Sciatica is part of the known types of low back pain, which, if left untreated, can be debilitating. The pain usually travels from your lower back down one of your legs, making walking difficult. If you have been battling Roswell Sciatica for a long time without success, you may need to consider the effective treatment options at Polaris Spine & Neurosurgery Center.
An overview of sciatica
Sciatica is the excruciating pain that radiates along the sciatic nerve, running from your lower back through your buttocks, hips, and legs. This nerve consists of five roots, three from your sacrum and two from your lumbar spine. A direct injury to your sciatica nerve is rare, but any pain that travels along your leg is known as sciatica. This pain and discomfort are often due to the compression, inflammation, or pinching of a nerve in the lower back. If left untreated, sciatica can result in muscle weakness in your foot and leg and uncomfortable tingling sensations in your toes and foot, interfering with your mobility. Although pain related to the sciatic nerve can be debilitating, most people feel better within a few weeks of treatment. You may need surgery if your sciatica causes severe leg weakness and bladder or bowel change.
When to consult your physician
Sciatica pain can develop anywhere along the sciatic nerve, but it often follows a path from your lower back to the back of your calf and thigh. The pain can be a mild ache or a sharp, burning pain that sometimes feels like an electric shock or jolt. It may worsen after sitting down for an extended period when sneed or coughing. Some individuals may experience muscle weakness, numbness, and tingling sensations in the foot.
Mild sciatica often resolves within a short period. However, if your self-care techniques are futile, don’t hesitate to inform your most trusted specialist at Polaris Spine & Neurosurgery Center for a physical exam and treatment. Contact your doctor immediately if you have challenges controlling your bladder or bowels, experience pain after a car accident, or experience numbness, muscle weakness, or discomfort in one leg.
How your doctor addresses sciatica
During your initial appointment at Polaris Spine & Neurosurgery Center, the team performs a thorough physical exam and discusses your symptoms. Your exam may involve walking on your heels and toes and doing a straight leg test. The test enables your provider to identify your discs’ affected nerves and problems. The team may also perform MRIs, spinal X-rays, and electromyography to understand your condition better. Afterward, they create an individualized treatment plan, depending on the location and underlying trigger of your pain and discomfort.
Your treatment plan may involve epidural steroid injections to relieve inflammation and a personalized at-home exercise plan to relieve the pressure on the sciatic nerve and strengthen your muscles. The specialists may only recommend minimally invasive surgery if your sciatica doesn’t respond to the conservative treatment. The surgery may involve removing the herniated disc or bone spur compressing your sciatic nerve.
If you are ready to outsmart sciatica, call the Polaris Spine & Neurosurgery office or book an appointment online to begin treatment.
