Does sciatica show up on an x-ray?

Ruth Beresford, Mchiro, DC
October 25th, 2022

You’ve probably heard of sciatica before. It’s a condition that can cause a lot of pain in your lower back and legs.

But what exactly is sciatica? And does sciatica show up on an x-ray?

What is Sciatica?

Sciatica is a condition that occurs when the sciatic nerve, which runs from your lower back down your legs, becomes compressed or irritated. This can cause pain in your lower back and legs, as well as numbness, tingling, and weakness.

Does Sciatica Show Up on an X-Ray?

An X-ray is a common diagnostic tool that can be used to evaluate patients with sciatica. However, X-rays cannot always detect the cause of sciatica.

This is because sciatica is usually caused by a herniated disc, bone spur, or muscle spasm, none of which will show up on an x-ray. X-rays only show bones and are unable to show soft tissues like discs or nerves.

Suppose a herniated disc is suspected to be the cause of sciatica. In that case, an MRI may be ordered by your chiropractor to confirm the diagnosis.

Conclusion:

Sciatica is a common condition that can cause pain in the lower back, buttocks, and legs. The pain is caused by pressure on the sciatic nerve, which runs from the lower back to the feet.

Sciatica does show up on an x-ray; however, X-rays cannot always detect the cause of sciatica. And so, an MRI may be required to confirm a diagnosis of sciatica.