Woodstock Sciatica Pain Treatment

Sciatica refers to the pain that radiates along the path of the sciatic nerve in your lower back and shoots down through your hips, buttocks, legs, and sometimes into your feet. It usually affects only one side of the lower body. If you’re having severe pain, seek Woodstock sciatica pain treatment at Advanced Health Solutions – GA Spine & Disc as soon as possible.

Sciatica most commonly occurs when part of the sciatic nerve in your lower back is compressed due to a herniated disk, bone spur on the spine, or narrowing of the spine (spinal stenosis). This causes pain, inflammation, and often some numbness in the affected leg. Some people may have sharp, intense pain while others get numbness, tingling, and weakness in their legs.

Sciatica can cause pain and discomfort, but fortunately, you can find several effective treatments for it. Most people with sciatica do not need surgery to ease their symptoms, and about half usually recover in about six weeks with only medication and rest.

Inflammation, compression, irritation, or pinching of a nerve in the lower back cause sciatica pain. Herniated or slipped disk puts pressure on the nerve root and it’s the most common cause of sciatica. Most people with sciatica only need self-care treatments and will get better on their own with time.

What Is Sciatica?

A sciatic nerve begins at the spinal cord, and runs through the hips and buttocks, and finally branches down both legs. It’s the longest nerve in the body and one of the most important ones. It directly affects your ability to feel and control your legs. You will experience sciatica when this nerve is irritated.

Sciatica’s sensation can manifest itself as moderate to severe pain in your lower back, buttocks, hips, and legs. You might also feel numbness or weakness in these areas.

Sciatica is a symptom of an underlying injury to the sciatic nerve or an area that affects the nerve, such as the vertebrae, which are bones in the neck and back.

Sciatica is a common type of pain that affects the sciatic nerve, which is a large nerve running from your lower back down the back of each leg.

One key distinctive sign of sciatica is the pain that radiates from the lower back into the side or back of your legs. The pain can be mild, or sharp and severe. You can have other symptoms in your leg or foot, including numbness, tingling, or weakness.

Up to 40 percent of people will have sciatica at some point in their lives. The risk for sciatica increases as you age.

Sciatica Symptoms

Common symptoms of sciatica to watch for include:

• Hip pain
• Lower back pain
• Pain in the back or leg that worsens when you sit
• Burning or tingling down the leg
• Numbness, weakness, or difficulty moving the leg or foot
• Pain that constantly affects one side of the back
• Difficulty standing up due to a shooting pain

Sciatica usually does not affect the entire lower body. Often, the pain radiates from your lower back and extends through the back of your thigh, and down your leg. Depending on the intensity and location of pressure against the sciatic nerve, the pain may extend to your foot or toes.

Some people with sciatica experience severe and disabling pain. But others might have infrequent and irritating sciatica pain, which could get worse with time.

You should see a doctor immediately for Woodstock sciatica pain treatment if you have:

• Fever and back pain
• Blood in your pee or burning when you pee
• Pain that extends down the legs
• Inflammation or redness in your spine or back
• Numbness or weakness in your upper thighs, pelvis, bottom, or legs
• Severe pain
• Loss of bowel or bladder control (leaking or being unable to reach the toilet in time)

Sciatica Causes and Risk Factors

Sciatica occurs due to the irritation of the root(s) of the lower lumbar and lumbosacral spine.

Other common causes of sciatica include:

• Muscle spasm in the buttocks or back
• Pregnancy
• Lumbar spinal stenosis (spinal canal narrows in your lower back)
• Degenerative disk disease (disks that serve as cushions between your vertebrae break down)
• Spondylolisthesis (a condition that results from slipping forward of vertebrae slips over each other)

You are more likely to have sciatica due to other things, such as:

• Diabetes
• Aging (causes changes in your spine, like herniated disks or bone spurs)
• Being overweight
• Lack of regular exercise
• Smoking
• Wearing high heels
• Sleeping on a mattress that’s too soft or too hard
• A job, especially that involves carrying heavy items, twisting your back, or driving for long periods

Sciatica Diagnosis

If you have signs and symptoms of sciatica, your doctor will do a physical examination to check your reflexes and the strength of your muscles. The doctor might ask you to do specific activities, such as walking on your toes or heels, to determine the cause of your pain.

If you’re having severe pain, your doctor might perform imaging tests to check for herniated disks and bone spurs. These tests could be:

X-ray, which can provide pictures of the internal organs of your body to check for any herniated disks or bone spurs.

CT scan, which involves a series of X-rays, which provides a better look at your spinal cord and the nerves.

MRI, which uses magnets and radio waves to produce pictures that show a detailed look of your spine and back.

Electromyography (EMG), which measures the speed of nerve signals in your body to check for internal problems like a herniated disk.

Sciatica Pain Treatment

Self-care activities or at-home remedies can help most people with sciatica to feel better. These include:

• Use of hot or cold packs
• Stretching
• Taking over-the-counter pain relievers

However, your doctor might recommend other Woodstock sciatica pain treatment options if your pain persists.

Medication

Your doctor might suggest different types of medication, including:

• Anti-seizure medications
• Anti-inflammatories
• Narcotics
• Muscle relaxants
• Tricyclic antidepressants

Physical therapy

A physical therapist at Advanced Health Solutions – GA Spine & Disc can teach you some exercises to improve your posture and flexibility. These exercises will also enhance the strength of the muscles that support your back.

Woodstock Sciatica Pain Treatment

So, if you need Woodstock sciatica pain treatment, get in touch with us to get help from our highly qualified and experienced doctors. Call us now at (770) 212-3991 or fill out our online contact form to book your appointment.

Woodstock Sciatica Pain Treatment