Sciatica Specialist

What is sciatica?

Sciatica is pain that radiates from your lower back to your buttock and down the leg beyond the knee. It’s usually caused by a disc herniation that compresses the sciatic nerve. However, sciatica may also be caused by spinal stenosis, piriformis syndrome, or spondylolisthesis. 

Your sciatic nerve is the thickest and longest nerve in your body. It includes five nerves that exit from different points in your lumbar and sacral spine. These nerves then join together in your buttocks. 

Your sciatic nerve is the primary sensory and motor nerve for the lower part of your body. 

What are the symptoms of sciatica?

Sciatica typically causes pain that radiates from your lower back and into the back of your leg on one side of your body. Your symptoms may include:

• Dull, aching sensation
• Sharp, shooting pain
• Electric shock-like sensation
• Burning, tingling, or numbness
• Muscles weakness

Coughing, sneezing, bending, lifting or sitting for a long period of time may aggravate your symptoms. 

If your symptoms are mild, your sciatica may resolve over time with at-home care. However, if your symptoms are severe or ongoing, Pain Management Specialists can help. 

What happens during a sciatica evaluation?

The board-certified interventional pain management physicians at Pain Management Specialists are experts in the evaluation and treatment of sciatica. 

During your evaluation, your doctor reviews your symptoms and medical history. They perform a physical exam, paying close attention to the area where you feel the most pain. To confirm or rule out a diagnosis, they may also request diagnostic tests, such as X-rays, CT scans, or MRIs. 

Sometimes pain arising from the sacroiliac or hip joint mimics sciatica. The interventional pain management experts at Pain Management Specialists will check your sacroiliac and hip joints to rule out these joints as the cause of your pain.

How is sciatica treated?

At Pain Management Specialists, your doctor creates individualized treatment plans for sciatica that focuses on providing the best possible outcomes. 

Most sciatica patients obtain relief from their symptoms with a home exercise program, physical therapy, and epidural steroid injections  when those are not enough.

If interventional pain management treatments fail to alleviate your sciatica, the experts at Pain Management Specialists may refer you to one of the top spinal surgeons in the area for an evaluation. 

For relief from your sciatica, call Pain Management Specialists or make an appointment using the online booking button.