Sciatica, also known as lumbar radiculopathy and often referred to as a “pinched nerve”, is a term used to refer to pain or discomfort that occurs along the sciatic nerve—the thickest and longest nerve in the human body. Each sciatic nerve is composed of numerous smaller nerves that exit the spinal cord in the lower back (lumbar spine) and merge together to run through the hip and buttocks, ultimately extending down the leg and branching into smaller nerves once again in the lower leg and foot.

Sciatica is not a diagnosis in and of itself. Rather, it is an indicator of a condition or injury that is irritating the sciatic nerve. The underlying cause of sciatic pain typically originates in the lower back where nerve roots exit the spinal canal and may involve a slipped or herniated disc, Degenerative Disc Disease, a spinal cyst or tumor, or many other conditions or injuries.

Commonly causing pain, numbness, weakness, or other abnormal sensations throughout the hips, buttocks, and legs, sciatica symptoms may range from mild to severe in nature and be ongoing over long periods of time. Patients suffering from sciatica can benefit greatly from a holistic, multidisciplinary approach to pain management and gain a restored quality of life. Contact the experienced team at Resolve Pain and Spine to learn more!

Sciatica Symptoms

Sciatica can range from mild to severe and may encompass a wide variety of different symptoms. Common symptoms of sciatica may include:

• Pain that radiates from the lower back down the buttocks and/or through the back or outside of the leg; the quality of pain may be dull and achy, sharp, burning, or shooting
• Difficulty sitting or standing for prolonged periods
• Back and/or leg pain while sleeping
• Numbness, tingling, weakness, or other abnormal sensations in the buttocks or leg
• Difficulty walking long distances
• Decreased knee-jerk reflexes
• Worsening pain when bending, twisting, lifting, or coughing

If you are experiencing one or more of the symptoms listed above, you may be suffering from sciatica. Make an appointment at Resolve Pain and Spine to receive a definitive diagnosis, discover the underlying cause of your sciatic pain, and take the first steps on the road to recovery.

What Causes Sciatica?

Because sciatica describes pain caused by the pinching, compression, or irritation of one or more spinal nerve roots, it can be associated with a number of different conditions and injuries. Common causes of sciatic pain include:

• Degenerative Disc Disease – Degenerative Disc Disease occurs when one or more of the intervertebral discs that cushion the spine begin to break down and deteriorate. Over time, disc degeneration can lead to increased pressure on spinal nerve roots and sciatic nerve pain.
• Bulging or Herniated Disc – When an intervertebral disc bulges or ruptures, the sciatic nerve can become compressed or irritated, resulting in sciatica.
• Traumatic Injury – Traumatic injuries involving the lower back may result in disc or vertebral damage that impacts the spinal nerve roots and sciatic nerve.
• Spinal Cyst or Tumor – While rare, a spinal cyst or tumor can put pressure on one or more spinal nerves and cause sciatica symptoms to occur and potentially increase over time.
• Lumbar Spinal Stenosis – Lumbar spinal stenosis is a condition that involves the narrowing of the space between vertebrae. As a result, spinal nerve compression may occur.
• Piriformis Syndrome – When the piriformis muscle, located in the region of the buttocks spasms, it may irritate or pinch the sciatic nerve, causing pain, weakness, numbness, or other symptoms.
• Arthritis – When arthritis causes inflammation of the facet joints in the spine, compression or irritation of the spinal nerves may result.
• Bone Spurs – Often linked to arthritis, spinal bone spurs can interfere with the sciatic nerve and cause symptoms of sciatica to develop.
• Spondylolisthesis – Spondylolisthesis is a condition in which one or more vertebrae protrude beyond other vertebrae, potentially causing spinal nerve roots to become pinched or compressed.

The conditions and injuries above do not comprise an exhaustive list of the potential causes of sciatic pain. If you are experiencing symptoms of sciatica, discovering the precise underlying cause of your pain is crucial for effective treatment. The pain doctors at Resolve Pain and Spine have the skill and expertise to make an accurate diagnosis.

Though sciatica can affect patients of any age for a wide variety of different reasons, there are certain factors that increase the likelihood of experiencing sciatica symptoms. These include:

• Carrying extra weight (being overweight or obese)
• Working at a job that requires repetitive physical movements
• Having Diabetes
• Sitting still for prolonged periods of time
• Smoking
• Aging
• Living an inactive lifestyle

Diagnosis and Treatment

Standard pain management options for sciatic pain may include rest, pain medications, steroid injections, and physical therapy, but at Resolve Pain and Spine, our innovative treatment approaches go far beyond that.

We begin with a rigorous and comprehensive diagnostic process. Before developing a treatment plan, it is crucial for us to understand the exact underlying cause of your discomfort. In addition to taking an in-depth medical history, gaining a detailed understanding of your symptoms, and performing a physical examination, we may also request imaging tests to gain better visualization of the affected area, order blood work, or recommend other diagnostic procedures that may be essential in pinpointing the cause of your pain.

Once a definitive diagnosis has been made, our expert team of pain management doctors will develop an integrated treatment plan tailored to your precise condition, circumstances, and health goals. Depending on your sciatica symptoms and the cause(s) behind them, the complementary treatment options we recommend for you may include:

• Acupuncture
• Non-opioid pain treatment
• PRP treatment
• Physical therapy
• Stem cell therapy
• Trigger point injections
• Lifestyle counseling

At Resolve, our number one priority is the comfort and wellness of our patients and we will work tirelessly with you to ensure that you are supported and consistently moving forward on your journey of recovery. To learn more about our unique and integrative approach to pain relief and management, book an appointment with one of our pain management specialists today.

Why Choose Resolve Pain and Spine Center?

Resolve Pain and Spine is different from the rest. We’re not your typical pain management clinic, and if you’re caught in a frustrating and unproductive cycle of standard pain management treatments, we’ll help you to break it! Taking a big-picture perspective to chronic pain, we use a combination of regenerative, functional, integrative, and interventional pain medicine approaches to empower each patient and pinpoint the underlying cause of their discomfort.

Our doctors have been leaders in their specialty for decades and are committed to taking the time to make accurate diagnoses and develop one-of-a-kind treatment plans that include a broad spectrum of holistic therapy options. To learn more about Resolve’s proven interdisciplinary approach to pain management and resolution, contact our clinic directly.

Schedule an Appointment Today!

Sciatica pain and discomfort can take a major toll on your comfort, mobility, and overall quality of life. From work to recreation to the completion of everyday tasks and movements, restoring pain-free function to your back, hips, and legs is vital.

At Resolve Pain and Spine, our highly trained and experienced team of pain management specialists understands the critical importance of properly diagnosing and treating sciatica pain and is dedicated to supporting you in your journey forward. To learn more about your innovative and holistic approach to sciatica pain management and treatment, contact our clinic today to book your initial appointment!