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Sciatica & Leg Pain

Sciatica Treatment in Islamabad — Pain Going From the Back Into the Leg

Pain that runs from the lower back or buttock down the leg, sometimes with tingling or numbness, is often called sciatica. Dr. Zahid Rustam treats it with image-guided, non-surgical options.

Pain going from the back into the leg is usually a sign that a nerve is irritated — most often by a disc.

Sciatica treatment at IPSSC Islamabad

Sciatica & Leg Pain Treatment

Doctors call nerve-root pain in the leg “lumbar radiculopathy”, but patients usually describe it simply as a shooting, burning or electric pain that travels from the back or buttock down one leg, sometimes to the foot.

The most common cause is a slipped disc pressing on a nerve, but narrowing of the spinal canal or wear and tear of the spine can cause the same pattern. Identifying the exact nerve involved lets us direct treatment precisely.

  • Pain shooting from the buttock down the leg
  • Tingling, burning or numbness in the leg or foot
  • Pain worse on sitting, coughing or bending
  • A feeling of weakness in the leg
  • Pain that stays on one side

What Can Cause Sciatica?

Dr. Zahid Rustam explaining anatomy to a patient at IPSSC, Islamabad

Slipped (herniated) disc

The disc material presses on or inflames a nerve as it leaves the spine.

Narrowing of the spinal canal

Spinal stenosis reduces the space for the nerves, particularly in older adults.

Wear and tear of the spine

Bony changes can narrow the openings where nerves exit.

Piriformis and sacroiliac causes

Not all leg pain comes from the spine; muscle and pelvic joint problems can mimic sciatica.

How We Find the Cause

Dr. Rustam examines your back, legs, reflexes and strength, reviews your MRI and, where needed, uses nerve conduction studies and EMG to confirm which nerve is involved.

Diagnostics room at IPSSC, G-8 Markaz, Islamabad
  • Examination of reflexes, strength and sensation
  • MRI review
  • NCS / EMG nerve tests when needed
  • Diagnostic selective nerve-root block

Your Treatment Path

We begin with the least invasive option that is appropriate and move on only when needed. Surgery is not always avoidable, and we will tell you if it is the better choice.

Image-guided nerve procedure at IPSSC

  1. Diagnosis and plan

    Pinpointing the nerve and the cause of its irritation.

  2. Medicines and physiotherapy

    Nerve-calming medicines and a graded exercise programme.

    Physical therapy →

  3. Transforaminal and caudal epidural injections

    Image-guided injections that deliver anti-inflammatory medicine next to the affected nerve.

    Epidural steroid injections →

  4. Intradiscal procedures

    For selected disc problems, minimally invasive procedures inside the disc may be considered.

    Intradiscal procedures →
Get urgent medical help if back or neck pain comes with new weakness in an arm or leg, loss of control of urine or stools, numbness around the groin or buttocks, high fever, a recent serious injury, or unexplained weight loss. These can signal a problem that should not wait for a routine appointment.
Dr. Zahid Rustam
Medically reviewed by Dr. Zahid Rustam
Consultant Physician — Interventional Pain Management, Neurology & Orthopaedic Medicine · MBBS, FCPS (Physical Medicine & Rehabilitation), FIPP · Founder, IPSSC, G-8 Markaz, Islamabad
Last reviewed: October 2026 · View Dr. Rustam’s profile → · Procedures available at IPSSC →

Related Pages

Slipped DiscBack PainSpinal StenosisNerve Pain

Frequently Asked Questions

Straight answers from the IPSSC team — see all FAQs or contact us directly.

It varies. Some episodes settle in weeks, while others persist for months. If pain is severe or has lasted beyond a few weeks, an examination is worthwhile.
Epidural injections are widely used when performed by trained specialists with X-ray guidance. Dr. Rustam will discuss the benefits and possible risks with you before any procedure.
It can. Treatment aims to settle the nerve irritation, and exercise and back care help reduce the chance of repeat episodes.

Ready to Get Your Sciatica Checked?

Book a consultation with Dr. Zahid Rustam at IPSSC, G-8 Markaz, Islamabad — seeing patients from Islamabad, Rawalpindi and surrounding areas.

Call +92 332 9077315