Diagnose sciatica, the doctor may examine the strength and alertness of your muscles in your physical examination. Like you may be asked to walk on your toes or heel, can you easily get up from a sitting position and, raise your feet at once. Pain resulting from sciatica can usually increase during these activities.
Imaging test
Many people have herniated discs or bone spurs that will appear on X-rays and other imaging tests but have no specific symptoms. Doctors usually do not order these tests until your pain is severe, or it does not improve within a few weeks.
MRI- This process helps to create a picture of the inside of your back using a powerful magnet and radio waves. An MRI also produces images of tissues such as bone and herniated discs. During the test, you lie on a table that goes into the MRI machine.
CT scan - A CT scan is used to extract a spinal image, before this procedure you may have injected a contrast dye into your spinal cord. This involves a dye moving around your spinal cord, which on the scan Appears in white.
Electromyography (EMG) - This test measures the responses of nerves and your muscles by electrical impulses. This test can confirm nerve compression due to a herniated disc or lowering of your spinal canal.
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