Sciatica Pain Treatment in Linden, NJ

Is chronic sciatica pain preventing you from performing daily tasks? Contact the Institute of Orthopedics, Spine, & Sports to get advice from Dr. Calvert, a specialist in Linden, New Jersey. Dr. Calvert will carefully assess your sciatica pain and provide personalized treatments. His expertise and innovative approach have transformed many lives from pain to health.

Don’t let sciatica pain hold you back. Call (973)-798-1787 today to schedule an appointment with Dr. Calvert and start your journey to a pain-free life. It’s your right to live without sciatica pain and enjoy everyday activities.

Understanding Sciatica

Types of Sciatica

Sciatica is not a diagnosis, but we are referring to the innumerable conditions causing discomfort along the sciatic nerve that begins at the spinal cord and Coats down through the hips, buttocks, and each leg. This large nerve is the longest in the body, and harm or inflammation at any segment of this nerve backbone can cause sciatica. The two main types of sciatica are:

• Acute Sciatica: This type usually lasts 1–3 weeks and may need no treatment at all to heal because it is not accompanied by other serious symptoms. It is often caused by an injury that happened in a short period; it is mainly caused by a protruding disc. Some of the first and most severe signs for patients, who suffer from acute sciatica, include the intense, sudden, aching pain in the lower back which can radiate down to the leg. This pain can be chronic and interfere with a person’s ability to engage in full function, or die, daily activities. Nevertheless, long-term management of acute sciatica requires proper treatment, and in most cases, individuals can get a full recovery in a few weeks.

• Chronic Sciatica: This type lasts for over three months and it may need a more detailed form of process. Chronic sciatica is typically caused by other conditions, for example, spinal stenosis or degeneration disc disease. Chronic sciatica causes pain that is persistent and may fade and grow over time, and it is felt in the lower back region and down the legs to the thigh. Other symptoms may include numbness, tingling, and muscle weakness due to reduced blood circulation. It must be noted that chronic sciatica can be a major source of pain and can considerably diminish the quality of life; hence, consulting with a specialist is important for proper treatment.

Causes of Sciatica

Sciatica is related to factors that put pressure on the sciatic nerve, which is the nerve controlling the legs. Common causes include:

• Herniated Disc: The most common scenario under which a disc in the spine herniates and causes additional pressure on the sciatic nerve. This is a normal condition caused by age, an injury, or improperly lifting objects off the ground. It stands to reason that the herniated disc should have great pain and inflammation, and folks will have to target specific treatment to reduce the pressure on the nerve.

• Spinal Stenosis: A decrease in the diameter of the spinal canal, which involves the nerve trunks. Although this situation can affect anybody, it is common with older people and may result in chronic sciatica. This may result from conditions such as bony spurs, and enlargement of ligaments or discs, which compress the nerves that run within the spinal column.

• Degenerative Disc Disease: Intervertebral discs degenerate with time and the pressure they exert on nerves known as nerve compression is experienced. In the later stages of the degeneration, the discs are no longer capable of providing the necessary cushion and if the pressure is exerted on the sciatic nerve, one can develop the disorder. This condition is quite common and appears to affect individuals as they grow older, hence resulting in constant pain and uneasiness.

• Piriformis Syndrome: In 2IC, the piriformis muscle in the buttocks contracts and inflames the sciatic nerve. This muscle is situated far down in the gluteal region where it can become stiff or convulsive because of excessive use or in any case, it tends to rub on the sciatic nerve and produces the feeling of numbness, along the legs.

• Spondylolisthesis: The medical condition whereby one of the vertebrae in the back shifts over another and compresses the sciatic nerve. It can be caused by a stress fracture, arthritis, or congenital defects. Lumbar spondylosis may cause acute and chronic sciatica depending on the degree of the displacement of the vertebrae.

• Injury or Trauma: A direct trauma to your lumbar area or your buttock area may also lead to sciatica. Lumbar pressure, physical trauma in the form of a slip, fall or even engaging in sporting activities might result in pressure on the spinal cord or the muscles that surround the nerve, thereby causing sciatica.

Symptoms of Sciatica

The symptoms of sciatica can vary depending on the severity and the specific nerves affected, but they commonly include:

• Pain: Generally defined as a severe, burning, or stinging pain that originates in the lower back, and travels through the hip and into the thigh. Occasionally, the pain rises with exercises that involve movements like bending, lifting, or even coughing. Typically, it can manifest in the form of a simple inconveniencing pain, or it can be excruciating pain that hampers the performance of day-to-day tasks.

• Numbness and Tingling: It may feel numb or tingly in areas, especially where the nerve is located but usually is not very painful. This tingle known to many by the term “pins and needles” may run from the base of the spine, down to the toes, depending on where the Sciatic nerve is irritated. Another symptom that may occur with pain is the sensation of numbness and tingling which ultimately serves to amplify the pain.

• Weakness: Paralysis — weakness or inability to move the affected leg enough to bear weight and stand. This weakness often interferes with balance and gait, and it may be difficult to do activities that involve the use of your legs and abdomen, such as standing, walking, or lifting objects. Mild cases of muscle weakness can usually be treated and go away, but severe cases could mean that a substantial amount of the nerve is compressed, and one should consult a doctor as soon as possible.

• Difficulty Sitting or Standing: Essentially, for people with CRS, staying seated for an extended period or standing can worsen the symptoms. Sciatica sufferers frequently note aspects such as sitting for long periods puts pressure on the nerve and intensifies the pain during car rides and at work. Likewise, it is common knowledge that standing for an extended period can aggravate the pain as well. Staying still is often difficult, and shooting may be required from time to time to limit standing pain.

• Radiating Pain: The pain usually originates where the sciatic nerve is located and branches from the lower back to the buttocks and down the legs. Pain can sometimes get to the foot region and toes at times. They can even develop deep into the area. Radiating pain is characteristic of sciatica and, therefore, can be used to distinguish this ailment from others that can also cause back pain. 

• Unilateral Symptoms: Sciatica essentially lasts only on one side of the body although it occasionally comes with bilateral complaints. It can affect both sides in rare circumstances because nerve compression occurs depending on the specific location and severity of the situation. Bilaterality of sciatica can be unhelpful because it may obscure the origin of the symptoms, whereas unilateral pain might assist in reaching a diagnosis and developing an appropriate treatment plan for the affected side.

Non-Surgical Treatment Options

Thus, pain management physicians at the Institute of Orthopedics, Spine, & Sports provide some non-operative treatments targeting sciatica and guaranteeing that patients will receive no-restriction pain relief. These methods include:

• Epidural Steroid Injections: Epidural corticosteroids refer to the administration of steroids through an injection into the area that is located around the spinal cord. This treatment seeks to alleviate any inflammation that might be present and offer a lot of relief from pain. These drugs reduce inflammation that puts pressure on the sciatic nerve hence ending the pain associated with the disorder. These injections may give relief for several weeks to months so the patient can engage in active physical therapy and other rehabilitating procedures without a tremendous amount of pain.

• Nerve Blocks: Nerve blocks entail the administration of anesthetic or anti-inflammatory drugs to the area of the nerves that are carrying signals of pain. It acts as an interceder preventing the pain messages from being sent to the brain; thus, offering instant pain relief. Nerve blocks are most useful in cases of acute sciatica or when an individual has intermittent flare-ups of the condition; however, they can be used as a long-term solution to the pain as well.

• Medications: Self-care involves treatment by doctors who prescribe anti-inflammatory drugs, muscle relaxants, and nerve pain medication for use in managing the symptoms. Different classes of medications can effectively address this condition and they include NSAIDs which work by reducing inflammation and pain, muscle relaxants that assist in relaxing spasming muscles, and gabapentin or pregabalin which is commonly used to address nerve-related pain. These medicines are usually taken along with other pain moderation techniques to ensure a complete solution.

• Transcutaneous Electrical Nerve Stimulation (TENS): TENS is conducted by using an electric device that has electrodes that pass stimuli in the form of electricity on the skin over the affected region. These impulses also have a positive effect on the process of pain modulation since they can act as pain inhibitors by blocking the pain messages sent to the brain and stimulating the production of endorphins, pain-killing hormones of the body. TENS is shown to be effective and has no side effects, and it may be performed as a single conservative treatment or alongside other modalities.

Conclusion

If you or someone close to you suffer from sciatica, it is highly advisable to turn to the Institute for professional assistance in the development of a proper treatment regimen for the leading cause of your pain and constant rehabilitation from it. This implies that through professional competence combined with a professional touch of care, every patient is well taken care of.

In case of further inquiry or to read more and visit our office, you can contact (973)-798-1787 or visit the Institute of Orthopedics, Spine, & Sports located in Linden, NJ to get started towards a painless livelihood.