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Sciatica services offered in Porterville, Reedley and Visalia, CA
Sciatica is a common pain condition that affects up to 40% of people in the United States at some point during their life. Sciatica can go away on its own; however, if you continue to have sciatica pain, schedule a consultation at Sequoia Institute for Surgical Services. The team of orthopaedic surgeons can find the cause of your sciatica and review your treatment options. For help with your sciatica, call the office in Visalia, Porterville, or Reedley, California, or book an appointment online today.
What is sciatica?
Sciatica is a type of pain condition that occurs from compression or irritation of the sciatic nerve. The sciatic nerve is the thickest in your body, consisting of several nerve roots that exit from the lumbar and sacral spine that come together in the buttocks.
The sciatic nerve travels down the back of your legs on both sides of your body. This nerve controls the muscles behind the back of your knee and provides sensations in the back of your thigh, the lower part of your leg, and the sole of your foot.
Compression or irritation of the sciatic nerve at any point along the path of the nerve causes sciatica.
What are the symptoms of sciatica?
Sciatica symptoms vary depending on the cause. With sciatica, you may feel sharp jolts of pain or burning or tingling sensations. Your pain may come and go, or you may feel it constantly. Movement, coughing, or sneezing may worsen your pain.
Sciatica pain may occur along any part of the sciatic nerve — lower back, hips, buttock, or legs. However, you typically feel the most severe pain in the leg. Sciatica most often only affects one side of the body.
What causes sciatica?
You may develop sciatica from any number of medical conditions. However, the painful condition usually results from compression or irritation of the spinal nerve root as it exits the lumbar spine.
Common causes of sciatica include:
- Disc herniation
- Degenerative disc disease (DDD)
- Bone spurs
- Spinal stenosis
- Osteoarthritis
- Injury to the lumbar spine or sciatic nerve
- Spondylolisthesis — Vertebrae slips out of place
If you have sciatica, the team at Sequoia Institute for Surgical Services can help find the underlying cause of your pain and create an effective treatment plan to ease your discomfort.
What are my treatment options for sciatica?
The experts at Sequoia Institute for Surgical Services customize your sciatica treatment plan based on the underlying cause. Treatment options might include:
- Heat and ice therapy
- Activity modification
- Home stretching and exercise program
- Physical therapy
- Supportive devices
- Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs)
- Pain management
- Injections
Most people with sciatica improve with medical interventions. However, if you continue to have pain, the team may suggest minimally invasive spinal surgery to address the root cause of your pain condition.
For help with your sciatica, call Sequoia Institute for Surgical Services or schedule an appointment online today.