Understanding the condition
The sciatic nerve passes behind the hip and supplies much of the lower leg and foot through its branches. Injury may relate to stretching, compression, bleeding around the nerve or direct damage. Symptoms can appear immediately or develop later; the cause cannot be established from symptoms alone.
What might you notice?
- Difficulty lifting the ankle or toes, causing foot drop.
- Numbness or altered feeling in the lower leg or foot.
- Burning, shooting or severe radiating pain after the operation.
These symptoms can have more than one cause. A clinical assessment is needed to establish the diagnosis.
Specialist assessment
The timing of symptoms, operation records, examination and comparison with earlier findings are important. Imaging may look for a collection or mechanical cause. Appropriately timed nerve tests can help characterise the injury and track recovery.
Your treatment options
Treatment depends on the cause. A reversible compressive problem may require urgent intervention with the hip team. Other injuries may need monitoring, an ankle-foot orthosis, physiotherapy and pain treatment. Selected patients may benefit from nerve exploration or later tendon reconstruction.
Common questions
Will the nerve recover by itself?
Some injuries improve, but recovery is variable. The severity, cause and change over time guide the plan; complete recovery cannot be promised.
Should I wait for nerve tests before seeking advice?
No. New postoperative weakness needs clinical assessment promptly. Tests should support the assessment, not delay it.
General patient information from London Nerve Injury. Decisions about investigations and treatment require an individual clinical assessment.