When the sciatic nerves become irritated, they can cause aching, tingling, burning and shooting pain in your lower back, hips and legs. This condition is called sciatica. While most of the time sciatica will heal with physical therapy or other nonsurgical treatments, sometimes surgery is needed to help you move comfortably again. Our orthopedic spine surgeons and neurosurgeons perform a wide range of surgeries for sciatica, including minimally invasive surgeries that have faster recovery times.

Each decision to have surgery for sciatica begins with a consultation. Even though sciatica can be treated without surgery most of the time, we’ll examine you and guide you to the best treatment for your condition, whether that’s spine surgery or a nonsurgical option. And if you need sciatica surgery, you’ll have a team of award-winning surgeons by your side every step of the way.

Sciatic nerve pain can be debilitating, causing extreme pain, muscle weakness and tingling. Most of the time, our physical therapists and nonsurgical spine specialists can help you manage your symptoms without surgery. We’ll examine you and create a treatment plan based on your condition, symptoms and goals. If we determine that surgery is needed, we’ll connect you with the right specialist to make sure you get the care you need to feel better.

The only way to know if you need surgery to treat sciatica is by talking with a spine expert. However, there are some signs to watch for that may mean you’re a good candidate for surgery.

• Your symptoms haven’t improved with nonsurgical treatments
• You have neurological symptoms (numbness, weakness, difficulty walking) that are getting worse with time
• You’ve experienced loss of bladder or bowel control
• Sciatic pain makes it challenging to work, exercise or do other activities you enjoy

If you experience any of these issues, make a doctor’s appointment as soon as possible. Our orthopedic surgeons and neurosurgeons will guide you to the best treatment for your needs, whether that’s sciatica surgery or a nonsurgical treatment.

We offer a range of surgeries to treat sciatica pain and other symptoms. We’ll choose the most effective and minimally invasive surgery for you based on your symptoms, condition and overall health.

One of the main causes of sciatica is pressure on the sciatic nerve. Reducing pressure can help ease back pain.

The laminae are bony plates in the spine that form a protective arch over the nerves and spinal cord. Swelling or inflammation from injury or illness can cause the sciatic nerve to press uncomfortably against them.

Laminotomies and laminectomies are two types of minimally invasive spine surgeries used to reduce pressure on the sciatic nerve:

• During a laminotomy, only part of a lamina is removed.
• During a laminectomy, the entire lamina is removed.

These surgeries can help manage pain, improve mobility and reduce other uncomfortable sciatica symptoms. They can also help prevent future spine issues, making you more comfortable in the long term so you can get back to the activities you love.

The amount of time it takes to recover after a laminotomy or laminectomy varies. In most cases, it takes 4-8 weeks to return to desk work and light activity, and it can take 3-6 months to fully recover.

Around 90% of sciatica cases are caused by a herniated disc in the lower back (lumbar). In these cases, your surgeon might recommend a discectomy. During a discectomy, part or all of a damaged disc is removed to ease compression on the sciatic nerve.

In most cases, we’re able to perform a microdiscectomy. This is a type of minimally invasive sciatica surgery where surgeons make very small incisions in order to remove the damaged disc. This is also a type of outpatient procedure, meaning you can return home the same day as the surgery.

How long it takes you to recover after a discectomy for sciatica depends on several factors, including your condition and overall health. Most people can return to desk work and light activity 2-4 weeks following surgery, but it can take 3-6 months to fully recover.

Sciatica can be caused by weakness in the spine, which can put pressure on the spinal cord or the nerves near your vertebrae. Spinal fusion is a type of surgery that joins two or more vertebrae together to improve spine stability and protect the spinal cord. In some cases, a spinal fusion surgery may be combined with a discectomy to most effectively treat pain caused by sciatica and prevent future spine issues.

Spinal fusion is commonly an outpatient procedure, meaning that you can go home the same day as your surgery. Though you’ll be able to walk a few hours after surgery, it can take several months to fully recover. Your care team will talk with you about how much time you can expect to spend recovering from spinal fusion surgery.

The foramen is the opening where nerves exit the spinal canal. If the foramen compresses, it can put painful pressure on the sciatic nerve. During a foraminotomy, bone and other tissue are removed to expand the foramen.

A foraminotomy is typically a minimally invasive surgery. You’ll likely be able to return home the same day as the procedure, though the amount of time it takes to heal varies. Most people will be able to return to light activity 4-8 weeks after a foraminotomy, and it can take up to a year to fully recover.

The facet joints in the spine give us the ability to bend, stand up and twist. Sometimes, changes to the joints from age, injury or other conditions can cause the joints to rub against or pinch the spinal nerves, causing sciatica symptoms.

During facetectomy spinal surgery, some or all of the affected facet joints are removed to relieve pressure on the nerve. This procedure is often combined with a laminectomy or foraminotomy to most effectively release the compressed nerve.

It can take several weeks or months to recover from a facetectomy. Your surgeon will talk with you before surgery and let you know what to expect as you recover.

Physical therapy for sciatica can strengthen the muscles that support your spine and help prevent future back injuries, so you get the best results from your procedure. You’ll work with physical therapists who have helped hundreds of people recover after spine surgery. We’ll guide you through physical therapy, increasing the level of activity at a safe, gradual rate.

In most cases, physical therapy after sciatica surgery includes a combination of guided exercises, manual therapy and education. Depending on your needs, we might also recommend complementary therapies, such as blood flow restriction or dry needling, to help you heal.

The length of time you’ll need to have physical therapy after sciatica surgery varies. Your surgeon will talk with you about what to expect, and your physical therapist will answer any questions you have about timing during your first session.