Sciatica (Radicular Leg Pain)
Evaluation and treatment planning for leg pain that radiates from the lower back, often with numbness, tingling, or weakness along a specific nerve path.
Sciatica is a pattern of pain that follows a nerve root as it leaves the lower spine and travels down the leg. The most common cause is a herniated lumbar disc pressing on the nerve, but other causes exist and benefit from a careful evaluation before any treatment plan.
Dr. Zuhair Abu Salma treats sciatica with a stepwise approach — accurate diagnosis first, conservative care when appropriate, and surgical decompression (most often microsurgical discectomy) only when the pattern and the imaging both point to it.
Common symptoms
- Sharp or burning pain traveling from the lower back into the buttock and down one leg
- Numbness or tingling along the back of the leg or in the foot
- Weakness in lifting the foot (foot drop) or pushing off with the toes
- Pain that improves when leaning forward or lying with knees bent
When to see a doctor
- Leg weakness that is new or worsening (foot drop, difficulty walking)
- Numbness in the groin or around the rectum, or loss of bladder/bowel control
- Severe pain that has not improved after several weeks of rest and medication
- Pain that follows an injury or a fall
What to expect at your visit
- A clear answer on whether the pattern fits sciatica or a different nerve issue
- Targeted exam maneuvers and a review of any prior imaging
- A stepwise plan — not a one-size-fits-all recommendation
- Referral to physiotherapy or a targeted injection when these are the right next step
Related reading & care
Care at the clinic
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Spinal procedures for disc herniation, stenosis, spinal cord tumors, deformity, fractures, and chronic spine pain.
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Facet Joint Decompression: When the Small Joints of the Spine Cause Big Pain
Between every pair of vertebrae sit two small joints. When they become inflamed, overgrown, or cystic, they can compress the nerve next to them and cause severe leg pain.
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When Sciatica Is Not Caused by Disc Compromise
Read caseBook your consultation
Book an appointment with Dr. Zuhair Abu Salma at Vetro Medical Center, Al-Khalidi Street, Amman.