Doctors Test for Sciatica with a Range of Techniques

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Doctors Test for Sciatica with a Range of Techniques

Unfortunately, there is no one sciatica test. If you suspect you have this condition, your doctor may have to conduct a variety of procedures to know for sure. But because sciatica is common, doctors can generally diagnose it with relative ease once they’ve gone through these procedures.

Here are some of the methods your doctor will use to diagnose sciatica:

Physical examination: you may be asked to move in certain ways so your doctor can see what positions cause you pain and if and where your range of motion is affected. This visual test can indicate sciatica because the condition limits mobility.
Interview: your doctor will ask you many questions about your symptoms, including when they started, how severe they are, where they are felt, and if different activities make them worse. The doctor will also zero in on whether or not your pain travels down one of your legs, since that is highly indicative of sciatica.
Medical imaging test: sciatica can be diagnosed using visual aids like MRIs and CT scans when used in conjunction with physical exams and a patient interview.
Spinal injection: a combination of steroids and anesthetic is injected into the spine near the sciatic nerve. Doctors can test for sciatica using this method by observing whether the pain disappears after the injection.

If your doctor has conducted a combination of these procedures and determined that you suffer from sciatica, there are several treatment options to pursue. If you have a very severe case, surgery may be required for substantial pain relief. If you find yourself in this situation, you may want to consider endoscopic spine surgery from Laser Spine Institute. It is highly successful in treating sciatica and is safer than traditional back surgery.

Contact LSI today. We’ll review your medical imaging test for sciatica to determine if you are a good candidate for our procedures.

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