Prognosis
by Erin Maslowski, MD and Venu Akuthota, MD
The vast majority of sciatica episodes are short lived with only 1.6% lasting longer than 2 weeks. The majority of disc herniations diminish in size over time. Larger herniations tend to regress more than smaller herniations.
The rates of recurrence are comparable between patients treated with surgery and patients treated non-operatively. Patients with a history of sciatica due to disc herniation should be encouraged to commit to a regular, long-term home exercise program of core muscles strengthening and improved biomechanics in an effort to prevent further cases of acute sciatica.