How is Sciatica Diagnosed?
Your physiotherapist or doctor will review your symptoms and your complete medical history. You’re most likely to get sciatica when you’re 30 to 50 years old. It may happen due to the effects of general wear and tear, plus any sudden pressure on the discs that cushion the vertebrae of your lower (lumbar) spine. Your therapist will ask if you have low back pain that spreads to the leg and will test you for muscle weakness in your leg or foot. They will also want to know if you’ve had an injury, fever, problems controlling your bowels or bladder, previous cancers and whether you’ve been losing weight without trying. These answers to these questions are important because if these symptoms are present, the cause of sciatica could be a serious condition, such as a bone fracture or infection. Your physiotherapist will examine you, paying special attention to your spine and legs. To look for problems in your spinal column and related nerves, your therapist may ask you to perform a series of t
