Spine · Nerve Pain
Sciatica Treatment in Faridabad
Sciatica is a symptom, not a diagnosis. Treating it well starts with finding out exactly which nerve is irritated — and why.
साइटिका में कमर या कूल्हे से पैर तक नस का तेज़ दर्द, झनझनाहट या सुन्नपन होता है। ज़्यादातर मरीज़ दवा, फिज़ियोथेरेपी और ज़रूरत पड़ने पर नर्व रूट ब्लॉक से बेहतर हो जाते हैं; सर्जरी केवल चुनिंदा मामलों में सोची जाती है।
Understanding Sciatica
Sciatica describes pain travelling along the sciatic nerve — the body's thickest nerve, running from the lower back through the buttock and down the leg. It is formed by nerve roots leaving the lower spine. When one of them is pressed or inflamed, pain shoots along its path, often feeling worse in the leg than in the back. Doctors call this lumbar radiculopathy. Because it is a symptom, the real question is: what is irritating the nerve?
The usual culprit is a slip disc. In older adults, lumbar stenosis or a slipped vertebra may be responsible. Sometimes the cause lies outside the spine — a tight piriformis muscle deep in the buttock, or sacroiliac and hip problems that mimic sciatica. Piriformis pain responds to targeted stretching, while a large disc fragment may need a different plan, so Dr. Naresh Panwar matches your examination with the MRI before suggesting anything.
Common symptoms
Symptoms vary from person to person. Having one of these does not mean you have this condition.
Pain starts in the buttock and travels down the back or side of the thigh, often below the knee, usually on one side.
Patients describe a current, a burning streak or a deep toothache-like pain in the leg.
Numbness over the upper surface of the foot or along the sole hints at which root is involved.
Difficulty standing on the toes or heels, or a dragging foot, suggests significant nerve pressure.
Long sitting, especially on soft seats or two-wheelers, often worsens disc-related sciatica.
Possible causes & risk factors
The most frequent cause, particularly in working-age adults.
Age-related narrowing that pinches nerve roots, typically causing pain on walking.
A buttock muscle irritates the sciatic nerve; diagnosed after spine causes are ruled out.
Infection, tumours, pregnancy-related pressure or injury — rare, but important not to miss.
When to seek help
Book a routine consultation
- Leg pain lasting beyond a few weeks despite simple measures
- Pain that stops you sitting through work or sleeping
- Sciatica that keeps coming back
Seek emergency care
- Bladder or bowel changes, or numbness in the saddle area
- Sudden foot drop or rapidly worsening leg weakness
- Back pain with fever, unexplained weight loss or a past history of cancer
- With any of these signs, go to the nearest emergency department or call 112
How it is diagnosed
Straight-leg-raise and slump tests, reflexes and muscle power help locate the affected nerve root.
Shows disc herniation, stenosis and nerve compression, always matched with your symptoms.
Nerve conduction studies separate root pressure from diabetic neuropathy; numbing a single root can confirm the responsible level.
Available treatment options
Treatment is chosen after examining you and studying your scans. Many people do well without an operation.
Prolonged bed rest usually slows recovery. Walking within comfort and breaking up long sitting help many patients.
Anti-inflammatory painkillers and nerve-pain medicines for a limited period, chosen with your kidneys, stomach and blood sugar in mind.
Nerve-gliding exercises, core strengthening and, where the piriformis is involved, targeted stretches.
Under X-ray guidance, local anaesthetic and steroid are placed beside the irritated root to calm inflammation and buy time for natural healing.
A disc fragment can be removed by microdiscectomy; stenosis may need decompression, and an unstable slip may need fusion.
When neurosurgery may be recommended
- Leg weakness that is present or worsening
- Cauda equina symptoms — this is an emergency
- Severe sciatica not improving after several weeks of well-supervised non-surgical treatment
- Pain that returns repeatedly and limits work and daily life
Procedure overview
A simplified outline. The exact steps depend on your scans and the approach chosen.
- Review and consentYour MRI and any blood-thinning medicines are reviewed, and the procedure is explained before you agree.
- PositioningYou lie face down; the skin is cleaned and numbed with local anaesthetic.
- Image-guided needle placementUsing live X-ray, a thin needle is guided to the root's exit, and contrast dye confirms the position.
- Injection and observationMedicine is injected slowly and you are observed briefly; most patients go home the same day.
Potential benefits, risks & limitations
Potential benefits
- Can reduce leg pain enough to allow physiotherapy
- Helps confirm which nerve root is the source
- May help some patients avoid or delay surgery
Possible risks
- Temporary increase in pain or leg numbness
- Infection or bleeding at the injection site
- Rarely, nerve injury or a headache from a dural puncture
- Raised blood sugar for a few days in people with diabetes
A nerve root block calms inflammation but does not remove a disc fragment or widen a narrow canal, so relief may be partial or temporary.
Recovery & follow-up
Recovery from sciatica is rarely a straight line. Leg pain often eases first, while numbness takes longer because nerves heal slowly.
Return to work, driving and two-wheeler riding varies with your job and leg strength. A home exercise routine, better sitting posture and weight loss where needed may lower the chance of another episode.
Why consult Dr. Naresh Panwar
- Trained in surgery at KGMU, Lucknow (MS) and in neurosurgery at SMS Medical College, Jaipur (MCh)
- Leads Unit (II) – Neurosurgery as Senior Consultant at Sarvodaya Hospital, Faridabad
- Spine surgery and Minimally Invasive Spine Surgery appear in his official hospital profile
- Earlier Senior Resident in Neurosurgery at RMLIMS, Lucknow, and Consultant at Asian Institute of Medical Sciences, Faridabad
Questions to ask your surgeon
Write these down and bring them to your appointment.
- Which nerve root is causing my leg pain?
- Is the cause in my spine or in the buttock muscle?
- How long is it reasonable to try non-surgical treatment?
- Would a nerve root block help in my case?
- Which warning signs mean I should come back immediately?
Frequently asked questions
Sciatica ka treatment kya hai — kya operation zaroori hai?
For most people, no. Sciatica often settles with medicines, physiotherapy and staying gently active. Surgery is discussed for weakness, bladder or bowel trouble, or disabling pain that does not improve after a fair trial of non-surgical care.
How do I know if it is sciatica or ordinary back pain?
Ordinary back pain stays mostly in the back and upper buttock; sciatica travels below the knee, often with foot tingling. Our guide on sciatica versus normal back pain explains more.
Can piriformis syndrome be mistaken for a slip disc?
Yes. Both cause buttock and leg pain. Careful examination, MRI and sometimes nerve tests separate them, and their treatments differ.
Does sciatica mean my nerve is damaged for life?
Not usually. Nerves can recover once pressure and inflammation reduce, though numbness may improve more slowly than pain. Progressive weakness needs prompt assessment.
I live in Ballabhgarh — where can I consult for sciatica?
Dr. Naresh Panwar consults at Sarvodaya Hospital, Sector 8, near Escorts Mujesar Metro on the Violet Line, which also serves Ballabhgarh. Call +91 96608 88640 to check consultation timings.
Related care & reading
Appointments
Your brain and spine health deserve a carefully considered plan.
Request a consultation with Dr. Naresh Panwar at Sarvodaya Hospital, Sector 8, Faridabad. Bring your MRI or CT scans and reports, and the care team will help you prepare.