SCIATICA & LUMBAR RADICULOPATHY · GREATER BOSTON
Sciatica (Lumbar Radiculopathy)
When pain travels down your leg, understanding why is the first step.
Sciatica can make everyday activities — sitting, standing, walking, or even sleeping — uncomfortable. You may feel sharp or burning pain, tingling, numbness, or weakness that travels from your lower back or buttock into your leg.
Dr. Gabriel Perrone helps patients understand what's causing these symptoms and explore the full range of treatment options, from physical therapy and targeted injections to minimally invasive or endoscopic surgery when appropriate.
The goal isn't simply to treat what appears on an MRI. It's to understand what's affecting you and choose a treatment that makes sense for your life.
What is sciatica?
Sciatica is a common term for pain that travels along the path of the sciatic nerve, often from the buttock down the back or side of the leg.
One common cause is lumbar radiculopathy — irritation or compression of a nerve root in the lower spine.
This can happen when a herniated disc, age-related changes, or narrowing around a nerve places pressure on it.
Although people often describe sciatica as back pain, the most noticeable symptoms may actually be in the leg.
UNDERSTANDING YOUR SYMPTOMS
What does sciatica feel like?
COMMON SIGNS
Symptoms vary depending on which nerve is affected. Some patients have significant leg pain with very little back pain. Not all leg pain comes from the spine. A careful examination helps determine whether the symptoms are caused by nerve irritation or another condition.
You might experience:
Pain traveling from the buttock into one leg
Sharp, shooting, burning, or electric-like pain
Tingling or pins-and-needles sensations
Numbness in part of the leg or foot
Weakness when lifting the foot or pushing off while walking
Symptoms that worsen with certain positions or activities
WHY IT HAPPENS
What causes lumbar radiculopathy (sciatica)?
Several conditions can irritate or compress a nerve in the lower back.
A disc can bulge or herniate and irritate a nearby nerve root. This is a common cause of sciatica, particularly when leg pain develops relatively suddenly.
Herniated Disc
Lumbar Spinal Stenosis
Narrowing around the nerves can cause leg pain, numbness, or weakness. Symptoms may be more noticeable with standing or walking.
Changes in the discs, joints, and surrounding structures of the spine can sometimes narrow the spaces where nerves travel.
