The only way to know for certain is to visit one of our trained physicians at Advanced Physical Medicine. But you may suspect you have sciatica if you regularly have:

• Pain that starts in your buttock and runs down your leg
• Weakness or numbness in your leg, foot, or toes
• Radiating pain that makes walking or standing difficult
• Burning sensations down your leg

When you first meet with your dedicated pain expert at Advanced Physical Medicine, they’ll talk with you about your symptoms. Let your doctor know what your pain feels like — if it’s burning versus shooting — and how often your pain flares up. If you can do anything to make it better, or if you know something makes it worse, your physician needs to know.

After your doctor gets a little background information on your pain, they’ll perform a physical examination, checking your spine and observing while you make certain movements. To get a clearer picture of what’s going on inside your body, you might need to have some imaging ordered like an X-ray or MRI. You should know if you have sciatica and what your treatment consists of by the end of your visit.