The sciatic nerve is the largest and longest nerve in the body. The nerve diverges into the left and right nerves on both sides of the body. It extends through the hips and buttocks and continues down the leg, ending right below the knee. At the knee, the nerve branches off into other nerves, which continue into the feet.
Sciatica occurs when there is pressure or damage to the sciatic nerve. Each case of sciatica can vary in terms of how long it lasts or whether treatment is necessary. Some people only experience pain from sciatica for about one to two weeks before it clears up on its own. Others will have pain lasting several years, with multiple flare-ups occurring yearly.
Many people can clear up their pain with at-home care, which includes hot or cold packs, over-the-counter anti-inflammatory medication, and safe stretches. Anyone who cannot see improvements after trying home remedies may need to see a doctor to manage or alleviate their pain.
Causes of sciatica can include:
Lumbar Herniated Discs
Lumbar Spinal Stenosis
Degenerative Disc Disease
Bone Spurs
Cauda Equina Syndrome
Pelvic Fractures
Sometimes, no specific cause for sciatica can be found.
Signs and symptoms of sciatica can manifest in various ways. The pain associated with sciatica ranges from mild aching to sharp, burning sensations or even excruciating discomfort, often exacerbated by prolonged sitting or sudden movements. Additionally, individuals may notice numbness, tingling, or muscle weakness in the affected leg or foot, serving as potential indicators of sciatica. In rare cases, loss of bowel or bladder control may occur, necessitating immediate medical attention. Furthermore, hip pain linked to sciatica can sometimes be mistaken for hip arthritis, adding to the complexity of diagnosis. Moreover, reduced reflexes, such as diminished knee-jerk or ankle-jerk reflexes, could also point toward the presence of sciatica.
At Pain and Spine Specialists, we offer a comprehensive range of treatments for sciatica. We aim to alleviate your pain and improve your mobility.
An overview of the treatments we offer includes:
Injection therapies can offer non-invasive treatment for sciatica. We offer a variety of injections, such as epidural steroid injections, which can reduce inflammation around your nerve roots, and facet joint injections or medial branch block, which can help diagnose the source of your pain and treat it. Sacroiliac joint injections are also available to treat pain originating from the sacroiliac joint that may be causing sciatica.
For more severe cases, our sciatic nerve treatment doctors offer advanced interventional procedures. Sciatica treatment devices, such as spinal cord stimulation (SCS), can help manage chronic pain by sending electric signals to the spinal cord. The minimally invasive lumbar decompression (MILD) procedure can remove excess ligament tissue, causing nerve compression. The Intracept Procedure targets the basivertebral nerve to relieve chronic low back pain. Radiofrequency ablation is another option that uses heat to hinder the nerve's ability to send pain signals to the brain.
We also offer conventional treatments, including medication management programs to ensure you take the most effective medications for your condition in the safest manner possible. For some patients, an intrathecal pain pump may be beneficial, delivering medication directly to the fluid around the spinal cord. We also provide referrals to physical therapy. Sciatica treatment physical therapy can help strengthen the muscles supporting your spine, improve flexibility, and promote better posture.
In collaboration with our sister company, Shakthi Health and Wellness Center, we offer alternative therapies to complement our conventional treatments. These include acupuncture, which can help relieve sciatica pain, and infrared sauna or Amethyst BioMat therapy, which uses heat to help relax muscles and soothe aches.
If conservative and non-invasive treatments do not provide relief, our board-certified surgeons will evaluate your condition. Depending on the severity of your sciatica, you might be a candidate for spinal fusion or a laminectomy procedure. The type of surgery most appropriate for you will depend on the cause of your sciatic nerve compression and pain.
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