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If you suffer from sciatica pain in your lower back, buttocks, and legs, it makes sense that you’re ready to resolve your uncomfortable symptoms and get on with your life. Read to learn about treatments for sciatica.
Your sciatic nerve is a complex system of nerve roots that runs from your spine through your buttocks and into your legs. If your sciatic nerve is affected by spinal nerve compression, you can end up suffering from sciatica symptoms, including back and leg pain that feels piercing, shooting, or radiating.
The effects of sciatica are not fun to live with, and it makes sense that you want to resolve your sciatica symptoms as quickly and reliably as possible. Get your condition evaluated by board-certified neurosurgeon Dr. Beejal Amin to find out what treatment methods could work for you.
Understanding your sciatica
Initially, when suffering from sciatica symptoms, figure out where spinal nerve compression is occurring and why. When you understand the root cause of the problem, putting together an effective treatment plan is more of a real possibility.
The spinal nerve compression causing your sciatica symptoms could be due to several spinal issues, including:
- A herniated spinal disc
- Degenerative disc disease
- Spinal stenosis, narrowing of your spine
- Bone spurs or osteoarthritis in your vertebral bones
Sciatica pain can also occur due to muscle spasm issues. Sciatica can develop in the later stages of pregnancy, too.
To learn more about the condition of your spine, Dr. Amin uses a thorough physical examination and diagnostic testing, such as magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scans. Once he understands the nature and location of the compressed nerve causing your sciatica, he can put together your treatment plan.
Addressing your sciatica
The correct treatment method for your sciatica symptoms depends on the underlying issue. As a rule of thumb, being overweight, obese, or physically inactive increases your risk of sciatica, so healthy weight loss might be a place to start.
Wearing high heels also puts you at risk for sciatica; you may only need to adjust your footwear to find relief from sciatica symptoms.
Dr. Amin may also recommend rest, muscle relaxants, anti-inflammatory medication, gentle exercise, or physical therapy. Epidural steroid injections or nerve blocks can help with severe sciatica pain.
If your sciatica symptoms don’t respond to conservative treatment options, you may need surgical treatment for recovery. Dr. Amin can surgically remove a herniated disc with a discectomy, fuse problematic spinal bones, or perform decompression surgery to address spinal stenosis and make more room in your spinal canal.
For effective treatment, count on Dr. Amin to relieve your sciatica symptoms. Get in touch online or call today to schedule your initial appointment at one of his offices in Oak Lawn, South Holland, or Orland Park, Illinois.