Healthdirect Free Australian health advice you can count on.

Medical problem? Call 1800 022 222. If you need urgent medical help, call triple zero immediately

healthdirect Australia is a free service where you can talk to a nurse or doctor who can help you know what to do.

Sciatica can lead to pain in the back and legs.

Sciatica can lead to pain in the back and legs.
beginning of content

Sciatica

6-minute read

Key facts

  • Sciatica is a type of pain that starts in your back and goes down your leg.
  • It can be caused by anything that presses on your sciatic nerve or its nerve roots in the spine.
  • Most of the time, sciatica is not caused by anything serious and goes away with time.
  • If you have symptoms of sciatica, see your doctor.
  • You can try to prevent sciatica by exercising, maintaining good posture and lifting safely.

Seek medical attention immediately if you have problems controlling your bladder or bowels, or if you have numbness in your genital or anal area.

What is sciatica?

Sciatica is the name for pain that starts in your back and goes down your leg. It occurs when pain travels along the path of the sciatic nerve.

The sciatic nerve comes from nerve roots in your lower spine. It travels through your hip and buttock and down the back of your leg to your knee. Branches of the sciatic nerve go all the way down to your foot.

Anything that presses on the sciatic nerve, or on one of its nerve roots, can cause sciatica. In most cases, the problem is in the spine — even though you feel the pain in your leg.

What are the symptoms of sciatica?

Sciatica is a type of nerve pain, which is usually a burning, stabbing or shooting feeling. It radiates from your buttock down the back of your leg. It often gets worse when you walk, cough, strain on the toilet or go up stairs. Most people only have symptoms in one leg.

You may also feel lower back pain. You might notice pins and needles, numbness or weakness in your leg.

What causes sciatica?

The causes of sciatica include anything that presses on the sciatic nerve or its nerve roots. Most of the time, sciatica is not caused by anything serious. Sometimes, however, sciatica can be caused by:

When should I see my doctor?

See your doctor if you have symptoms of sciatica. They can check what might be causing your symptoms.

It’s very important to see your doctor if you:

  • have severe pain at night or when you lie down
  • lose weight without trying to
  • feel unwell or have a fever
  • have tingling, numbness or weakness in both legs
  • have had an injury
  • feel unsteady when you walk
  • have pain and are younger than 16 or older than 50

You should see your doctor again if your symptoms last longer than 4 weeks or become worse.

Seek medical attention immediately if you have problems controlling your bladder or bowels, or if you have numbness in your genital or anal area.

ASK YOUR DOCTOR — Preparing for an appointment? Use the Question Builder for general tips on what to ask your GP or specialist.

How is sciatica diagnosed?

Your doctor can usually diagnose sciatica by asking about your pain and examining your spine and legs.

Most people with sciatica don’t need any tests. Your doctor may, however, arrange an x-ray or MRI scan of your spine if you have symptoms that suggest a more serious cause for your pain. If you have no signs of a serious cause, your doctor is most likely to recommend you wait and see if your symptoms get better. If they don’t get better, your doctor might arrange an imaging scan to inform what to do next.

How is sciatica treated?

Sciatica usually goes away in time. If your first experience of sciatica is sudden and severe, you may need to rest in bed for a short time — but not for longer than 2 days. It's important to return to activity as soon as possible, to prevent your back becoming stiff and weak. Ask your doctor or pharmacist about pain medicine, if pain is preventing you from regular activities.

Try to go to work and do your usual activities. Take regular breaks and change your position often.

Other treatments may include:

If your symptoms persist, you might have an injection of steroid medicine into your spine. In rare cases you may need surgery.

Can sciatica be prevented?

You can lower your risk of sciatica by protecting your back, for example, by:

  • maintaining good posture
  • trying not to sit or stand for a long time — change positions frequently to reduce stress on your back
  • maintaining a healthy weight
  • getting regular exercise to improve your general fitness
  • doing exercises to strengthen your core muscles
  • lifting safely — bend your knees, not your back

Resources and support

If you suffer from sciatica, see these tips to help you manage your symptoms.

To learn more about nerve pain, visit the pain australia website.

To find a physiotherapist or exercise physiologist near you, use the healthdirect Service Finder tool.

Learn more here about the development and quality assurance of healthdirect content.

Last reviewed: January 2023


Back To Top

Need more information?

These trusted information partners have more on this topic.

Top results

Managing low back pain and sciatica | SA Health

Simple advice on managing low back pain or sciatica to assist your recovery

Read more on SA Health website

Sciatica: treatment - MyDr.com.au

Most sciatica gets better within a few weeks. If not, there are treatments that may help relieve your sciatica pain.

Read more on myDr website

Back pain - MyDr.com.au

Most Australian adults will experience low back pain at some time. Most uncomplicated low back pain resolves after a period of active recovery in 4 weeks.

Read more on myDr website

Sciatica - Better Health Channel

Most cases of sciatica resolve by themselves within six weeks to three months.

Read more on Better Health Channel website

Sciatica: symptoms, causes and diagnosis - MyDr.com.au

Sciatica is characterised by pain deep in the buttock often radiating down the back of the leg. One of the most common causes is a herniated disc.

Read more on myDr website

Back pain – disc problems - Better Health Channel

Most disc problems resolve without specific treatment.

Read more on Better Health Channel website

Backache in pregnancy

There are several things you can do to help prevent backache from happening during your pregnancy, and to help you cope with an aching back if it does occur.

Read more on Pregnancy, Birth & Baby website

TENS - transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation - MyDr.com.au

TENS stands for transcutaneous (through the skin) electrical nerve stimulation. It is a treatment that uses low voltage electrical currents to help treat many painful conditions.

Read more on myDr website

Pain Types - Pain Management - painHEALTH

Learn about Nociceptive pain, Nociceptive imflamatory pain, Neuropathic pain and alloplastic pain to understand how these various pain types can be managed.

Read more on painHEALTH website

Trigeminal neuralgia - MyDr.com.au

Trigeminal neuralgia is a disorder that causes episodes of intense facial pain. Find out about the causes, symptoms and treatments.

Read more on myDr website

Healthdirect 24hr 7 days a week hotline

24 hour health advice you can count on

1800 022 222

Government Accredited with over 140 information partners

We are a government-funded service, providing quality, approved health information and advice

Australian Government, health department logo ACT Government logo New South Wales government, health department logo Northen Territory Government logo Queensland Government logo Government of South Australia, health department logo Tasmanian government logo Victorian government logo Government of Western Australia, health department logo

Healthdirect Australia acknowledges the Traditional Owners of Country throughout Australia and their continuing connection to land, sea and community. We pay our respects to the Traditional Owners and to Elders both past and present.