Sciatica
THE SCIATIC NERVE BEGINS AT THE LOWER BACK AND EXTENDS DOWN THROUGH THE BACK OF EACH LEG.
When this nerve is abnormally compressed or irritated, it causes sciatica, which is characterized by shooting pain in the area of the nerve.
Treatment
Treatment for sciatica depends often on the severity of your signs and symptoms.
There are several traditional options that may be a good starting point if the pain is severe and needs to be controlled quickly. Thereafter or if the pain is chronic, mild to moderate there are safer biologic based regenerative medicine options.
Traditional options include: Medications, Steroid Injections and Surgery.
More conservative options would be Biologics such as PRP and Amnio-derived cell therapy often combine with Physical Therapy, Non-Invasive Laser Therapy and assistive bracing.
The recommendation at PRI is to always start conservative and work your way to surgery being the last option.
Diagnosis
Sciatica can typically be diagnosed with a thorough discussion of your symptoms and a physical exam. When you first arrive at our Los Angeles or New York offices, we will review the symptoms you’re experiencing to determine if they are in alignment with this condition.
From there, we will have you lie on your back with your legs straight. We will then raise your legs slowly and take note of when the pain appears, as this will provide us with information regarding which nerves are affected and whether or not your discs are involved. Once we’ve determined that your pain is caused by sciatica, we will determine the underlying condition with a series of imaging tests, such as an x-ray and MRI.
Cause
Sciatica is a symptom of another condition. In most cases, the pain is associated with:
DISC HERNIATION
Your spine is comprised of a number of bones, also called vertebrae. Each of these bones is cushioned by a spongy disc, which enables spinal flexibility and absorbs shock. When one of these structures bulges or breaks open, it’s called a herniated disc. A herniated disc can occur anywhere along your spine and neck. However, it’s most common in the lower back, or the lumbar spine. We have had great success in treating disc herniation related pain with innovative regenerative treatments like PRP nd BIOLOGICS injections.
SPINAL STENOSIS
Spinal stenosis is characterized by the narrowing of the spaces within your spine, placing pressure on your spinal cord and nearby nerves. When this occurs, it causes pain, numbness, tingling and weakness. It can develop as the result of a spinal injury or due to thickened ligaments and disc herniation.Often spinal stenosis is caused by osteoarthritis of the spine.
SPONDYLOLISTHESIS
Spondylolisthesis is a spinal condition that affects the lower vertebrae (spinal bones). This disease causes one of the lower vertebrae to slip forward onto the bone directly beneath it. It’s a painful condition but treatable in most cases. Causes of spondylolisthesis vary based on age, heredity, and lifestyle.
Symptoms
Pain that radiates from your lower (lumbar) spine to your glut and down the back of your leg is the classic presentation of sciatica. You might feel the discomfort almost anywhere along the nerve pathway, but it’s especially likely to follow a path from your low back to your glut and the back of your thigh and calf.
The pain can vary widely, from a mild ache to a sharp, burning sensation or excruciating pain. Sometimes it can feel like a jolt or electric shock. It can be worse when you cough or sneeze, and prolonged sitting can aggravate symptoms. Usually only one side of your body is affected.
Some people also have numbness, tingling or muscle weakness in the affected leg or foot. You might have pain in one part of your leg and numbness in another part.
- Pain into leg/s, often sharp
- Numbness and Tingling into leg/s
- Muscle weakness
- Glut pain when sitting
- Loss of bowel or bladder function