It usually starts in the lower back. Then comes that unmistakable pain, burning, electric, or just relentlessly aching, that travels through the buttock and down the back of the leg. Sometimes it reaches the foot. Sometimes there’s numbness or tingling that will not quit. Sometimes the leg just feels weak and unreliable.
That’s sciatica. And if you have it, you know there’s almost nothing quite like it.
“Sciatica is one of the conditions I treat most often, and one where I consistently achieve positive results. I’ve had patients come in barely able to walk, who are improved even after one targeted injection, achieving lasting relief. The key is finding exactly where the sciatic nerve is being compressed and addressing that specific point precisely.”
What Is Sciatica?
The sciatic nerve is the longest nerve in your body. It originates in the lower back, runs through the hips and buttocks, and branches down each leg. When something compresses or irritates that nerve, it sends pain, numbness, or weakness along the entire path it travels.
Sciatica is a symptom, not a diagnosis on its own. Something specific is pressing on the nerve. The most common causes include:
- A herniated or bulging disc in the lumbar spine is pushing against a nerve root
- Spinal stenosis — narrowing of the spinal canal that squeezes the nerve
- Bone spurs from spinal arthritis are crowding the space where the nerve passes
- Piriformis syndrome — where a deep buttock muscle compresses the sciatic nerve
- Sacroiliac joint inflammation irritates the nerve at the base of the spine
Identifying the exact cause matters because the treatment differs depending on what’s actually compressing the nerve.
Will Sciatica Go Away on Its Own?
Sometimes, yes. Mild sciatica from a minor disc irritation can ease within four to eight weeks with rest and conservative care. But sciatica that causes significant pain, numbness, or weakness, or that has persisted beyond six weeks, usually needs proper evaluation and treatment.
Even when sciatica eventually improves on its own, it has a high recurrence rate if the underlying cause is never addressed. Treating the root problem gives you the best chance of long-term relief rather than a cycle of flares. With appropriate treatment, most patients see significant improvement within days to a few weeks.
Sciatica Symptoms
- Shooting, burning, or electric pain from the lower back through the buttocks and down the leg
- Numbness or tingling in the leg, calf, or foot
- Muscle weakness in the leg or foot
- Pain that worsens with sitting, coughing, or sneezing
- Symptoms predominantly on one side
Treatments for Sciatica at Garden State Pain Management
Epidural Steroid Injections
For most sciatica patients, epidural steroid injections are the effective first treatment. A precisely placed injection delivers anti-inflammatory medication directly around the compressed nerve root. The inflammation subsides, the nerve decompresses, and the pain resolves. The procedure takes about 15 minutes in the office. Most patients feel significant improvement within three to seven days.
Lumbar Injection Therapy
Targeted lumbar injections deliver medication directly to the specific nerve level being compressed, using imaging guidance for precision.
Radiofrequency Ablation
When sacroiliac joint or facet joint irritation is contributing to the nerve pain, RFA can provide relief lasting a year or longer by interrupting pain signals at the source.
Minimally Invasive Discectomy
For sciatica caused by a disc herniation that has not responded to injections, a minimally invasive procedure removes the disc material pressing on the nerve. Most patients go home the same day.
Frequently Asked Questions
Ready to Find Relief?
Don’t let facet joint pain dictate your life. At Garden State Pain Management, Dr. Todd Koppel uses advanced, minimally invasive techniques to target the source of your neck or back pain, not just the symptoms. Whether you’ve been managing chronic stiffness for months or were recently injured, relief may be closer than you think. Patients across New Jersey trust Dr. Koppel for his precision, personalized approach, and proven results. Call (973) 473-5752 today, or book your appointment online at our Clifton or Elizabeth location.
