Sciatica Treatment in Long Island & Queens

Sciatica is pain that radiates from the lower back or buttock down the leg along the sciatic nerve, most often caused by a herniated disc or spinal stenosis pinching a nerve root. It is rarely dangerous and usually improves within 6–12 weeks with conservative care — but sudden weakness or loss of bladder control is an emergency.

Medically reviewed by Kanwarpaul Grewal, DO — Orthopedic Spine Surgeon, UCSF Complex Spine & Deformity Fellowship. Reviewed July 2026.

Quick facts

Fact	Detail
What it is	A symptom (radiating leg pain), not a diagnosis
Most common causes	Herniated disc (younger), spinal stenosis (older)
Typical course	Improves in 6–12 weeks in most cases
First-line treatment	Stay active + physical therapy
Treated without surgery	Over 90% of patients we see

What is sciatica?

Sciatica describes pain traveling along the sciatic nerve — from the low back through the buttock and down the back of the leg, sometimes past the knee to the foot. It is a symptom of nerve-root irritation, not a disease in itself, which is why pinning down the cause matters more than the label.

What causes it?

The most common cause is a herniated lumbar disc pressing a nerve root. In older adults, lumbar spinal stenosis is the leading cause. Less often, sciatica-like pain comes from the piriformis muscle, the SI joint, or hip pathology — distinctions that change treatment, which is why an exam matters.

Symptoms

Classic sciatica is a sharp, burning, or electric pain down one leg, frequently with numbness or tingling and sometimes weakness. Disc-related sciatica is usually worse with sitting, bending, or coughing; stenosis-related sciatica is worse with standing and walking and eases when you sit or lean forward.

How we diagnose it

We localize the involved nerve root with a targeted neurological exam and straight-leg-raise testing. Imaging is reserved for severe, persistent, or red-flag cases; most sciatica is diagnosed and successfully managed without immediate MRI.

Treatment: our conservative-first ladder

(1) Stay active — bed rest beyond a day or two slows recovery. (2) Physical therapy at Go Rehab to reduce nerve irritation and restore mechanics. (3) For persistent radicular pain, a fluoroscopy-guided epidural steroid injection with our pain team. (4) Surgery (microdiscectomy or targeted decompression) only for unrelenting pain or nerve weakness that fails conservative care.

When surgery makes sense — and when it doesn’t

Consider surgery for progressive weakness, foot drop, or leg pain that stays disabling after a fair conservative trial; it’s an emergency for cauda equina syndrome. Surgery is not the first step for typical sciatica that is improving, and it does little for back-dominant pain without a clear nerve target.

When to seek emergency care Saddle numbness, new bladder/bowel changes, or rapidly progressing leg weakness Call 911 or go to the ER immediately — do not book an office visit.

Frequently asked questions

How long does sciatica last?

Most episodes resolve within 6–12 weeks with conservative care.

Can sciatica cause permanent damage?

Rarely — but progressive weakness or bladder changes need urgent care to protect the nerve.

How should I sleep with sciatica?

Many find relief on their back with a pillow under the knees, or on their side with a pillow between the knees.

Is it a disc or my hip?

Groin pain and pain rotating the hip suggest the hip; pain traveling below the knee suggests a nerve. An exam sorts it out.

Do I need an MRI?

Not usually at first, unless weakness or red flags are present.

Can I exercise with sciatica?

Yes — guided movement helps. We’ll show you what to do and what to avoid.

Sources: NASS — Clinical Guidelines for Lumbar Disc Herniation with Radiculopathy; American College of Physicians low back pain guideline (Ann Intern Med); SPORT trial (JBJS); AAOS OrthoInfo — Sciatica.

Four offices across Long Island & Queens

East Meadow · Westbury · Lindenhurst · Elmhurst (Queens). Same-week appointments. Most major insurance, Medicare, workers’ comp and no-fault accepted. Care available in English, Punjabi, Hindi, Urdu, and Spanish.