What is sciatica?
Sciatica describes the symptoms that happen when the sciatic nerve becomes irritated or compressed. The nerve starts in your lower back and branches through your hips, buttocks and legs, so the pain often travels the length of the nerve — usually on one side only.
What causes it?
Sciatica is usually the result of a problem in the lumbar spine:
- Herniated disc
- Bone spur
- Spinal stenosis
- Degenerative disc disease
- Sacroiliac joint dysfunction
- Slipped vertebra (spondylolisthesis)
Symptoms
Many people describe a burning pain in the lower back that shoots down the hip, buttock and leg. You may also notice:
- Numbness
- Pins and needles
- Weakness
- Heaviness in the leg
Symptoms are often worst when you stand up, sit down, lean over or twist — and a cough or sudden movement can set them off.
How we treat sciatica
Dr. Coccaro starts with the most conservative option that fits your diagnosis — often physical therapy and an injection — and moves on only as needed. If an injection gives good but temporary relief, for example, radiofrequency ablation can make that relief last much longer.
- Physical therapy
- Epidural injections
- Sciatic nerve block injections
- Radiofrequency ablation
- Platelet-rich plasma (PRP) injections
- Minimally invasive lumbar decompression (MILD®)
- Vertiflex™ Superion® interspinous spacer
- Spinal cord stimulation (Nevro HF10® or Boston Scientific systems)