Preparing for an appointment

Not everyone who has sciatica needs medical care. If your symptoms are severe or persist for more than a month, though, make an appointment with your primary care doctor.

What you can do

• Write down your symptoms and when they began.
• List key medical information, including other conditions you have and the names of medications, vitamins or supplements you take.
• Note recent accidents or injuries that might have damaged your back.
• Take a family member or friend along, if possible. Someone who accompanies you can help you remember what your doctor tells you.
• Write down questions to ask your doctor to make the most of your appointment time.

For radiating low back pain, some basic questions to ask your doctor include:

• What's the most likely cause of my back pain?
• Are there other possible causes?
• Do I need diagnostic tests?
• What treatment do you recommend?
• If you're recommending medications, what are the possible side effects?
• For how long will I need to take medication?
• Am I a candidate for surgery? Why or why not?
• Are there restrictions I need to follow?
• What self-care measures should I take?
• What can I do to prevent my symptoms from recurring?

Don't hesitate to ask other questions.

What to expect from your doctor

Your doctor is likely to ask you a number of questions, such as:

• Do you have numbness or weakness in your legs?
• Do certain body positions or activities make your pain better or worse?
• How limiting is your pain?
• Do you do heavy physical work?
• Do you exercise regularly? If yes, with what types of activities?
• What treatments or self-care measures have you tried? Has anything helped?