Sciatica diagnosis

Sciatica is pain that goes down your back and leg following a large nerve called the sciatic nerve. To find out if someone has sciatica, doctors will talk to the patient about their pain and look at their medical records. Then, they'll ask when the pain started, what it feels like, and what makes it better or worse. Then, the doctor will do a physical check-up. They'll test how strong the patient's muscles are, check their reflexes, and see how well they can feel touch. They'll also look for signs that might show sciatica, like pain when lifting the legs. The physician will also do a neurological exam. This particular check-up looks at how well the nerves are working. It can help the doctor understand why the patient is having pain. If the pain worsens, the medic might want to take pictures of the patient's back. MRIs help to determine if something like a slipped disc, a narrow spine, or a tumor is causing the pain. Sometimes, the doctor might do an electromyography (EMG) test to diagnose how the muscles and nerves work and if something is pressing on a nerve. By doing all these, physicians can determine if someone has sciatica, what's causing it, and decide the best way to treat it.