By Dr. Swapnil Sanjay Hajare
MBBS, MS Orthopaedics, Fellowship in Orthopaedic Spine Surgery
Fellowship in Endoscopic Spine Surgery, Nagpur
What Is Sciatica?
Sciatica is a nerve pain that starts in the lower back and travels through the buttock down the leg. It occurs when the sciatic nerve—the longest and thickest nerve in the human body—gets compressed or irritated.
Most patients describe it as:
- Sharp or burning pain
- Tingling or numbness
- Electric shock–like sensation
- Pain worsening while sitting, bending, or lifting
How Common Is Sciatica?
Sciatica is very common:
- 10%–40% adults experience it at least once in their lifetime
- Peak age group: 30–55 years
- Common in people with sitting jobs, heavy lifting work, obesity, or degenerative spine changes
Can Sciatica Improve Without Surgery?
Yes.
More than 70–85% patients recover without surgery, usually within 4–8 weeks with:
- Medicines
- Physiotherapy
- Lifestyle corrections
- Epidural injections (if required)
Only 10–15% need surgery due to severe nerve compression or progressive symptoms.
Why Does Sciatica Happen? (Main Causes)
- Slipped disc (most common)
- Bone spur formation
- Spinal canal stenosis
- Degenerative disc disease
- Injury or trauma
- Poor posture or long sitting
- Heavy lifting or twisting
- Diabetes-related nerve inflammation
Symptoms That Need Attention
- Pain radiating from back to leg
- Numbness or tingling
- Weakness in foot or leg
- Difficulty walking
- Severe pain not improving with medicines
- Loss of bladder/bowel control (emergency)
When Is Surgery Required?
Surgery is advised when:
- Pain remains severe despite proper treatment
- Leg weakness increases
- Numbness worsens
- MRI shows major nerve compression
- Daily activities become difficult
- Rarely, in cases of bladder/bowel dysfunction
Types of Surgeries for Sciatica
- Endoscopic Discectomy (Most advanced & preferred)
• Keyhole incision (8 mm)
• Minimal blood loss
• Same-day walking
• Fast recovery
• Less pain - Microdiscectomy
• Standard minimal invasive surgery
• Removes herniated disc material
• Highly successful - Laminectomy / Decompression
• For severe stenosis
• Relieves nerve pressure - Fusion Surgery
• Only for instability or repeated disc herniation
Why Choose Endoscopic Spine Surgery?
- Stitchless approach
- Least muscle damage
- Early return to work
- Lower infection risk
- High success rate for leg pain relief
FAQs (English + Hindi + Marathi)
Why is it called Sciatica?
- English:
It is called Sciatica because the pain follows the pathway of the sciatic nerve, the largest nerve in the body. When this nerve is compressed—usually by a slipped disc—the pain radiates from the lower back to the leg, hence the name Sciatica. - Hindi:
इसे साइअटिका इसलिए कहा जाता है क्योंकि दर्द सियाटिक नस के रास्ते पर फैलता है। यह शरीर की सबसे लंबी नस है। जब यह नस स्लिप डिस्क या हड्डी की वजह से दब जाती है, तो कमर से पैर तक दर्द फैलता है, इसलिए इसका नाम साइअटिका है। - Marathi:
याला सायकॅटिका म्हणतात कारण वेदना सायटिक नर्वच्या मार्गाने पसरतात. ही शरीरातील सर्वात लांब आणि जाड नस आहे. डिस्क सरकल्यामुळे किंवा हाड दाबल्यामुळे ही नस दाबली गेली तर कंबरेपासून पायापर्यंत वेदना जाते, म्हणून याला सायकॅटिका म्हणतात.
What percentage of people are affected by Sciatica?
- English:
About 10%–40% of people experience sciatica at least once in their lifetime. - Hindi:
कुल 10%–40% लोग अपने जीवन में कभी न कभी साइअटिका का अनुभव करते हैं। - Marathi:
सुमारे 10%–40% लोकांना आयुष्यात कधी ना कधी सायकॅटिका होतो.
How many patients recover without surgery?
- English:
Around 70–85% patients recover without surgery with medicines, exercises, and physiotherapy. - Hindi:
लगभग 70–85% मरीज बिना सर्जरी के ही ठीक हो जाते हैं—दवाइयों, व्यायाम और फिजियोथेरेपी से। - Marathi:
सुमारे 70–85% रुग्ण औषधे, व्यायाम आणि फिजिओमुळे शस्त्रक्रिया न करता बरे होतात.
What causes Sciatica?
- English:
Most common cause is a slipped disc, but bone spur, stenosis, injury, or poor posture can also compress the nerve. - Hindi:
सबसे आम कारण स्लिप डिस्क है, लेकिन बोन स्पर, स्टेनोसिस, चोट या गलत बैठने की आदत भी नस दबा सकती है। - Marathi:
सर्वात सामान्य कारण डिस्क सरकणे आहे. मात्र हाडाची वाढ, स्टेनोसिस, दुखापत किंवा चुकीची बसण्याची सवय यामुळेही नस दाबली जाऊ शकते.
When is surgery needed?
- English:
Surgery is needed for severe pain, increasing weakness, or when MRI shows major nerve compression. - Hindi:
ज्यादा दर्द, बढ़ती कमजोरी या MRI में नस पर ज्यादा दबाव दिखने पर सर्जरी जरूरी होती है। - Marathi:
खूप वेदना, वाढणारी कमजोरी किंवा MRI मध्ये मोठा दाब दिसल्यास शस्त्रक्रिया आवश्यक होते.
Sciatica permanently curable?
- English:
Yes, especially when the cause (like slipped disc) is treated. Endoscopic surgery offers long-term relief. - Hindi:
हां, कारण (जैसे स्लिप डिस्क) का सही इलाज होने पर साइअटिका ठीक हो जाता है। एंडोस्कोपिक सर्जरी लंबे समय तक राहत देती है। - Marathi:
होय, विशेषतः डिस्क सरकण्यासारखे कारण दूर केल्यावर सायकॅटिका बरा होतो. एंडोस्कोपिक शस्त्रक्रिया दीर्घकालीन आराम देते.
How successful is Endoscopic Discectomy?
- English:
Success rate is 90–95% for relief of leg pain caused by disc herniation. - Hindi:
डिस्क की वजह से होने वाले पैर दर्द में एंडोस्कोपिक डिस्केक्टॉमी की सफलता 90–95% है। - Marathi:
डिस्क हर्नियेशनमुळे होणाऱ्या पायाच्या वेदनांमध्ये एंडोस्कोपिक डिस्केक्टॉमीची यशस्विता 90–95% आहे.