Sciatica causes stabbing, shooting pain from your lower back into your leg. It can be severe and is often disabling. If you have sciatica, Bart Gatz, MD, and the team at American Interventional Pain Institute in Greenacres, Florida, can help. Call 561-641-0089 to request a consultation.
What is sciatica?
Sciatica is a painful lower back and leg condition that develops when the sciatic nerve is pinched. The nerve starts in the lower (lumbar) spine, runs down toward the buttocks, then splits so one branch travels down each leg to the foot. If it's damaged or squeezed by surrounding tissue, sciatica can develop.
Pressure on the sciatic nerve can come from:
- A herniated disc
- Muscle spasms in the back or buttocks
- Lumbar spinal stenosis
- Spondylolisthesis
- Degenerative disc disease
- Pregnancy
You're more likely to develop sciatica if you're overweight or don't exercise much, and wearing high heels raises the risk.
Get treatment if you have any symptoms of sciatica. A pinched nerve left untreated can lead to permanent nerve damage.
Symptoms of sciatica
Sciatica causes a distinctive stabbing or shooting pain that runs from the lower back through the hip and buttock and down the leg, following the sciatic nerve. It's often worse when you're sitting, or at night in bed.
Along with pain, sciatica can cause:
- Tingling
- Numbness
- Trouble controlling muscles
- Weakness
- Reduced mobility
- A feeling that your leg has fallen asleep
Sciatica usually affects only one leg.
How sciatica is treated
Treatment focuses on taking the pressure off the sciatic nerve. Your provider will build a plan that may include:
- Anti-inflammatory medication
- Massage therapy
- Physical therapy
- Stretching exercises
- Epidural injections
- A weight loss program
Rest combined with gentle exercise eases sciatica better than staying still. Following the program your provider designs makes sure you do the right exercise for your recovery.
Symptoms should clear once the pressure on the nerve is relieved, and prompt treatment gives the best chance of a full recovery. Call 561-641-0089 to schedule a consultation.