Is Continuous Rest Required When Diagnosed With Sciatica?

Posted on Tue, 14 Jul 2015

Medically reviewed by Ask A Doctor - 24x7 Medical Review Team

Tue, 14 Jul 2015 Answered on

Tue, 4 Aug 2015 Last reviewed on

Question : I have Sciatica and my doctor gave me two weeks off to alleviate the pain and my employer is trying to say that sciatica is not a diagnosis for continuous period off work because it is intermittent with flare ups but I am in pain everyday. Can it ever be a need for continuous time off? Email address YYYY@YYYY

Answered by Dr. Vivek Chail (30 minutes later)

Brief Answer:
Patients with severe pain might need continuous time off for short duration

Detailed Answer:
Hi XXXX,
Thanks for writing in to us.

I have read through your query in detail.
Please find my observations below.

1. Sorry to hear about the pain and hope that you are not having much discomfort.

2. Sciatica is a condition where people experience shooting pain along a leg and it varies in severity among patients.

3. The initial treatment is with over the counter pain relief and physical therapy. If pain is moderate to severe then medicines like tramadol might be taken.

4. In some patients, the symptoms might be severe enough to need continuous time off for about a week to 15 days from their work and I have had such patients.

5. I suggest you to judge yourself on the pain and switch to extended release tramadol oral preparation. Since the duration and time of onset of the pain might vary every day, taking an extended release tramadol will maintain the level of medicine in the blood and make you comfortable and avoid flaring up of your condition.

Hope this answers your question. Please feel free to correct any oversight in my interpretation of your problems and discuss them in detail as per your requirements.

Hope your query is answered.
Do write back if you have any doubts.

Regards,
Dr.Vivek

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar