When Should You Seek Help for Sciatica?
Description: How long should I wait before seeing a doctor for sciatica? Taylor Girolamo, MD, Neurosurgeon at Prisma Health, outlines the timeline and warning signs for care. She explains acute versus chronic sciatica, recommends trying conservative measures for about four to eight weeks, and advises further evaluation by three months. The episode lists red flags—weakness, worsening numbness, saddle-area loss of sensation, and bowel or bladder changes—and explains when urgent evaluation or emergency care is needed.
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