Sciatica

What is sciatica?

Sciatica is a type of radiculopathy, or nerve dysfunction, that causes pain, numbness, weakness, or tingling that radiates from the low back into your buttocks and legs along with your sciatic nerve.

Your sciatic nerve is the largest single nerve in your body. It begins on each side of your lower spine, then splits and runs through each side of your buttocks, into your thigh, and all the way down your leg to your foot. Sciatica symptoms occur when this nerve becomes irritated or inflamed.

What are the symptoms of sciatica?

Sciatica pain can range from mild irritation to severe and debilitating. Common sciatica symptoms include:

• Constant pain in one side of the buttocks or one leg
• Numbness or weakness in the leg or foot
• Increased discomfort from prolonged sitting
• Mild aches, sharp stabs, tingling, or burning sensations

Symptoms can become more intense when you make a sudden movement like sneezing or coughing.

What causes sciatica?

A pinched nerve causes sciatica. Several conditions can result in a pinched sciatic nerve, including:

• Degenerative disc disease
• A herniated disc
• Bone spurs on the vertebrae
• Spinal stenosis
• Spondylolisthesis
• Damage from diseases like diabetes

Your risks of developing sciatica increase as you age. You’re also at higher risk if you’re overweight, sedentary, or have diabetes.

How is sciatica treated?

Dr. Gonzales is specially trained to identify the causes of sciatica pain. Depending on your symptoms, he might recommend digital imaging like an MRI, CT scan, or X-rays to assist with your sciatica diagnosis.

Besides medications, physical therapy, and lifestyle modifications, Dr. Gonzales offers a wide range of interventional pain management solutions to relieve your sciatica symptoms.

Epidural steroid injections

Epidural steroid injections deliver anti-inflammatory medication directly into the dura -- the sac surrounding the nerve root -- to reduce inflammation.

Caudal steroid injections

This treatment relieves symptoms by injecting an anesthetic and a steroid to the nerve root. The steroid reduces inflammation while the anesthetic relieves the pain.

Selective nerve root blocks (SNRBs)

SNRBs target the nerve where it exits the foramen (the hole between the vertebrae). This injection is a combination of steroids and anti-inflammatory medications and is guided by live X-ray to ensure accurate delivery.

Find pain relief for your sciatica, call Texas Clinic Pain & Spine or schedule an appointment online using the convenient booking tool.