What is Sciatica?

Sciatica is the broad term describing an assortment of pain symptoms caused by sciatic nerve compression. The sciatic nerve is the largest in the body, extending from the lumbar spine, through the hip, and down through each leg. It consists of multiple nerve bundles that control sensation and function in the legs and feet. Sciatica occurs from sciatic nerve compression or damage that results in dysfunction.

Causes of Sciatica

The underlying causes of compression or damage can range. While sciatica is most often causes by a degenerative spine condition, even poor posture and occupation cause prolonged pressure in the buttocks and lower back that can cause nerve compression. Common causes of sciatic nerve compression include:

• Herniated Discs: A crack in a spinal disc that causes the inner soft material to leak through
• Bulging Discs: flattened discs that protrude out, often caused by wear and tear
• Bone spurs: bony projections caused by joint damage
• Fractures or Trauma: injury can cause excess pressure or nerve damage

Sciatica Symptoms

Sciatic nerve dysfunction can cause a variety of symptoms, ranging from minor burning to extreme pain. Usually, sciatica affects only one leg, though cases of bilateral sciatica result in symptoms in both legs. Common symptoms of sciatica include:

• Numbness and tingling in the legs
• Burning sensations
• Lower Back Pain
• Radiating pain from the buttock down to the foot
• Weakness in the legs, knees, or feet
• Extreme cases may cause loss of mobility

Sciatica Treatment at Coastal Neurosurgery & Spine

CNS has a team of spine specialists who work with each patient to determine the best course of you Sciatica treatment. Because symptoms vary from patient to patient, we develop individualized treatment plans that explore various noninvasive or surgical options.

Non-Surgical Sciatica Treatment

Most patients with sciatica are able to manage symptoms through various non-invasive and non-surgical treatment methods. Most patients experience relief using a combination of treatment methods that help with both pain management and spinal realignment. Coastal Neurosurgery & Spine offers several conservative treatments including:

• Pain Management: We use a combined treatment plans to help combat your ongoing pain associated with Sciatica.
• Chiropractic Care: Gentle spinal manipulations help to relieve symptoms associated with herniated discs and reduce compression caused by spinal misalignments. We can refer you to a trusted network of Chiro’s in your area.
• Physical Therapy: stretching helps to improve mobility and aids in post-injury rehabilitation but its possible without the knowledge of the root of the injury, or how to stretch for that particular issue. You could have no relief or cause more harm by movements and stretches that are done improperly. Strengthening Exercises after prolonged weakness in the lower back and legs, are often needed to restore muscle function.
• Spinal Decompression: non-surgical spinal decompression gently stretches the spine to reduce pressure on nearby nerves
• Epidural Steroid Injections: The injected corticosteroid acts as an inflammatory agent to reduce swelling and flush out proteins that may be causing nerve irritation and pain
• Spinal Cord Stimulators: Implants in the spine deliver electric current to the spinal cord
• Allow our physical therapist at Coastal diagnose your issues and build a treatment plan around them.

Minimally Invasive Procedures & Surgical Treatment for Sciatica

After conservative methods of Sciatica Treatment are exhausted, more severe cases of sciatica may require intervention with our team of surgeons. Our spine surgeons offer several cutting-edge, minimally invasive spine surgery techniques. Minimally invasive procedures reduce patient recovery time and help patients return to their normal activities as quickly as possible. CNS offers common spine surgeries for sciatica, including:

• Lumbar Microdecompression Surgery: We use a combined treatment plans to help combat your ongoing pain associated with Sciatica.
• Microlaminectomy or Microlaminotomy: both surgeries involve the lamina, the bony plate that protects the spinal cord and canal. A micro laminectomy is the complete removal of the lamina, while a micro laminotomy is a partial removal.
• Cervical and lumbar fusion surgery: fusing two or more vertebra using a patient’s bone graft and metal rods and screws. This is generally considered a last resort option for severe cases of sciatica.