Which Doctor Treats Sciatica?

Sciatica is characterized by sharp, shooting pain that radiates from your lower back through your buttock and down one leg. This pain follows the path of the sciatic nerve, the largest nerve in your body, and can range from mild to severe. Typical causes include a herniated disc pressing on the nerve, spinal stenosis narrowing the nerve passageway, or piriformis syndrome from muscle compression. Determining what kind of doctor should I see for sciatica depends on the severity of your symptoms and how long they've persisted.

Start by consulting your primary care physician, who can evaluate your symptoms and recommend initial conservative treatment. Most cases of sciatica improve with rest, physical therapy, anti-inflammatory medications, and activity modification. If your pain is severe, progressive, or accompanied by weakness or numbness in your leg, an orthopedic spine surgeon or neurologist should evaluate you for possible structural problems. A neurologist can perform nerve conduction studies to confirm sciatic nerve involvement. Physical medicine and rehabilitation specialists provide targeted therapy to address the underlying cause and restore function.

The good news is that most sciatica cases resolve within 4-6 weeks with conservative care. However, if your pain persists beyond 6 weeks, worsens despite treatment, or you develop progressive weakness or loss of bladder control, professional evaluation is critical to identify the underlying cause and prevent permanent nerve damage.