You've probably heard the term sciatica since you were a small child, usually associated with an elderly person walking slowly, slightly bent over, and complaining about back pain. Unfortunately, it's still being used today when talking about the all familiar numbness and pain that seems to radiate all the way down the leg and past the knee. Sciatica is usually caused by a displaced or 'slipped' disc located in the lower part of the spine.

The good news is that most individuals suffering from sciatica never need physical therapy or steroids to deal with the problem. In most cases, sufferers report improvement in about 10 days or so, and the rest reported it took about a month before they felt completely normal again.

Sciatica Symptoms and Diagnosis
Both legs have a long sciatic nerve that goes from the buttock all the way down through the back of the thigh and down to the feet and toes. The pain that is reported is actually following the course of the nerves and the branches. So, even though the pain is actually in the lower lumbar, the pain goes far beyond the back.

Unlike spinal stenosis or osteoarthritis, sciatica symptoms start suddenly. You probably know someone who says they sneezed, or bent over to pick up the newspaper, and their backs 'went out'. They suddenly feel a sharp stabbing pain and runs down one leg. Soon, those affected also reported weakness, numbness, and tingling in one or both legs.
The slipped or displaced disc responsible for the pain doesn't even actually sit on the sciatica nerve, but rests on the nerve roots that come from the lower spine to help form the actual nerve.

Diagnosis involves the ability of the patient to report how they have been feeling including symptoms, times, and even actions that make them feel better or worse in relation to the back pain. One test that may be performed by the doctor is what is called a straight leg test. This simple test involves the physician lifting one leg while the patient lies on his or her back, also known as the supine position. If this movement causes the same pain as reported to the physician, it's a good sign that the patient is suffering from a slipped disk, or sciatica.

A physician may also opt to have the patient undergo an MRI, but this is usually saved until the need for surgery appears eminent.

Treatment
Treatment for sciatica used to involve bed rest, however, over the course of the last 10 years or so, physicians are recommending that patients continue their daily activities, as tolerated by their back pain. Pain medications such as anti-inflammatory are often given to aid in discomfort and to help the patient continue moving with less pain.
Physical therapy is another option often prescribed, along with pain medications, to help strengthen the muscles in both the abdomen and spine.

Before surgery, another treatment if all else fails, is the use of steroid injections directly into the lower spine.
It is important to keep your physician informed of all symptoms, and how well you are or are not tolerating the course of treatment.