Nearly 40% of Americans develop sciatica in their lifetime. If you’re already affected by sciatica, you may find it difficult to live and work with chronic back pain. At Port St. Lucie Pain & Medical Institute, home of Bossa Nova Lasers and Cosmetic Medicine, the team of doctors offers advanced diagnostics to accurately pinpoint the cause of your lower back pain. They provide effective treatments to alleviate your sciatic pain and help you to return to your normal, active lifestyle. To learn more about treating the pain of sciatica, schedule a consultation online or by calling the Oakland Park, Florida, office.
Sciatica is a chronic condition in which pain radiates along the pathway of your sciatic nerve. This nerve branches out from your lower back, hip, and buttocks, and travels down each of your legs.
Generally, sciatica pain occurs only on one side of your body. The pain can be severe enough to cause additional medical problems, such as changes in your bowel and bladder, and weakness in your leg.
In addition to radiating pain, you may also experience a sensation like an electric shock of jolting pain during sudden movements like a sneeze, cough, or unexpected twist of your back.
You may experience frequent weakness in your affected leg or foot. Numbness is also common and can make it difficult to walk or be physically active.
Your doctor at Port St. Lucie Pain & Medical Institute, home of Bossa Nova Lasers and Cosmetic Medicine performs a comprehensive diagnosis and may manipulate your legs and back in certain ways to find out what’s causing your pain. Finding the root of your pain can help determine if your pain is related to your sciatic nerve.
To further confirm a sciatica diagnosis, your doctor may recommend imaging tests, including:
These tests can determine if bone spurs, a herniated disc, or other injury is putting pressure on your sciatic nerve.
Depending on the severity of your sciatic nerve pain, your doctor may recommend one or more treatment options, including:
If sciatic pain causes bladder or bowel problems or progressive weakness in your leg, your doctor may recommend surgery. Surgical procedures can relieve pressure on your nerve and significantly reduce radiating pain and limb weakness or numbness.
At home, you can use hot and cold therapies to reduce lower back pain. Stretching exercises and yoga can help reduce pressure on your sciatic nerve and lessen your risk of recurring sciatic nerve issues.
To end the pain of sciatica, consult with the team of doctors at Port St. Lucie Pain & Medical Institute, home of Bossa Nova Lasers and Cosmetic Medicine. Schedule an appointment online or by phone.
