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Sciatica Symptoms and Treatment

If you’ve ever heard someone complain of low back pain, sciatica may have been the culprit. Sciatica is a term used to describe a group of symptoms that can develop in the lower back when an injury or degenerative condition is placing pressure on the sciatic nerve. Some of the most common conditions that can lead to sciatica include:

  • Bulging disc
  • Degenerative disc disease
  • Herniated disc
  • Spinal arthritis
  • Spondylolisthesis

Because these conditions can affect the anatomical components of the spine, including its vertebrae, intervertebral discs, and ligaments, it’s no surprise that changes in the spine’s structure or stability can have an effect on the sciatic nerve or its nerve roots and cause sciatica pain.

Sciatica Symptoms

The sciatic nerve is the largest nerve in the body. It begins in the lower part of the spinal cord (the lumbar spine) and extends all the way down the back of the thigh. Just above the back of the knee, the sciatic nerve divides into nerve branches to deliver sensation to the calf and foot.

Compression on the roots of this nerve can lead to a variety of painful symptoms that span the length of the lower body:

  • A warm or electric sensation affecting the lower extremities
  • Numbness or loss of feeling in the thigh, lower leg, or foot
  • Shooting pain that begins in the lower back and radiates down through the buttocks, leg, and calf

Sciatica can affect both sides of the body, but it is far more common for it to only affect one side. This occurs because of the anatomical issue in the spine, such as a herniated disc, generally only affects the nerve roots on one side of the spinal column. Sciatica pain can make sitting or standing for long periods of time excruciating, though most people find that slow walking or lying down helps to alleviate symptoms.

Does Sciatica Always Require Surgery?

Pain relief for sciatica can take a variety of forms. While surgery for sciatica is available, trying all nonsurgical treatments prior to considering surgery is recommended. Sciatica therapy is aimed at managing symptoms and helping to relieve pressure on the sciatic nerve.

Sciatica treatments can include physical therapy, gentle stretching, low-impact exercise, steroids and anti-inflammatory medication. If these sciatic therapies are ineffective, more targeted back pain treatments may be necessary:

Sciatica Pain Treatment in Texas and Florida

At Physician Partners of America, we know that sciatica pain can affect every aspect of your life. Chronic low back pain can make it difficult to do your job, exercise, and socialize with others. Our experienced team of back pain doctors and sciatica specialists is committed to helping you regain your life and keep pain at bay. We offer sciatica treatment at clinics throughout the Dallas-Fort Worth area so finding effective, customized care has never been more convenient. Make today the day you start taking your life back from back pain by scheduling an appointment with the physicians of Physician Partners of America.

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Causes and Symptoms of Lower Back Pain

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Lower Back Pain Relief : Millions of people suffer from lower back pain. In fact, according to the American Chiropractic Association, it is the leading cause of disability worldwide and is the second leading cause of missed work. Pain the lower back, or lumbar spine, can take a variety of forms. Acute, or short-term pain, may arise due to a ligament sprain, muscle strain, or overexertion. This type of back pain will usually subside after a few days or weeks with treatments like rest, stretching, and nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory medication.

However, chronic low back pain can persist for weeks, months, or years. This type of long-term pain is usually due to some type of degenerative condition such as degenerative disc disease, osteoarthritis, herniated disc, ankylosing spondylitis, bone spurs, or chronic pain syndromes. Inflammation or degeneration of the spine can exert pressure on nerve roots in the spinal canal and cause the following symptoms:

  • Radiating pain that begins in the lower back and travels down through the hips, buttocks, and legs
  • Muscle weakness or spasms in the lower extremities
  • Tingling or a pins-and-needles sensation in the lower back, legs, and feet

Anatomical problems such as bone spurs, herniated discs, and inflamed vertebral joints will usually press on the spinal nerve root on one side of the spine, which means that symptoms are usually unilateral (only affecting one side).

Getting a Lower Back Pain Diagnosis

Several different types of lower back conditions can give rise to similar symptoms, though each disorder should be treated differently. It is extremely important to get a diagnosis for your lower back pain from a medical professional. A doctor will likely perform a thorough physical exam, ask you about your symptoms, and review your medical history. Imaging exams such as an X-ray, MRI, or CT scan may also be necessary to pinpoint the exact cause of your lower back pain. While some spine conditions respond to conservative treatments such as physical therapy, low-impact exercise, and chiropractic work, severe lower back pain may require more targeted pain management techniques.

Lower Back Pain Relief in the Dallas-Fort Worth Area

Some people think that chronic lower back pain is a fact of life. However, when lumbar spine discomfort affects your quality of living, it’s time to seek treatment. At Texas Pain Relief Group, we offer a variety of nonsurgical pain management therapies for the lower back:

  • Facet joint injections
  • Lumbar epidural steroid injections
  • Lumbar sympathetic nerve blocks
  • Spinal cord stimulation
  • Transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation (TENS)

If you’re ready to take the first step toward lasting pain relief, contact Texas Pain Relief Group to find out what lower back treatments may be right for you.

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