Sciatica Pain Relief – Sciatica Treatment

Sciatica Treatment

Sciatica pain treatment will depend on the condition’s severity and the nerve damage’s underlying cause. Our pain doctors can determine the most appropriate pain relief option based on how the body heals and responds.

When treating acute back problems, you can make use of the following recommendations:

• Rest. Avoid the activities that produce the pain (bending, lifting, twisting, turning, bending backward, etc.).
• Anti-inflammatory drugs and other sciatic nerve pain medications.
• Apply ice in acute cases to the lumbar spine to help reduce pain and associated muscle spasms. Apply ice right away and then at intervals for about 20 minutes at a time. Do not apply directly to the skin.
• An exercise regiment designed specifically to address the cause of the symptoms associated with sciatica and improve joint mobility, spinal alignment, posture, and range of motion.
• Steroidal medication to reduce inflammation in moderate to severe conditions.
• Lumbar nerve or epidural injections.
• Physical therapy for back and disc problems must remain conservative at the beginning to avoid aggravating the condition. Your therapist should emphasize rest, reducing inflammation, and increasing blood circulation for healing. Once the initial inflammation decreases, you should start a program of stretching and strengthening to restore flexibility to the joints and muscles involved while improving the strength and stability of the spine. Each program will be based on the structure causing the problem and its symptoms. A program not tailored to the specific problem may aggravate symptoms.

If the problem persists, consult with your local pain management health care provider of Redefine Healthcare in New Jersey. Our physician will perform a thorough evaluation to determine the possible cause of your symptoms, the structures involved, the severity of the condition, and the best course of treatment.

In the case of conditions that do not respond to conservative care, surgery may be necessary.

Some of the symptoms that may warrant a surgical intervention include:

• Increase in radiating or radicular pain
• Pain or nerve irritation that gets worse
• Weakness with muscle atrophy
• Associated disc involvement

Surgery may be necessary to release entrapment and remove the degenerative changes that compromise the nerve.

Surgical procedures to address the structures that contribute to the compression of the nerve roots of the sciatic nerve include:

• Endoscopic Decompression
• Endoscopic Foraminotomy
• Percutaneous Decompression
• IDET Intradiscal Electrothermal Therapy
• Selective Endoscopic Discectomy
• Spinal Cord Stimulator
• Epidural Lysis of Adhesions
• Laser Facet Arthrotomy

The team of physicians led by Dr. Freeman, the best pain relief doctor, can determine the accurate diagnosis and establish the correct sciatica pain care and rehabilitation plan.

Sciatica Medications to Consider

Our pain relief doctors of pain management clinics in New Jersey may recommend several medication options individually or reduce the pain, inflammation, and muscle spasms that relate to sciatic nerve irritation.

• Over-the-counter medications for mild to moderate pain.
• If over-the-counter medications are not effective, your physician may prescribe stronger pain medication.
• Anti-inflammatory drugs or prescription NSAIDs (non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs) to reduce inflammation following acute injury.
• Muscle relaxers to reduce acute muscle spasms.
• Injections like facet injections, nerve blocks, or an epidural. These may involve the injection of corticosteroids to a specific structure to reduce local inflammation.

Sciatica Risk Factors

Because sciatica is a reasonably common condition, there are several risk factors you should remember.

Sciatica risk factors include:

• Sitting for prolonged periods;
• Age: As you age, your spine goes through changes that may include a herniated disk or bone spurs that can cause sciatica;
• Diabetes: This disease increases your risk of nerve damage;
• Obesity: Extra weight adds pressure to your spine, which may lead to sciatica.

Redefine Healthcare’s best-in-class doctors for sciatica pain are honored to provide you with highly personalized and comprehensive care. Our least invasive, most effective treatment options based on the latest research and techniques have earned us a reputation as one of the most trusted and respected practices in Union, Edison, Paterson, West Orange, Bayonne, and West Caldwell, NJ. Please contact our pain management physicians as soon as possible to discuss your individual sciatica problem and begin the road to recovery.

Read more: Sciatica Self-care: 5 At-home Remedies for Low Back and Leg Pain

Page Updated on Jul 19, 2023 by Dr. Freeman (Pain Management Specialist) of Redefine Healthcare

Dr. Eric D. Freeman is a top-rated, best-in-class pain management doctor. He is a nationally recognized pain relief specialist and is among the top pain care doctors in New Jersey and the country. He is an award-winning expert and contributor to prominent media outlets.

Dr. Eric D. Freeman has been recognized for his thoughtful, thorough, modern approach to treating chronic pain. He has been named a “top pain management doctor in New Jersey” and one of “America’s Top Physicians” for advanced sports injury treatments.

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