Sciatica Specialist

What is sciatica?

Sciatica is a symptom of a medical condition that affects your sciatic nerve. Your sciatic nerve is the largest nerve in your body. It has individual nerve roots that exit from the lumbar spine, combine in the buttocks, and travel into the legs on both sides of your body. 

Compression or irritation of your sciatic nerve at any point causes the symptoms associated with sciatica. In most cases, the compression or irritation occurs as the nerve root exits the spine from conditions like:

• A herniated disc
• Degenerative disc disease
• Spondylolisthesis (when a vertebral bone moves forward)
• Lumbar spinal stenosis

Anyone can develop sciatica. However, your risk of developing nerve pain increases as you get older because of degenerative changes that occur in your spine with aging. 

What are the symptoms of sciatica?

Sciatica symptoms vary in type and severity. Most people with sciatica have one or more of the following:

• Constant pain on one side of the buttock or one leg
• Pain that worsens when sitting
• Weakness, numbness, or difficulty moving the leg, foot, or toes
• Burning, tingling, or searing leg pain
• Sharp pain that makes standing difficult
• Pain that radiates down the leg, possibly into the foot and toes

Your symptoms may be mild or severe. Mild sciatica pain may resolve on its own. However, if your pain is severe or not improving with at-home care, schedule a consultation with the experts at Complete Neurological Care.

What happens during a sciatica evaluation?

When you visit Complete Neurological Care for a sciatica evaluation, you can expect an in-depth exam. The experts aim to find the root cause of your pain so they can provide the most effective treatment.

During the visit, your provider reviews your symptoms and medical history and performs a physical and neurological exam.

They may run various tests to find the underlying cause of your pain, such as an X-ray or MRI, as well as an electromyogram (EMG) and nerve conduction studies to evaluate nerve function and look for signs of damage.

How is sciatica treated?

Complete Neurological Care customizes your sciatica treatment plan based on the underlying cause of your pain and the severity of your symptoms. 

When possible, your provider recommends conservative care such as nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), activity modification, and physical therapy. 

However, if conservative measures fail to provide significant relief, your provider may suggest epidural steroid injections, facet joint blocks, or radiofrequency ablation. 

Complete Neurological Care wants to help you feel better after your first visit. To schedule your sciatica evaluation, call the office nearest you or book an appointment online today.