Sciatica Specialist
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Prime Regenerative and Pain Management
Pain Management & Alternative Medicine located in Fredericksburg, VA
The pain of sciatica causes reduced mobility and such intense discomfort that those suffering from the condition can lose many work days each year. If you’re experiencing a sharp, shooting pain from your lower back down your leg, it could well be sciatica, a condition which Dev Sen, MD, of Prime Regenerative and Pain Management has considerable experience in treating successfully. If you live in the Stafford, Fredericksburg, or King George areas of Virginia, call Dr. Sen today, or book an appointment online.
Sciatica Q & A
What is sciatica?
Sciatica is a frequently occurring condition affecting the lower back and leg. Damage to the sciatic nerve or undue pressure on the nerve causes pain that starts in the low back and migrates down the leg, following the path of the sciatic nerve.
The sciatic nerve originates in the lower lumbar spine, from where it branches into two, with a branch stretching down each leg and into each foot. Sciatica may develop because of direct damage to the sciatic nerve, or as a result of pressure from surrounding tissues. Causes of pressure include:
- Muscle spasms in your back or buttocks
- Lumbar spinal stenosis
- Spondylolisthesis
- Spinal disc degeneration, disc herniation, rupture or tear
- Lumbar spondylosis and spondylisthesis
Finding the cause of your sciatica ensures you receive the most appropriate treatment, and Dr. Sen has considerable expertise in diagnosing the causes of sciatica and other painful musculoskeletal disorders.
What are the symptoms of sciatica?
Sciatica follows the route of the sciatic nerve, causing a typical shooting or stabbing pain that starts in your lower back, then goes through your hip and down your leg, and sometimes to your foot, where the nerve ends.
You may also experience other symptoms affecting the leg, such as:
- Tingling
- Numbness
- Pain in the buttock
- Muscle control problems
- Weakness
Sciatic pain is frequently worse when you’re sitting. Most often only one leg is affected so that the other leg might feel perfectly fine. You’re more at risk of developing sciatica if you don’t get enough exercise or are overweight, and sleeping on an old or unsuitable mattress can make sciatica much worse.
People who wear high heels are also more likely to develop sciatica because they’re putting excessive pressure on their lower limbs and forcing joints and tissues into unnatural positions.
How is sciatica treated?
Treatments for sciatica focus on relieving the pressure on the sciatic nerve to remove the cause of the pain. Potential therapies for sciatica include:
- Physical therapy
- Stretching exercises
- Medications
- Epidural Injections
- Transforaminal injections
- Spinal cord stimulator
Gentle exercise is more effective than immobility, so bed rest doesn’t generally help with sciatica; however, it’s important not to do too much while the nerve is healing. Dr. Sen can advise you on the medical management of your sciatica to optimize your recovery.
If you have back and leg pain, see Dr. Sen as soon as possible to make sure you get the treatment you need before the problem gets any worse. Call Prime Regenerative and Pain Management today, or book an appointment online.
