sciatica

Sciatica (Shooting Leg Pain)

Sciatica (Shooting Leg Pain) causes sharp pain that travels from your lower back through your hip and down the leg, often making it hard to sit, stand, or sleep. Our spine specialists in Southeast Michigan provide same-week evaluations and coordinated care—from targeted injections and physical therapy to minimally invasive surgery when needed.
Scott McCarty, MD
Medically Reviewed by Scott McCarty, MD on July 6, 2026

Understanding Sciatica

Sciatica is not a diagnosis itself, but a set of symptoms caused when the sciatic nerve is irritated or compressed. Most cases stem from a herniated disc, spinal stenosis, or bone spur in the lumbar spine. Pain typically follows one leg and may include numbness, tingling, or weakness.

At Synergy Health Partners, our integrated spine team starts with advanced imaging and a conservative-first treatment plan. Because imaging, pain management, physical therapy, and surgery are coordinated under one roof, you spend less time navigating referrals and more time getting relief.

Common Symptoms

  • Sharp or burning pain that radiates from the lower back into the buttock and leg
  • Numbness or tingling along the back of the thigh, calf, or foot
  • Leg weakness that makes walking or climbing stairs difficult
  • Pain worsened by sitting, coughing, or prolonged standing
  • Lower back stiffness alongside leg symptoms

Causes & Risk Factors

Sciatica most often develops when a lumbar disc herniates and presses on a nerve root. Other causes include spinal stenosis, degenerative disc disease, spondylolisthesis, piriformis syndrome, and trauma.

Risk increases with age, repetitive heavy lifting, prolonged sitting, obesity, diabetes, and jobs that require twisting the spine. Early evaluation helps prevent chronic nerve irritation and muscle weakness.

Diagnosis

Your evaluation begins with a detailed history, neurological exam, and mobility testing. Our specialists may order MRI or CT imaging to identify the exact source of nerve compression and rule out other conditions.

Because Synergy offers imaging and specialist consults in one network, most patients receive a clear diagnosis and treatment plan quickly—often within the same week. CLICK HERE to see our MRI Locations.

When to See a Doctor

Schedule a spine evaluation if leg pain lasts more than a few days, interferes with sleep, or follows an injury. Seek urgent care for sudden leg weakness, loss of bladder or bowel control, or severe pain after a fall. Early treatment improves outcomes and helps many patients avoid surgery.

Why Synergy Health for Sciatica?

Conservative care, injections, and surgery are coordinated by one spine team—so you get a clear plan without bouncing between providers.
  • Same-week spine evaluations across Southeast Michigan
  • Fellowship-trained spine surgeons and pain management specialists
  • On-site imaging, physical therapy, and rehabilitation
  • Conservative-first approach with surgery only when appropriate

Treatment Options

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Most sciatica improves with non-surgical care. When symptoms persist, our minimally invasive spine procedures target the source of nerve compression with shorter recovery times.

PROVEN RESULTS FOR SPINE CARE

Why Choose Synergy?

Our coordinated spine program helps patients return to daily activities faster with less fragmentation between specialists.
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0 %

of patients report significant pain improvement

(6 months)

0 %

would recommend their Synergy spine specialist

(1 year)

0 %

avoid surgery with coordinated conservative care

(12 weeks)

Data Source: CODE Technology PRO Surveys (2025).