Sciatica & Sciatica Treatment
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Sciatica, Irritation of a Major Nerve
The sciatic nerve is the biggest nerve in the body, and sciatica is the condition that occurs when that nerve is irritated. The sciatic nerve begins with several nerves in the lower back and then travels down the legs. Sciatica can therefore result in both back pain and leg pain. There are several possible causes for this very painful condition, which are discussed below. If you are currently in pain with Sciatica, please contact our offices to attain the proper sciatica treatment today.
Causes
- The normal aging process
- The rupture or degeneration of a disc
- Bone spurs or thick ligaments developing
- Sudden twisting
- Heavy lifting
- Other types of physical trauma
Symptoms
- Leg pain that could be described as shooting
- Leg pain that could be described as burning
- Irritation in a leg, often all the way to the foot
- Numbness or weakness
- Pain that seems worsened when sitting
Surgical Treatment
A common surgical treatment for sciatica is decompression, a surgery that involves the removal of bone spurs, the removal of all or some of the lamina, or an enlargement of the foramina. All of these techniques are designed to relieve pressure on spinal nerves.
Another possible surgical treatment for sciatica is Anterior Lumbar Interbody Fusion, the removal of the disc material that is responsible for the pressure on the affected nerve.
Treatment Options
In order to treat sciatica non-surgically, your doctor may recommend medication, cortisone injections, and physical therapy.