Some patients suffer frequent flare-ups of sciatica, while others only endure occasional bouts of misery. Here are the some of the facts we have collected about recurrent acute sciatica attacks: In patients with a limited history of attacks (less than 5 years), episodes typically do not last too long. Most of these patients have occasional painful bouts of sciatica that might endure for a week or two, and then slowly get better so that the patient makes a full, or nearly full, recovery.