What is Sciatica?

Do you have sharp or burning pain shooting down the leg or arm?  You may have the symptoms of a pinched nerve in the back or neck.  When this occurs in the low back you may develop what is often referred to as sciatica.

Sciatica is a form of radicular pain, due to a pinched nerve in the low back, that can affect the low back, buttock, and leg.  Symptoms may include pain, numbness or weakness in these areas.  Depending on which nerve is involved the symptoms may be in a particular pattern.

Regardless of whether the pinched nerve is in the neck or back, the most common causes are either a herniated disc or stenosis.  Stenosis, which just means narrowing, can in occur in the spine for a number of reasons but a build of arthritis is a common one.

At Integrated Spine and Pain Services, we are experts in managing painful spine conditions.  Unfortunately, pinched nerves are common so we treat a lot of patients with this issue.  We use an evidence-based approach to try to get patients feeling better with the least invasive means possible but if conservative measures fail we have expertise in the most current minimally invasive treatment options.  For a pinched nerve or sciatica these options might include: Transforaminal epidural steroid injections, selective nerve root block or spinal cord stimulator trials.

If you are suffering from this or another painful spine condition schedule a consultation with Dr. Kline at Integrated Spine and Pain Services.