Sciatica

Sciatica is one of the most common causes of lower back pain, affecting up to 40% of Americans at one time or another. At Union Anesthesia Associates, with offices in Union, Scotch Plains, Bloomfield, South Bound Brook, New Brunswick, Old Bridge, and Woodbridge, New Jersey, the board-certified pain management specialists provide cutting-edge, minimally invasive treatments for sciatica pain. Call Union Anesthesia Associates today to schedule a sciatica appointment, or book your visit online. 

My lower back and buttocks hurt. Is it sciatica?

It’s likely. Sciatica occurs when your sciatic nerve –– which runs from your lower back, down your buttocks, and into your legs –– becomes pinched or compressed by a herniated disc, bone spur, or narrowing of your spine (spinal stenosis).

Most sciatica pain improves with rest and activity changes, but if your symptoms last for more than a few days, seeking professional help is essential. 

What are common sciatica symptoms? Does sciatica present symptoms?

The most common sciatica symptom is sudden, intense pain that starts in your lower back and extends into your buttocks and legs. As the condition worsens, you might also experience, weakness, numbness, or tingling in your legs and feet. 

You might notice that these symptoms come and go. For many people, they’re worse during rest periods, like sitting and lying down.

How is sciatica diagnosed?

Your Union Anesthesia Associates provider asks about your symptoms and completes a physical exam. Then, they ask you to stand on your tiptoes and heels and lift your legs one at a time while lying on your back. Sciatica symptoms typically worsen during these activities. 

Your provider also orders diagnostic imaging, like X-rays or an MRI to see if you have a bone spur or herniated disc making the problem worse. 

What are the treatment options for sciatica?

After confirming your pain is the result of sciatica, your Union Anesthesia Associates provider develops a treatment plan designed to ease pain and increase your mobility.

If your symptoms are mild, your provider might recommend over-the-counter medications to ease pain and reduce inflammation. You might also benefit from stretching exercises at home or physical therapy to reduce pressure on your sciatic nerve.

If you have persistent or severe sciatica pain, your provider might prescribe anti-inflammatory medication or interventional pain injections. Union Anesthesia Associates offers several types of injections for sciatica, including epidural steroid injections.

During an epidural steroid injection, your provider administers pain medication into the epidural space around your spine. The medication relieves your symptoms instantly while encouraging your body’s healing process. 

Will I need surgery if my sciatica pain worsens?

If your sciatica pain is chronic and unresponsive to medications and injection therapy, Union Anesthesia Associates may refer you for a surgical consult. But, most cases of sciatica resolve without surgery.

Learn more about your treatment options for sciatica by calling Union Anesthesia Associates today or requesting an appointment online now.