Sciatica

What is sciatica?

Sciatica is a painful condition that develops due to pinching or irritation of your sciatic nerve. This nerve is the thickest and longest nerve in your body and extends from your lower back all the way down to your feet on both sides of your body. This nerve provides sensory information and motor function to the lower extremity.

Herniated discs or bone spurs are the most common causes of sciatica. Your risk of sciatica increases as you get older due to the degeneration that occurs in your spine that makes you more vulnerable to the development of a herniated disc or bone spur. Obesity, diabetes, and a job that requires heavy lifting or sitting in a vehicle for long periods of time also increases your risk of developing sciatica. 

What are sciatica symptoms?

Your sciatica symptoms may vary in severity and type based on the degree of pinching or irritation to your nerve. Common symptoms include:

• Shooting pain
• Tingling
• Weakness
• Numbness

These symptoms may begin at your lower back and travel all the way down to your foot on one side of your body. You may notice that certain activities worsen your symptoms, such as a cough or sneeze or if you sit for a prolonged period of time. 

How is sciatica treated?

The pain management specialists at Republic Spine and Pain develop individualized treatment plans for the management of sciatica based on the severity of your pain and the underlying cause. For most people, non-surgical methods alleviate the pain caused by sciatica, which may include:

• Anti-inflammatory medication
• Physical therapy
• Stress management
• Muscle relaxants
• Antidepressants
• Anti-seizure medication

If conservative measures fail to provide you relief from your sciatica pain, your doctor at Republic Spine and Pain may recommend interventional pain management treatments, which are minimally invasive procedures that provide long-term relief from pain. For sciatica, there are different injections into the hip or back. These are outpatient procedures performed at the practice’s state-of-the-art offices. 

Rarely is surgery needed for the treatment of sciatica. However, if your pain is due to a spinal condition, surgery to repair or improve the condition may be beneficial in alleviating your sciatica.

To get help managing your sciatica pain from the pain management experts, call Republic Spine and Pain or use the online booking feature to schedule an appointment.