.
Frequently Asked Questions
How long does sciatica last?
Many cases improve within a few weeks with conservative care. Pain that persists beyond 6–8 weeks, or that worsens, warrants evaluation.
Will I need surgery for sciatica?
Most people don’t. Surgery is considered when there is nerve compression with persistent pain or weakness that hasn’t responded to conservative treatment.
Can sciatica cause permanent damage?
Most cases resolve without lasting harm, but significant or worsening weakness or numbness should be evaluated promptly.
Medically reviewed by Louis G. Cornacchia III, M.D., FAANS, FACS — board-certified neurosurgeon. Last updated: June 2026. This page is for general education and is not a substitute for medical advice. For urgent symptoms, call (609) 831-0998 or go to the nearest emergency room.
Take your next step with clarity.
Request an evaluation of your condition and options. Our team will contact you to discuss your request and arrange the next step.
Your request does not confirm an appointment.
Review your sciatica treatment options.
Request an evaluation to review your symptoms, imaging, goals and prior treatment history.
The team will contact you to discuss your request. No outcome is guaranteed.