Sciatica is a common condition, especially among middle-aged or older people. The burning or shooting pain associated with sciatica is caused by injury or irritation of the sciatic nerve, which runs the length of your leg all the way to your lower back.
The specific causes of sciatica vary from person to person, but for many, it causes discomfort that can make it difficult to sit or stand for long periods. It can also be aggravated by driving and even disturb and interrupt sleep. Seeing a sciatica specialist is the best way to find relief.
This Garden State Pain Management article explains the causes of sciatica in detail and how a New Jersey pain management specialist can relieve sciatic nerve pain effectively.
What is Sciatica, and What Causes Sciatic Nerve Pain?
Sciatica or sciatic nerve pain is so common that some may think it is a ‘rite of passage’ in middle age. The truth is that sciatica discomfort can be relieved by a pain management specialist—-no one should simply accept sciatica pain as a foregone conclusion or an unsolved problem!
What is Sciatica?
Sciatica is pain, tingling, or numbness along the sciatic nerve, which runs from your lower back through your buttock and down your leg. It is caused by compression or irritation of the nerve. Sciatica pain may come and go. Depending on the root cause, sciatica can disappear for months or even years at a time, but it usually returns sooner or later, so seeing a pain management specialist for treatment is advised.
What Causes Sciatic Nerve Pain?
Many things can cause irritation or compression of the sciatic nerve, which can lead to sciatica. Sometimes, understanding where the sciatic nerve is helps determine the source of pain. Still, your best bet is always to see a physician specializing in pain management for diagnosis and sciatica treatment.
14 Potential Causes of Sciatica
- Herniated Disc: When the gel in a spinal disc leaks and pressures the nerve.
- Spinal Stenosis: Narrowing of the spinal canal compressing the nerve.
- Degenerative Disc Disease: Wear and tear on the discs between vertebrae.
- Piriformis Syndrome: The piriformis muscle irritates the sciatic nerve.
- Spondylolisthesis: When one of your vertebrae slips (AKA: a slipped disc)
- Trauma or Injury: Injuries from accidents or falls that cause nerve damage.
- Bone Spurs: Bony growths called osteophytes pressing on the nerve.
- Infections: Infections affecting the spine in particular.
- Muscle Spasms: Spasms in the back or buttocks.
- Arthritis: Inflammation of the joints in the spine.
- Poor Posture: Long-term poor posture leading to nerve compression.
- Obesity or Pregnancy: Excess weight, which puts pressure on the spine.
- Occupational Hazards: Jobs involving heavy lifting or prolonged sitting (like driving).
- Lack of Exercise: Weak core muscles can lead to spinal issues and sciatica.
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Sciatica Symptoms and Signs
Sciatica symptoms often include sharp pain in the lower back, buttock, or down one leg. Sciatic nerve pain is usually present only on one side of the body. You might also feel tingling, numbness, or weakness in the affected leg or foot.
Sciatica pain often (but not always) gets worse when you sit or stand for a long time. People who drive for a living, like cab drivers and truck drivers, are often at risk of sciatica. Sometimes, standing or sudden movements like coughing or sneezing can aggravate the pain, too. But, the cause of sciatica is always the same— irritation or compression of the sciatic nerve.
Symptoms of sciatica can include:
- Sharp burning or shooting pains down your leg, lower back, or rear end.
- Tingling sensations or numbness in one leg or one foot.
- Weakness in one leg or foot (when accompanied by pain)
- Pain in one leg that gets worse when you sit or stand for a long time.
How is Sciatica and Sciatic Nerve Pain Treated?
Once it is diagnosed, sciatica pain can usually be effectively treated by a pain management specialist like Dr. Koppel. Interventional pain treatments are very effective because they block the nerve’s pain signals. One popular sciatica treatment is epidural steroid injections.
These injections contain an anesthetic along with the steroids. The anesthetic blocks the pain signals almost immediately. Then, the steroid goes to work, reducing inflammation and providing longer-lasting relief.
Garden State Pain Management also offers other interventional pain management treatments that target the underlying cause of your sciatica. When the sciatic nerve is compressed due to a herniated disc, we may recommend a procedure to treat the damaged disc. When your sciatica pain persists despite trying NSAIDs and physical therapy, it’s time to consider minimally invasive interventional options.
If a herniated disc is compressing the sciatic nerve, he may recommend procedures to treat the damaged disc, such as:
- Percutaneous Plasma Disk Decompression: Uses radiofrequency energy to dissolve the herniated portion.
- Dekompressor Discectomy: A probe with a rotating tip removes the herniated portion.
- Endoscopic Discectomy: Through a small scope, the nerve impingement is alleviated under direct visualization.
Effective Sciatica Treatment in Clifton, NJ
If you or your loved one has been living with sciatica pain and first-tier pain relief options like NSAIDS, stretching, and hot and cold therapy aren’t enough—-we can help.
For more than twenty years, New Jersey residents have trusted Garden State Pain Management to help them find comfort and recovery.
Regardless of the source of your sciatica— Garden State Pain Management can help with thorough diagnosis and effective pain treatment. Our dedicated specialists are here to offer you the latest pain management and treatment strategies tailored to your needs.
Call us today to schedule your appointment, or you can conveniently book your appointment online.