Recovery of the sciatic nerve requires a long time, and also depends on the severity of the damage to broadly judge the prognosis. If it is merely a contusion, it may take one to three months for most symptoms to gradually improve, such as sensory abnormalities like numbness and soreness. If the sciatic nerve has been chronically compressed, resulting in nerve degeneration, or if it has sustained severe traumatic injury, recovery will typically require at least six months to a year, and the process will be slow. Furthermore, if a violent injury has caused a tear or rupture, surgical treatment is necessary, and the post-operative recovery remains a lengthy process, often leaving significant residual symptoms.