Sciatica Specialist

Sciatica Q & A

What is sciatica?

Sciatica is a term used to describe the symptoms of an underlying medical condition of your spine that causes pain to radiate along the path of your sciatic nerve. You have two sciatic nerves that run from your lower back through your hips and buttocks down each leg. Sciatica pain typically affects one side of your body at a time and is often the result of a herniated disc, bone spur, or narrowing of the spine (spinal stenosis).

These conditions put pressure on your sciatic nerve, causing inflammation and pain. The pain can be constant and debilitating, making it difficult to walk or sit for an extended period of time. You may also experience numbness and a tingling sensation in your leg and foot if you don’t seek treatment for the underlying causes of your sciatica pain.

What are common sciatica symptoms?

Sciatica symptoms most often include one or more of the following:

• Pain in your hip or buttocks that worsens when sitting
• Constant pain along one side of your hip, buttock, and leg
• Difficulty finding a comfortable sleeping position
• Trouble getting up from a chair
• Burning or tingling sensations in your leg
• A mild ache or a sharp, excruciating pain
• Numbness or muscle weakness in your leg or foot

The medical team at the Hirsh Center carefully evaluates your symptoms to determine the spinal condition that’s putting pressure on your sciatic nerve. They customize a treatment plan based on their diagnosis so you can get long-term relief from the painful symptoms.

What risk factors contribute to sciatica?

Risk factors of sciatica include:

• Accident or injury
• Age-related changes to your spine; degenerative conditions
• Extra weight or obesity
• A job that requires you to twist your back repeatedly or carry heavy objects
• Prolonged sitting at work or a sedentary lifestyle
• Diabetes, which increases your risk of nerve damage

In some cases, lifestyle changes can help relieve sciatica symptoms, but the severe pain that’s left untreated can lead to permanent nerve damage.

How is sciatica treated?

After a thorough assessment of your symptoms to determine the underlying cause of your sciatica pain, the medical team may prescribe a combination of treatments that include:

• Physical exercises or therapies
• Heat and ice therapy
• Anti-inflammatory medications
• Ultrasound-guided steroid injections

The goal of sciatica treatment is to relieve the pressure on your sciatic nerve so you can get long-term relief. If you have sciatica pain, it’s important to seek medical care to determine the underlying cause before it becomes more serious.

Call our office today or schedule an appointment online.