What Is Sciatica?
Sciatica is a condition that causes discomfort, tingling, and numbness in the lower back and legs as a result of an irritated sciatic nerve. Sciatica is not a medical diagnosis in itself but is a symptom of other medical conditions affecting the back including lumbar herniated discs, degenerative disc disease, or spinal stenosis. Sciatica typically originates in the lower back and then shoots down behind the thigh, possibly spreading down to the knee and ankle. While sciatica often only affects one side of the body, it can affect both legs. Since the sciatic nerve is the largest in the human body, when it is irritated, it causes severe discomfort. The pain is usually worse when sitting and can cause weakness and difficulty in functional movement. Sciatica is also known to present chronic pain on one side of the buttocks and with acute shooting pains, which make it difficult for a patient to stand.
What Causes Sciatica?
Sciatica is caused by irritation of the sciatic nerve in the root or roots of the lower lumbar and lumbosacral spine. The irritation can be a result of various issues including:
1Degenerative disc disease (breakdown of discs which can cause a herniated disc)
2Infections in or near the lumbar spine
3Injuries
4Irritation caused by a nearby bone, tumor, or muscle
5Lumbar spinal stenosis (a narrowing of the spinal canal in the lower back)s
6Pregnancy
7Spondylolisthesis (one vertebra has slipped forward over another one)
How Does Dr. Marin Treat Sciatica?
When Dr. Marin arrives at his patient’s office or home, he first carries out a thorough consultation and exam to accurately diagnose the issue and its root cause. Dr. Marin’s goal of treatment is to reduce pain and restore movement, helping his patient to return to optimal wellbeing and performance. Dr. Marin will approach back pain with conservative treatments in the first instance and work up to more invasive treatments if necessary. Many patients respond well to relatively non-invasive treatments and avoid having to rely on prescriptions or resort to surgery. Some of the back pain treatments used to provide relief as well as treatment to the root cause include:
1Bracing
2Electronic stimulation
3Physical therapy
4Physiotherapy
5Sacroiliac injections
6Supplements and vitamins
7Trigger point injections