Leg & Foot

Sciatica & Lumbar Radiculopathy

Shooting pain that travels from the low back down the leg along the sciatic nerve.

Understanding it

Sciatica happens when a lumbar nerve root is compressed or inflamed — most often by a herniated disc or spinal stenosis. Most cases improve without surgery when inflammation around the nerve is controlled. Targeted epidural injections calm the nerve while the underlying disc problem heals, and are one of the best-validated tools for getting patients through a sciatica episode.

When to seek care

Seek care promptly for leg weakness, numbness in the groin, or bladder/bowel changes. For pain alone, if symptoms persist beyond 2–4 weeks, early treatment can prevent a long course.

How Dr. Iyer treats it