When to see your doctor
If your sciatica persists or worsens after using several home remedies, then you need to visit a doctor for a medical diagnosis. You may have to take painkillers, muscle relaxers, and other drugs to improve the condition. In some cases, your healthcare provider may prescribe epidural steroid medications. Your doctor will inject this medication into the affected region of your spinal cord to reduce inflammation.
If your condition is severe, your doctor may recommend surgery. You will undergo surgery if the pain exacerbates, even after treatment or if you experience serious weakness in your muscles that leads to loss of bowel or bladder control.
Microdiscectomy is a minimally invasive surgery that reduces the pains associated with sciatica. It is a procedure that involves removing the disc material exerting pressure on your sciatic nerve. A laminectomy is another procedure that involves removing bones to reduce pressure on your spinal cord.