Sciatica Treatment

What is sciatica?

Sciatica symptoms arise when you have an inflamed sciatic nerve. 

Your sciatic nerve connects your leg muscles and foot to your spinal cord. You have one on each side of your body that starts at the lower end of your spine before running through your buttock, down your leg, and stopping in your foot.

It’s usually easy to identify sciatica symptoms because they radiate along your sciatic nerve. Common issues that arise include tingling, numbness, and pain running from your lower back, through your buttocks and hip, and into your leg. These symptoms typically affect one side of your body and can vary from mild to severe.

Sciatica pain can range from a sharp, burning sensation to electrical jolts, and often worsens if you sneeze, cough, or sit for long periods.

What causes sciatica?

You can develop sciatica symptoms for several reasons. One common cause of sciatic nerve inflammation includes herniated discs. You can also experience nerve irritation if you have extra bone growth, or bone spurs, on your vertebrae.

Your chances of having sciatica also increase based on a variety of factors, such as:

• Being overweight or obese, which can stress your spine
• Having a sedentary lifestyle or sitting for long periods
• Developing nerve damage from health conditions like diabetes

It’s also possible to get sciatica symptoms from certain jobs that can aggravate your sciatic nerve, especially those that involve heavy lifting, twisting your back, or extended periods of time behind the wheel of a vehicle. 

How is sciatica treated?

Dr. Chekemian treats your sciatica symptoms by identifying the cause of your sciatic nerve inflammation. After performing a comprehensive physical exam with diagnostic testing, she works closely with you to create a personalized approach to manage your symptoms.

Common therapies for sciatica include:

• Hot and cold compress therapy
• Massage therapy or spinal manipulation
• Lifestyle changes, like improving your body mechanics and posture
• Nutritional counseling focused on weight loss and weight management
• Nerve blocks

Dr. Chekemian might also recommend physical therapy that focuses on improving your spine and back health with specialized stretches and exercise.

For more information on sciatica, call Academic Pain & Spine or schedule an appointment online today.