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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

Sciatica

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.