Sciatica Treatment in Boston MA

Do you ever wonder what the pain radiating down your spine to your buttocks might be? It’s possible that it’s sciatica.

Sciatica can cause some people severe pain and can even be debilitating. For others, sciatica might be irritating and infrequent. However, it does have the potential to get worse as time goes on.

Frank X. Pedlow Jr., MD is a top spine surgeon in Boston, MA. If you or a loved one are experiencing symptoms of sciatica in the Boston area, contact Dr. Pedlow today to schedule an appointment.

What Causes Sciatica?

The most common cause of sciatica is a lumbar disc herniation directly pressing on the nerve but any irritation or inflammation of the sciatic nerve can create sciatica symptoms. Other causes of sciatica can include:

• Pregnancy
• Lumbar spinal stenosis
• Degenerative disc disease
• Spondylolisthesis.

How Can I Tell If I Have Sciatica?

While sciatica affects everyone differently, the following are the most common symptoms:

• Pain that radiates from your lower spine to your buttock and down the back of your leg. The pain is usually on one side of the body.
• Though a person does experience back pain, the leg pain is much more severe
• Pain that worsens when standing or sitting, but improves when lying down or resting
• “Pins and Needles” sensation in the leg
• Numbness and tingling in the leg

Diagnosing Sciatica

Sciatica can be diagnosed by a physical exam and an imaging test. During a physical exam, a doctor might check muscle strength and reflexes. If your sciatica is being caused by a herniated disc or bone spur, a doctor might suggest an imaging test, such as an X-ray, MRI, CT Scan or EMG.

Sciatica Treatment Options

Sciatica is leg pain that is commonly caused by a herniated disc. When a disc develops a tear or crack and bulges into the spinal canal, it can pinch the sciatic nerve. Usually, symptoms clear up within about six weeks, but there are a number of treatment options if your sciatica pain lasts longer than expected:

Heat/Ice

Heat and ice packs can help alleviate the initial leg pain. They should be applied for about 20 minutes, and repeated every two hours. Whether ice or heat work better depends on the type of pain. You can alternate the two until you find out what’s best for you.

Medications

Several types of medication may be used to treat persistent sciatica pain. The most common medications include:

• Over-the-counter pain relievers such as acetaminophen, aspirin, or NSAIDS
• Muscle relaxants to ease muscle spasms
• Narcotics and other prescription medications for more severe pain
• Tricyclic antidepressants for lower back pain

Physical Therapy

After your pain improves, your physician might design a rehab program to prevent further injuries and pain. Usually, physical therapy includes exercises that will help correct your posture, strengthen the muscles in your back, and improve flexibility.

Epidural Steroid Injections

If the pain is severe enough, your doctor might recommend injection of a corticosteroid medication into the area to reduce inflammation. The effects of epidural steroid injections last only a few months, but they can be very effective in reducing the inflammation that might cause the pain.

Surgery

Surgery is only an option when the compressed nerve causes weakness, loss of bladder control, loss of bowel control, or when the pain worsens.