Does microdiscectomy treat sciatica?

Sciatica describes pain or altered sensation travelling along the sciatic nerve pathway, often from the lower back through the buttock and leg. When a herniated disc is the source, a small disc fragment can irritate a nerve root. Microdiscectomy removes the part pressing on that root, which may reduce leg pain and allow nerve function to recover.

The operation is less likely to help pain that comes only from the back or from another cause. A specialist checks strength, reflexes, sensation, and imaging before linking the symptoms to a particular disc.

For ongoing sciatica, discuss activity modification, pain relief, and physiotherapy with a clinician. If symptoms remain disabling, or weakness is present, ask for a spine assessment. Share whether pain is improving, stable, or spreading, and describe any difficulty climbing stairs, lifting the foot, or standing on tiptoe.

If microdiscectomy is recommended, ask about preparation, movement restrictions, wound care, and a gradual return to normal activities. Keep follow-up appointments so strength and sensation can be checked.

Seek emergency care for new bladder or bowel problems, numbness around the saddle area, or quickly worsening weakness in a leg or both legs. These are serious nerve warning signs. Sudden severe pain with loss of function also deserves urgent assessment.

Ask what is causing the sciatica, whether imaging matches the examination, how long non-surgical care should be tried, and what improvement microdiscectomy is intended to achieve.