Sciatica

Sciatica pain shoots down one leg from its source in your lower back. If nothing eases your sciatica symptoms, talk to Ravi Panjabi, MD, at Advanced Pain Management in Castro Valley, California. Dr. Panjabi and his team offer specialized treatments that tackle sciatica’s causes and relieve your symptoms. Call Advanced Pain Management for expert help with sciatica pain, or use the online booking tool to request an appointment.

What is sciatica?

Sciatica causes chronic or recurring lower back, pelvic, and leg pain. Symptoms typically affect one leg but can sometimes involve both. The condition arises when something pinches or compresses the sciatic nerve in your lower back.

This large nerve originates in the lumbar spine and then divides into two in your pelvis so one branch can go down each leg. The sciatic nerve branches end in your feet. Compression or nerve damage in the spine is called radiculopathy. Because the sciatic nerve is in your lower spine, the condition’s medical name is lumbar radiculopathy.

What problems does sciatica cause?

Sciatica causes a sharp, shooting, or electric shock-type pain that travels along the nerve into your hip/buttock area. The pain may extend the entire nerve’s length. You could also experience other nerve-related symptoms, such as:

• Numbness
• Weakness
• Difficulty maintaining balance
• Pins and needles sensations
• Tingling
• Prickling

Sciatica can make walking, sitting, and most physical activities uncomfortable and sometimes excruciating.

Why would I get sciatica?

The nerve compression that triggers sciatica symptoms is often due to age-related deterioration in the spine. Herniated and bulging discs are a common cause, occurring when the disc’s soft core pushes against or squeezes through a weak spot in the tough outer casing. The disc material might then press on the spinal nerves.

You’re more likely to develop sciatica if you don’t exercise regularly, carry excess body weight, or are pregnant.

What treatment might help with sciatica?

The most helpful sciatica treatments focus on relieving the nerve compression causing your pain. Having identified the cause, your Advanced Pain Management provider can prepare a suitable treatment program to ease your sciatica. They typically begin with conservative approaches such as physical therapy and medication, which many patients find is all they need.

More advanced options for persistent sciatica include:

Epidural steroid injections

Steroids reduce inflammation in the tissues, relieving pressure and pain.

Platelet-rich plasma (PRP)

PRP is one of several injectable treatments that use cells taken from your body to promote natural healing.

Radiofrequency rhizotomy (ablation)

This minimally invasive procedure heats the area of nerve tissue that’s sending pain signals to your brain. The precise application of controlled energy destroys the target area without damaging surrounding tissues.

Disc decompression

Decompression reduces nerve pressure by removing the damaged parts of a disc. Advanced Pain Management uses LASE® (laser-assisted spinal endoscopy) discography to perform disc decompression.

Call Advanced Pain Management or book an appointment online today for expert sciatica pain relief.