Key takeaways:
- Sciatica can cause pain, numbness, tingling or burning that travels from the lower back into the buttock or leg.
- Persistent or recurring symptoms may be caused by a herniated disc, nerve irritation, injury or another underlying condition.
- Many patients can find relief through non-surgical treatments such as physical therapy, medication or epidural steroid injections.
- A pain management specialist can identify the source of your symptoms and recommend an individualized treatment plan.
Leg pain can be pretty annoying, especially if it keeps coming back. It can start to interfere with everyday tasks, things as simple as just sitting at your desk, driving, going on a run, or even getting comfortable at night. When the pain travels from your lower back down your leg constantly, it’s normal to be frustrated and want answers on how to find relief.
If you’re looking for sciatica pain relief near Chicago, understanding what’s causing your symptoms is a good place to start. Sciatica ranges from mild discomfort to severe pain, but the good news is that in many cases, non-surgical treatment options can help reduce your symptoms and significantly improve mobility. Now, let’s get into what you can do to get back to feeling like yourself again.
What Is Sciatica?
Sciatica is caused by damage or injury to the sciatic nerve and occurs in 1-2% of the population at any given time. It’s typically due to slow disc degeneration that causes a tear with the inner part squeezing out. Sounds painful, right?
The sciatic nerve is responsible for the legs, feet, and buttocks, and any problem with it can unfortunately lead to irregular sensations and pain. Symptoms can include:
- Tingling sensations
- Moderate to extreme pain
- Burning sensations
- Numbness
- Pain in the lower back, buttock, or leg
- Extreme discomfort when moving your legs
- Pain that becomes worse when sitting
- Pain that spreads into other areas of the lower body
The severity of your symptoms can vary, since everyone’s situation is unique.
What Causes Sciatica?
There are several different causes for sciatica, but the most common is a herniated or slipped disc. Other causes can include:
- A tumor in the affected area (rare)
- Piriformis syndrome, where the piriformis muscle puts pressure on the sciatic nerve
- Malfunctioning of the nervous system
- Injury to the lower back or buttocks
The initial damage to the sciatic nerve can be caused by an injury to its fibers. The injury may occur in the pelvis, in the spinal canal, or right on the nerve itself.
What Should You Do When Sciatica Won’t Go Away?
There’s a chance that mild symptoms can improve over time, but if your pain continues or repeatedly returns, it shouldn’t be ignored. If sciatica is interfering with your routine, try this:
- Keep moving! Complete bed rest is generally not recommended for sciatica.
- Avoid activities that make symptoms significantly worse.
- Pay attention to anything you’ve noticed that makes the pain worse. Ex., sitting, bending, driving, lifting, or specific exercises may increase symptoms.
- Be aware of any changes in your symptoms. If you’re experiencing an increase in pain, numbness/tingling, or you’re feeling weaker than normal, reach out to our team at Premier Pain & Spine.
Can Sciatica Be Treated Without Surgery?
The short answer is yes. More than 90% of our patients are able to avoid surgery! Surgery isn’t automatically the next step just because you have sciatic nerve pain. Our sciatica treatment Chicago patients’ treatment plans begin with non-surgical approaches based on the cause and severity of their symptoms. Non-surgical treatment options can look like:
- Physical therapy
- Pain management treatment
- Chiropractic treatment
- Spinal decompression
- Medications
- Epidural steroid injections- given with medicines (usually in a sequence)- and may bring complete relief right after the second or third injection
As always, the right approach depends on your individual condition, which is why an accurate diagnosis is important.
When Would Surgery Be Considered?
Most people with sciatica don’t need surgery (less than 10% of patients need surgery). BUT, there are situations where a surgical evaluation would make sense. Surgery may be considered when:
- Your symptoms are severe
- Your symptoms continue even with other treatments in place
- Significant nerve compression is causing neurological problems
The decision for surgery depends on the underlying cause of the sciatica and how the symptoms are affecting you. Most people start with less invasive treatment options before going straight to surgery.
When Should You See a Doctor for Sciatica?
Come see us if:
- Your leg pain is not improving
- Symptoms keep coming back
- Pain is getting worse and worse over time
- Tingling or numbness continues
- Pain makes walking/sitting nearly impossible
- You’re not getting any sleep because of your pain
- Symptoms are keeping you from living like you want to
Seeing one of our pain specialists can help you figure out whether your symptoms are caused by sciatica or not and identify what exactly may be irritating your sciatic nerve.
Pain Management Doctor Chicago
As you are probably very aware, sciatica can affect much more than your leg. Persistent pain can make it harder to do just about anything. If your leg pain isn’t going away, our team at Premier Pain & Spine offers non-surgical and interventional treatment options. Finding the cause of your symptoms can be the first step toward reducing pain, improving movement, and getting back to the activities you enjoy. Call us today to schedule an appointment.
Schaumburg: 1365 Wiley Rd. #153, Schaumburg, IL. Phone: 847-519-4701
Downers Grove: 3800 Highland Ave. # 101, Downers Grove, IL. Phone: 847-519-4701
Berwyn: 6920 Ogden Ave. Suite C, Berwyn, IL. Phone: 708-637-3534