Sciatica Specialist

What is sciatica?

Sciatica is a condition that develops when your sciatic nerve, the largest nerve in your body, becomes compressed. The sciatic nerve travels from your lower back down into your buttocks, hips, and into each leg.

Compression on this nerve causes irritation and inflammation that leads to chronic pain, weakness, and numbness in the lower back, which can also radiate down into your buttocks and legs.

Pain can range from a mild ache to an intense, chronic pain that affects your mobility. In some cases, sudden movements like a sneeze or cough can cause an electric-shocklike sensation in your lower back.

What causes sciatica?

The most common cause of sciatic nerve compression is a herniated disc, where the soft center of the protective discs between your vertebrae pushes out through the tough outer covering and presses on a nerve.

You can also develop sciatica from other spine-related issues like:

• Bone spurs
• Direct trauma
• Spinal stenosis

Degenerative diseases like osteoarthritis can also increase your risk of developing sciatica.

What are my risk factors for sciatica?

In addition to existing spinal conditions and degenerative disease, you could be at increased risk of developing sciatica if you have underlying medical issues like diabetes.

Other risk factors include:

• Obesity
• Heavy lifting
• Sitting for long periods of time

You could also be at increased risk of sciatica as you get older and your spinal health begins to deteriorate.

What sciatica treatments are available?

In some cases, sciatica pain can go away on its own with rest and over-the-counter anti-inflammatories like aspirin, ibuprofen, and naproxen sodium. You might also benefit from physical therapy to relieve pressure on the nerve.

If conservative treatments aren’t enough to address chronic sciatica pain, Dr. Roh can offer epidural injections. This treatment delivers anesthetic and anti-inflammatory medications into the area surrounding your sciatic nerve. Treatment reduces inflammation to help your nerve heal naturally and can provide short-term relief from pain.

When compression on the sciatic nerve is severe, Dr. Roh can refer you for surgery to Dr. Ojeyemi, who offers several minimally invasive procedures to treat sciatica. One effective surgical option is decompression surgery that involves removal of a small amount of bone to reduce pressure on the nerve.

If your sciatica pain is persistent and interfering with your life, schedule a consultation at Orthopedic & Wellness by calling the office nearest you or by using the online booking feature.