Sciatica

Pain Management & Anesthesiology located in Augusta, Austell, Brookhaven, Camp Creek, Piedmont/Atlanta, Sandy Springs, Canton, Carrollton, Cartersville, Conyers, Covington, Dallas, Douglasville, Jasper, Johns Creek, Suwanne, Lawrenceville, Marietta, Peachtree City, Roswell, and Woodstock, GA

If you experience shock-like, radiating pain though your lower back and down your leg, you might have sciatica. The good news is that simple pain-relieving solutions are within reach at Alliance Spine & Pain. Call one of the offices in Austell, Augusta, Woodstock, Atlanta, Marietta, Conyers, Lawrenceville, Jasper, Cartersville, Dallas, Suwanee, Covington, Carrollton, Canton, Sandy Springs, Douglasville, Peachtree City, or Roswell, Georgia, or use the online booking feature today.

Sciatica Q & A

What is sciatica?

Sciatica causes discomfort that travels along the path of your sciatic nerve, a nerve present in your lower back that spreads through your hips, buttocks, and down each leg. Sciatica results when the affected nerve gets squeezed or pinched, often due to bone overgrowth or disc herniation.

Fortunately, treatment at Alliance Spine & Pain offers you effective, long-lasting sciatica pain relief.

What are the symptoms of sciatica?

The hallmark symptoms of sciatica include:

Low back or leg pain
Numbness in the affected leg
Radiating discomfort down your leg
Muscle weakness
Bowel or bladder changes
Mild aching
Sharp discomfort
Burning pain
Tingling
Electric shock or jolt

Sciatica discomfort might affect just one side of your body. It may get worse when you sneeze, cough, or sit for long periods.

What can cause sciatica?

While the cause isn’t always known, common risk factors for developing sciatica include:

Pinched nerve
Disc herniation
Bulging disc
Bone spurs
Tumor
Diabetes
Spinal stenosis
Obesity
Aging
Physically demanding job
Prolonged sitting

To reduce the risk of sciatica pain, get regular exercise, use good posture and effective body mechanics, and maintain an ideal body weight.

How does my provider diagnose sciatica?

To determine if sciatica is the cause of your discomfort, an Alliance Spine & Pain provider discusses your symptoms, reviews your medical history, and completes a physical exam. Diagnostic tests they may suggest include nerve function testing, an MRI, X-rays, a CT scan, or other imaging procedures. You might also need a blood test.

How is sciatica treated?

Your Alliance Spine & Pain provider may recommend one of the following treatments for sciatica:

Healthy lifestyle changes
Medications
Epidural steroid injections
Radiofrequency ablation
Regenerative medicine
Sacroiliac joint injection
Facet joint injections
Lumbar discectomy
Nerve blocks
Spinal cord stimulation
Physical therapy
The Vertiflex™ Procedure with the Superion™ Indirect Decompression System

Your Alliance Spine & Pain specialist might suggest more than one treatment to eliminate sciatica discomfort and prevent future pain.

Used as a last result, Alliance Spine & Pain may suggest a surgical procedure that eases pressure placed on the sciatic nerve.

Avoid strenuous activity or heavy lifting until your pain specialist gives you the okay, and slowly ease back into exercise or a physically demanding job as directed after treatment.

Call the Alliance Spine & Pain office nearest you to schedule an appointment, or use the online booking feature to achieve sciatica pain relief today.