Sciatica

Sciatica affects 40% of adults at some point in their lives. Without early treatment from Andrew Morchower, MD, MPH, at OmniSpine Pain Management in Frisco and Mesquite, Texas, your first bout with sciatica could turn into a long-lasting, debilitating condition. Dr. Morchower has extensive experience treating sciatica with conventional, interventional, and regenerative therapies. He also specializes in minimally invasive lumbar decompression (mild®). The sooner you schedule an appointment, the faster you’ll get relief from the pain. Call the office today or book online.

What is sciatica?

Sciatica is a group of symptoms that arise when you have a pinched (compressed) sciatic nerve. The sciatic nerves leave both sides of your spinal cord in your lower back. From there, they travel down both sides of your body, going through your buttocks and legs, to your feet.

When the nerve is pinched, you experience pain that travels the length of the nerve. That’s why sciatic is known for its primary symptom: shooting leg pain.

You have other nerves that leave the spinal cord and go down your legs. If any of them become pinched, you experience similar symptoms.

What causes sciatica?

Sciatica occurs when a problem in your spine pushes against and pinches the nerve. The most common conditions responsible for sciatica include:

• Herniated discs (cause 90% of all cases)
• Degenerative disc disease
• Bone spurs
• Spinal stenosis (narrowing of the spinal canal)
• Thickened ligaments
• Facet joint arthritis
• Spondylolisthesis (slipped vertebra)

The sciatic nerve can also be pinched by muscles as it travels through your buttocks, but this isn’t sciatica. Instead, it’s called piriformis syndrome.

What symptoms does sciatica cause?

Sciatica causes lower back pain that suddenly radiates down one leg. Though the severity of your pain can vary, most people describe it as an excruciating, electric-shock pain. You might also experience tingling or burning sensations.

In severe cases, the nerve is so damaged that you lose sensation. Then you have leg numbness instead of pain.

How is sciatica treated?

Your initial treatment consists of conservative therapies like physical therapy and anti-inflammatory medication or a muscle relaxant. If you still experience pain after conservative care, Dr. Morchower recommends other treatments, including:

• Epidural steroid injections
• Radiofrequency ablation
• Spinal cord stimulation
• Platelet-rich plasma (PRP) injections
• Regenerative medicine
• Nerve blocks
• Chiropractic care
• Acupuncture

If your sciatica doesn’t improve, and it’s caused by spinal stenosis, Dr. Morchower can perform a minimally invasive lumbar decompression (mild®) procedure.

During the mild procedure, Dr. Morchower makes one tiny incision in your lower back and uses a specialized tool to remove small pieces of bone and thickened ligament pressing against the nerve. This relieves the pressure and the sciatica.

After your procedure, you go home the same day. Most people return to their usual activities in 24 hours.

You can get relief from the severe pain of sciatica when you seek help from OmniSpine Pain Management. Call the office today or request an appointment online.