Sciatica

Sciatica is pain that starts in the lower back or buttock and travels down the back of the leg, sometimes all the way to the foot. It happens when the sciatic nerve, the longest nerve in the body, or the nerve roots that form it get pressed or irritated. Studies show that up to 4 in 10 people may have sciatica at some point in their life, and it is most common between the ages of 30 and 60.

Sciatica is not a disease on its own but a sign of a problem in the spine, most often a slipped disc or narrowing of the space around the nerves. With long sitting hours, daily travel and less exercise, many people in Mumbai are facing sciatica at a younger age. Most sciatica gets better with the right care, but if the leg pain is severe, lasts for weeks or causes weakness, proper treatment is needed. At SpineArc, Dr. Tanmay Avhad finds the exact nerve and cause behind your leg pain and treats it with a step by step approach, from injections to endoscopic spine surgery when truly needed.

Symptoms

Sciatica usually affects one leg and can feel different for each person. Common symptoms include:

Pain that starts in the lower back or buttock and runs down the back of the thigh and leg.

Burning, sharp or electric shock like pain in the leg.

Numbness, tingling or a pins and needles feeling in the leg or foot.

Weakness in the leg or foot, like difficulty standing on toes or lifting the foot.

Pain that becomes worse with sitting, bending, coughing or sneezing.

In rare cases, numbness around the private parts or loss of bladder or bowel control, which needs emergency care.

Causes

Sciatica happens when something presses on or irritates the nerve roots in the lower back or the sciatic nerve itself. Some of the most common causes are:

Slipped disc in the lower back pressing on a nerve root.

Lumbar spinal stenosis, where the space for the nerves becomes narrow with age.

Foraminal stenosis, where the opening through which the nerve exits the spine gets tight.

Spondylolisthesis, where one spine bone slips over another.

Piriformis syndrome, where a tight buttock muscle presses on the sciatic nerve.

Injuries to the lower back or pelvis from falls or accidents.

In rare cases, spine infection or tumour pressing on the nerve.

Diagnosis & Treatment

To treat sciatica the right way, the exact nerve and cause must be found first. At SpineArc, diagnosis and treatment follow a step by step approach:

Detailed physical check including leg strength, reflexes, sensation and the straight leg raise test to find which nerve is affected.
MRI scan to see the discs, nerves and spinal canal clearly and find the exact level of pressure.
Medicines and physiotherapy, including painkillers, nerve pain medicines and guided stretching and strengthening exercises.
Lifestyle changes like avoiding long sitting, correct lifting, good posture and weight control.
Image-guided spine injections, like selective nerve root blocks, epidural injections or piriformis injections, to calm the irritated nerve and reduce leg pain.
Endoscopic spine surgery for sciatica that does not improve with other treatment or causes weakness. The disc or bone pressing on the nerve is removed through a small 8mm cut using a camera, often under local anaesthesia, and most patients go home within 24 to 36 hours.
Minimally invasive fusion only in selected cases, like spondylolisthesis with an unstable spine.

Risk Factors

Some people are more likely to get sciatica. Knowing these factors can help you take early care:

Age

Disc wear and narrowing of the spine increase with age, especially after 30.

Long sitting

Office work and long driving put steady pressure on the lower back and nerves.

Heavy physical work

Jobs with lifting, bending and twisting increase the risk of disc problems.

Extra body weight

More weight means more load on the lower spine.

Diabetes and smoking

Diabetes can make nerves more sensitive to damage, and smoking weakens the discs.

You Deserve a Life Without Sciatica Pain

Get the right diagnosis and advanced sciatica treatment in Mumbai from Dr. Tanmay Avhad at 4 hospitals across the city. Available 6 days a week, book your consultation today.

GOT QUESTIONS?

Frequently Asked Questions

Everything you need to know about sciatica treatment in Mumbai, answered simply by Dr. Tanmay Avhad.

What is the main cause of sciatica?

The most common cause is a slipped disc in the lower back pressing on a nerve root. Other causes include spinal stenosis, spondylolisthesis and piriformis syndrome.

How long does sciatica pain last?

Many people feel better within 4 to 6 weeks with the right care. If the pain lasts longer, keeps coming back or causes weakness, you should see a spine specialist.

Can sciatica be treated without surgery?

Yes. Most sciatica improves with medicines, physiotherapy and image-guided injections like nerve root blocks. Surgery is needed only in a small number of patients.

When is surgery needed for sciatica?

Surgery may be suggested if severe leg pain continues even after proper treatment, if there is weakness in the leg or foot, or if there is loss of bladder or bowel control.

How does endoscopic surgery help sciatica?

Endoscopic spine surgery removes the disc or bone pressing on the nerve through a small 8mm cut using a camera. Most patients feel leg pain relief soon after surgery and go home within 24 to 36 hours.

How can I book an appointment for sciatica treatment?

You can call +91 79779 26003 or +91 99203 97922, send a WhatsApp message, or fill the form on this website. Our team will call you to confirm your time and hospital.

Where does Dr. Tanmay Avhad consult in Mumbai?

Dr. Tanmay consults at 6 hospitals in Mumbai:

Sphere Multispeciality Clinic, Dadar East, Mumbai (Mon, Wed & Fri – 6:00 PM to 7:00 PM)
Aryan Multispeciality Hospital, Kalachowki (Mon, Wed & Fri – 5PM to 6PM)
Life Care Hospital, Sion (Tue, Thu & Sat – 5PM to 6PM)
Lion Tarachand Bapa Hospital, Sion, Mumbai (Tue, Thu & Sat – 6:30PM to 7:30PM)
Sushrut Hospital and Research Centre, Chembur (Tue, Thu & Sat – 8PM to 9PM)
Gleneagles Hospital, Parel