When a pinched or inflamed sciatic nerve turns everyday movements into a struggle, the first step is finding relief that actually works. Surgery isn’t always the answer. Interventional treatments can target the pain directly, easing discomfort and helping you move freely again, often with minimal downtime.
At Pain Management Specialists in Rockville and Frederick, Maryland, Stuart Hough, MD, and Ramani Peruvemba, MD, focus on pinpointing the source of your pain. The right procedure depends on what's irritating the nerve and how your symptoms respond to treatment.
Sciatica occurs when something compresses or inflames the sciatic nerve. Common causes include:
Pain may feel sharp, burning, or electric and may occur alongside tingling, numbness, or weakness.
An accurate diagnosis matters because treatment works best when it addresses the source of your symptoms. During an evaluation, our team reviews your medical history, performs a physical examination, and may order imaging such as an MRI, CT scan, or X-ray.
Epidural steroid injections deliver anti-inflammatory medication near irritated spinal nerves. The medication helps reduce inflammation around a compressed nerve, making this approach useful for sciatica related to herniated discs or spinal stenosis.
Our team uses imaging guidance to place the injection accurately. Some patients experience significant relief after treatment, which may make it easier to participate in physical therapy and return to normal activities.
An epidural nerve block takes a more targeted approach to painful nerve symptoms. Medication goes near the affected nerve root to reduce inflammation and interrupt pain signals.
This treatment may provide both therapeutic relief and useful information about the source of your pain. Your response helps our team determine which treatments may provide the most benefit moving forward.
Severe nerve pain that continues despite other treatments may require a different strategy. Spinal cord stimulation uses a small implanted device to deliver mild electrical impulses that alter pain signaling before those signals reach the brain.
Patients can expect to have a temporary trial before receiving a recommendation for a permanent implantation. The trial allows you to determine whether stimulation provides meaningful pain relief before committing to a long-term device.
When lumbar spinal stenosis causes sciatica, the mild® Procedure may provide another minimally invasive option. The procedure removes small amounts of tissue contributing to narrowing in the spinal canal, creating more space for compressed nerves.
Pain Management Specialists offers the mild® Procedure and is among the practices in the area trained to evaluate patients for this treatment.
No single procedure is appropriate for every patient. Pain Management Specialists takes a comprehensive approach that considers the cause of your sciatica, your symptoms, previous treatments, and personal goals. When interventional treatments fail to provide enough relief, the team works with spinal surgeons to help patients access additional treatment options.
If sciatica is interfering with your quality of life, contact us at Pain Management Specialists to schedule a consultation. Finding the right treatment starts with identifying what's causing your pain.
