Sciatica meaning in urdu is asab un nasa — pain that travels along the sciatic nerve from the lower back through the buttock and down the leg (taang ka dard). It usually starts when a slipped disc or bone pressure irritates the nerve. Most cases settle within a few weeks with gentle movement and simple care, but certain warning signs need urgent attention.
When to seek emergency care: Seek urgent medical care — call 1122 or go to the nearest emergency department — if sciatica comes with numbness around the groin or back passage, loss of bladder or bowel control, severe or rapidly worsening leg weakness, or if back pain follows a serious fall or accident or occurs with fever. These can signal nerve compression that needs immediate treatment.
Sciatica meaning in Urdu: asab un nasa explained
Sciatica meaning in urdu is asab un nasa (عصب النسا) — pain caused by irritation of or pressure on the sciatic nerve, the long nerve that runs from the lower back through the buttock and all the way down each leg. When this nerve is pinched, pain, tingling or numbness can travel along its path, which is why people describe it as a taang ka dard that seems to shoot down from the back rather than an ache in the leg alone.
Sciatica is a description of a symptom, not a disease in itself. Finding what is pressing on the nerve is what guides treatment.
How the taang ka dard feels
Classic sciatica affects one leg and may feel like:
- A sharp, burning or electric pain running from the lower back or buttock into the leg.
- Tingling or pins and needles along the leg or into the foot.
- Numbness or weakness in the leg.
- Pain that worsens on sitting, coughing, sneezing or straining.
It often eases when walking gently or lying in a comfortable position. Pain in both legs, or pain with the warning signs below, needs closer attention.
What causes sciatica
The most common cause is a slipped (herniated) disc in the lower spine pressing on a nerve root. Other causes include age-related narrowing of the spinal canal, bony overgrowth, muscle spasm in the buttock, and sometimes pregnancy. The risk rises with heavy lifting, long hours of sitting, being overweight and a sedentary routine — all increasingly common in daily life.
What you can do at home
Most sciatica improves with time and gentle self-care:
- Keep moving gently rather than resting in bed for long periods, which can slow recovery.
- Use short walks and easy stretches as comfort allows.
- Apply a warm or cold pack to the lower back for relief.
- Adjust your sitting posture and take breaks from long sitting.
Simple pain relief from a pharmacist helps many people, but check first if you have stomach, kidney or other health conditions.
Warning signs you should not ignore
Some symptoms suggest nerve pressure that needs urgent care rather than home treatment:
| Usually settles with care | Needs urgent assessment |
|---|---|
| Pain in one leg | Numbness around the groin or back passage |
| Tingling that comes and goes | Loss of bladder or bowel control |
| Pain worse on sitting | Sudden severe weakness in the leg |
| Slow, steady improvement | Fever with back pain, or pain after a fall |
The combination of groin numbness with bladder or bowel changes can signal a rare emergency called cauda equina syndrome — seek care immediately.
How sciatica is treated
If home care is not enough, structured physiotherapy is usually the next step, with tailored exercises to reduce pressure on the nerve and strengthen the back. A doctor may review pain relief and, if needed, arrange an MRI scan when symptoms persist or are severe. Injections around the nerve help some people. Surgery is reserved for cases with significant nerve compression, ongoing weakness or red-flag features, and is not the first choice for ordinary sciatica.
Which doctor should you see?
A neurologist can assess nerve involvement and arrange the right tests when weakness or numbness is prominent. A physiotherapist guides the exercises that help most people recover and prevent recurrence. An orthopedic surgeon, or spine surgeon, evaluates the spine when symptoms are severe, persistent, or accompanied by warning signs that may need a procedure.
Which specialist to see
SehatGPT connects you with a verified physiotherapist, neurologist or orthopedic surgeon for sciatica assessment and a recovery plan, online or in-clinic. It helps you find the right specialist and does not diagnose.
Frequently asked questions
Kya asab un nasa bina surgery theek ho sakta hai?
Yes. The large majority of sciatica cases improve within a few weeks with gentle movement, physiotherapy and simple pain relief. Surgery is only considered for a minority with severe or persistent nerve compression.
Should I rest in bed until the pain goes?
Long bed rest usually slows recovery. Staying gently active within comfortable limits tends to help the nerve settle faster.
Kya taang ka dard hamesha sciatica hota hai?
No. Leg pain can also come from muscles, joints, poor circulation or other conditions. Sciatica specifically follows the sciatic nerve from the back into the leg, so a proper assessment confirms the cause.