Sciatica diagnosis is characterized by a persistent severe pain in your spine that travels all the way down the back of your leg. However, this is not a condition you can self diagnose, you must see a doctor in order to get an accurate sciatica diagnosis. During your sciatica diagnosis the doctor may ask you to point out the distribution and intensity of your pain in order to better understand your problem. For the most accurate sciatica diagnosis the doctor may administer tests such as an MRI, CT scan, or X-rays.

The types of sciatica diagnosis tests listed above are conducted on an individual basis, depending on the seriousness of the experience pain. Sciatica pain is felt from low back region to the area behind the tight, and often radiates to below the knee. The seriousness of sciatica discomfort can be so severe that people often believe that it has resulted due to a specific large trauma, whereas it is actually a combination of multiple small trauma incidents.

It is difficult to diagnosis sciatica because there may be many medical conditions that cause this type of pain. For example, lifting heavy objects or an injury might cause pain in your back, thigh, or legs. Therefore, it is important to find the exact cause of the pain in order to avoid the wrong sciatica diagnosis.

Sciatica pain may be caused by situations not related to the lumbar disc and bad posture may lead to pain similar to sciatica. Normally, sciatica results because of pressure exerted by the lumbar disc on the sciatic nerve. Any type of irritation on the sciatic nerve can create sciatica pain. Most causes of sciatica can be attributed to irritation of the sciatic nerve by infection, tumors, internal bleeding or excessive pressure exerted by a bone.

During a physical exam for sciatica diagnosis, the patient is normally asked to lie down on an examination bed facing upward. His or her affected leg is raised to different heights to accurately determine the point of compression. He or she is then asked to rotate their hip joint. This is done to establish the exact point of pain and for assessing the hip muscles. This movement will help indicate the position where there is a possibility of a nerve being pinched. If symptoms are serious enough to suggest surgery, a physical exam will be followed by further investigative procedures.

If you are scheduled for a sciatica diagnosis be sure to be prepared to tell you doctor the exact location of your pain. Generally a severe pain that travels from the spine to the lower leg characterizes sciatica diagnosis. Keep in mind that sciatica diagnosis varies depending on the person so it is best to consult your doctor!