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Complications

By Mayo Clinic staff

Although most people recover fully from sciatica, often without any specific treatment, sciatica can potentially cause permanent nerve damage. Depending on what's causing the nerve to be compressed, other complications may occur, including:

  • Loss of feeling in the affected leg
  • Loss of movement in the affected leg
  • Loss of bowel or bladder function
Preparing for your appointment Risk factors
References
  1. Lin M. Musculoskeletal back pain. In: Marx JA, et al., eds. Rosen's Emergency Medicine: Concepts and Clinical Practice. 6th ed. St. Louis, Mo.: Mosby; 2006. http://www.mdconsult.com/book/player/book.do?method=display&type=bookPage&decorator=header&eid=4-u1.0-B978-0-323-05472-0..00051-7--s0045&displayedEid=4-u1.0-B978-0-323-05472-0..00051-7--s0060&uniq=184337872&isbn=978-0-323-05472-0&sid=955285604. Accessed March 1, 2010.
  2. Rosenbaum RB, et al. Degenerative disease of the spine. In: Bradley WG. Neurology in Clinical Practice. 5th ed. Burlington, MA: Butterworth-Heinemann; 2008. http://www.mdconsult.com/book/player/book.do?method=display&type=bookPage&decorator=header&eid=4-u1.0-B978-0-7506-7525-3..50115-1--cesec38&displayedEid=4-u1.0-B978-0-7506-7525-3..50115-1--cesec55&uniq=184337872&isbn=978-0-7506-7525-3&sid=955285604. Accessed March 1, 2010.
  3. Gregory DS, et al. Acute lumbar disk pain: Navigating evaluation and treatment choices. American Family Physician. 2008;78:835.
  4. Aminoff MJ. Mechanical and other lesions of the spine, nerve roots, and spinal cord. In: Goldman L, et al., eds. Goldman: Cecil Medicine. 23rd ed. Philadelphia, Pa.: Saunders Elsevier; 2007. http://www.mdconsult.com/das/book/body/184337872-18/0/1492/1420.html#4-u1.0-B978-1-4160-2805-5..50428-6--cesec37_17875. Accessed March 1, 2010.
  5. Devereaux M. Low back pain. Medical Clinics of North America. 2009;93:477.
  6. Low back pain fact sheet. National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke. http://www.ninds.nih.gov/disorders/backpain/detail_backpain.htm#119483102. Accessed March 1, 2010.
  7. Wheeler SG, et al. Approach to the diagnosis and evaluation of low back pain in adults. http://www.uptodate.com/home/index.html. Accessed March 1, 2010.
  8. Knight CL, et al. Treatment of acute low back pain. http://www.uptodate.com/home/index.html. Accessed March 1, 2010.
  9. Ernst E. Complementary treatments in rheumatic diseases. Rheumatic Disease Clinics of North America. 2008;34:455.
  10. Chronic pain: Hope through research. National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke. http://www.ninds.nih.gov/disorders/chronic_pain/detail_chronic_pain.htm. Accessed March 1, 2010.
  11. Laskowski ER (expert opinion). Mayo Clinic, Rochester, Minn. March 4, 2010.
DS00516 April 22, 2010

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