Dr. Aditya Gupta - Spine surgery consultant

Twitter Logo Sciatica pain can be frightening—especially when it shoots from your lower back down your leg and refuses to settle. Many people immediately worry: “Will I need surgery?” The good news is most people with sciatica do NOT need surgery. However, in some situations, surgery becomes necessary to prevent nerve damage and long-term problems. In this blog, we’ll explain when sciatica needs surgery, when it doesn’t, warning signs you should never ignore, and how doctors decide the right treatment—all in simple, easy-to-understand language. What Is Sciatica Pain and Why Does It Happen? Sciatica is nerve pain, not just regular back pain. It happens when the sciatic nerve, the longest nerve in the body, gets compressed or irritated. This nerve starts in the lower back, passes through the hips and buttocks, and runs down each leg. When pressure builds on this nerve, pain can travel along its path. Common Causes of Sciatica Slipped or herniated disc pressing on the nerve Spinal stenosis (narrowing of the spinal canal) Spondylolisthesis (one vertebra slipping over another) Injury or degeneration of the spine Aug 9, 2026 Learn more