Have you ever felt a strange ache that starts in your lower back and runs down through your hips, buttocks and leg? You could be experiencing sciatica, say specialists with NJ Spine and Orthopedic.
Sciatica is an irritation and compression of the sciatic nerve, which runs from the lower back through the buttocks, down the legs and to the feet. It most commonly occurs when a herniated disk or bone spur on the spine presses on a portion of the sciatic nerve, causing inflammation, pain and often, some degree of numbness in the leg. The condition typically affects just one side of your body.
Pain caused by sciatica can range from mild to severe. Some may feel a moderate cramping in the leg; a dull ache in the lower back; a sharp, burning sensation; a jolt or electric shock-like sensation; tingling or muscle weakness in the affected leg or foot; or numbness in areas along the sciatic nerve path. Prolonged sitting can aggravate symptoms, and you may feel a quick increase in pain when you sneeze or cough.
The good news is that most cases of sciatica can be resolved with conservative treatments like medications, steroid injections or physical therapy prescribed over the course of several weeks. Those whose severe sciatica pain continues after three months of treatment may need spinal surgery to relieve pressure on the nerve – typically a minimally-invasive laminectomy with discectomy or microdiscectomy. Surgical treatment may involve removing herniated disc tissue pressing against the sciatic. Today, these surgeries can be accomplished through tiny incisions to minimize risk and speed healing time.
If you believe the pain you’re experiencing may be the result of sciatica, call 855-586-2615 to schedule a consultation with a NJ Spine and Orthopedic spine specialist today.