Lumbar Radiculopathy (Sciatica)
What is Sciatica?
Sciatica is pain felt in one or both of the legs as a result of pressure on or injury to the sciatic nerve. The sciatic nerve stretches from our lower spine and travels down our legs. It is a central nerve that controls muscles in our lower legs as well as muscles located behind the knees. This nerve also provides sensation behind our thighs, parts of our lower legs, and also the soles of our feet. The sciatic nerve can become pinched or injured due to a slipped disc, muscle problems in the buttocks, or a pelvic injury.
Sciatica Symptoms
Depending upon where and how severely the sciatica nerve is injured, the symptoms of sciatica can vary greatly. Symptoms usually include pain, numbness, a tingling sensation, or a burning sensation in one or both legs. When the condition is at its worst, the pain of sciatica may make it extremely difficult to move the legs at all. Pain usually occurs only on one side and is usually worse at night, when walking or bending backward, or after standing or sitting for long periods of time.
Treating Sciatica
You can help achieve sciatica pain relief with heat or ice on the painful area. Light exercises and pain medication may also help reduce the symptoms temporarily. If your sciatica pain persists, surgery may be recommended.
Conservative Approach
The first step to treating sciatica is rest, heat, and ice. If these at-home remedies don't improve symptoms, a number of medications can be prescribed to provide sciatica pain relief. These can include anti-inflammatories, muscle relaxants, antidepressants, and anti-seizure medications. Physical therapy is also often helpful in relieving the pain of sciatica. Exercises for sciatica are aimed at improving posture, strengthening the muscles in the legs and back, and improving flexibility. If the pain is severe enough, a spine specialist might recommend steroid injections as part of sciatica treatment. Such injections can reduce inflammation as well as physical discomfort.
Surgical Approach
If conservative sciatica treatments fail to help manage the pain, a spine surgeon may recommend sciatica surgery. Surgical operation is not usually recommended as a treatment for sciatica, but in some rare cases in which the compressed nerve causes significant weakness or trouble controlling the bowels or bladder, it may be the best option. In this case, the spine surgeon will perform a procedure that takes the pressure off of the sciatic nerve, which may be caused by a bone spur or a herniated disc.
Schedule an Appointment
To learn more about treatment options for sciatica, please request an appointment online, or call 509-444-6325.
Appointment Resources
Once you have scheduled your appointment with one of our spine doctors, please use the link below to obtain our new patient forms and browse through our tips and preparation suggestions for your appointment.
“Every step of the way I felt confident in Dr. Powers approach to my back pain and sciatica. I had a bulging disc and we tried injections to see if that would do the trick and although they did not work for me I still believe it was the most appropriate treatment alternative to try before surgery. The subsequent surgery was a big success for me! I am thankful every day for my life without chronic pain. Thanks to Dr. Powers who fixed up my back like new just before Christmas. And thanks also to Dr. Kody, also of NWOS, who gave me two total knee replacements two years ago.” — Richard E.
“I went from having sciatic pain so bad down both legs that I was having trouble with everyday tasks and even walking. Since waking up from surgery my sciatic pain is completely gone!!!! Thank you so much Dr. Shuster!” — Juleann H.