Sciatica

Sciatica is a common low back pain condition that may cause widespread pain when left untreated. At Apex Pain Specialists in Chandler, Arizona, the board-certified pain management experts Naveen Reddy, MD, and Maziar Massrour, MD, provide comprehensive pain management for sciatica. They can ease your pain and reduce your risk of recurrence. For relief from your sciatica, call today or schedule an appointment online.

What is sciatica?

Sciatica is a nerve pain condition that occurs from irritation or compression of the sciatic nerve. 

The sciatic nerve is a thick nerve that includes several spinal nerves that join together in the buttocks and travel down the back of your legs on both sides of your body. The sciatic nerve is a sensory and motor nerve for the legs and feet.

Though compression or irritation may occur at any point along the path of the nerve, it most often happens at the exit point in the spine from a herniated disc or bone spur. Lumbar spinal stenosis and spondylolisthesis (when vertebrae slip forward) may also cause sciatica.

What are the symptoms of sciatica?

Pain that radiates down the leg on one side of the body is the most common symptom of sciatica. The pain may range from a dull aching or burning sensation to electric shock-like pain. Your pain may worsen with movement.

Sciatica may also cause muscle weakness or, in more serious cases, loss of bowel or bladder control.

If you have sciatica symptoms, schedule an appointment with the experts at Apex Pain Specialists. Getting treatment for your sciatica, especially during the early stages, may delay or prevent your pain condition from getting worse.

What happens during a sciatica evaluation?

You can expect a thorough exam when you visit Apex Pain Specialists for a sciatica evaluation. Your pain management expert aims to find the root cause of your sciatica so you can get the most effective treatment.

They review your symptoms and the activities that make them worse. They ask about your medical history and conduct a physical exam. They may also run diagnostic tests such as X-rays, MRIs, or nerve conduction studies to confirm or rule out the cause of your sciatica.

What are the treatments for sciatica?

Apex Pain Specialists takes a multidisciplinary approach to pain management. They create a plan using advanced interventional pain management treatments along with physical therapy, analgesics, and alternative treatments to help you get long-term relief.

Some of the interventional pain management treatments for sciatica include:

• Epidural steroid injections
• Facet joint injections
• Nerve blocks
• Radiofrequency ablation

Most cases of sciatica improve without surgery. But if your pain continues, your provider at Apex Pain Specialists may refer you to a surgeon to discuss other treatment options.

To get help for your sciatica, call Apex Pain Specialists or schedule an appointment online today.