Sciatica Treatment in Pikesville, MD

You may have suffered from sciatica without knowing the scientific name for it. In fact, up to 40% of the U.S. will deal with it in their lifetimes. If you’ve ever experienced a sharp pain that runs down one leg from the lower back through to the foot, you have had sciatica. It’s named for the sciatic nerve, which is actually formed from five nerve roots that originate in the lower back.  

What are the triggers 

The root causes of sciatica differ based on several factors, age being one of these. If you’re under 60, your sciatica may be due to degenerative disk disease, a herniated disk, or a small fracture that causes the condition isthmic spondylolisthesis. Degenerative spinal changes like lumbar spinal stenosis, when the spinal nerves are “choked,” may affect you if you’re 60 or over.  

More temporary triggers include pregnancy, bone fractures, and muscle strains. Diabetes and obesity may also increase your chances for sciatica.  

Depending on which nerve root is pinched, your symptoms will vary, from numbness in the foot to a burning sensation in the back of the thigh. You may notice that the pain intensifies when you cough or have been seated for a long period of time.  

Sciatica nerve relief 

To prevent sciatica from recurring, regular exercise, good posture habits, and best practices when standing or lifting heavy objects could have positive effects. All these either strengthen your muscles surrounding the sciatic nerve or help you maintain a proper body position to avoid pinched nerves. 

Sciatica often dissipates on its own after a few weeks, depending on the root cause. Some people who are not in severe pain may elect to self-treat with ice packs, over-the-counter pain relievers, and gentle stretching. On the other end of the spectrum, other people may require surgery to remove bone spurs. If you are in between these two extremes, we can help you find relief safely. 

During your first appointment with us, we will ask you to describe your symptoms, tell us of any injuries or other triggers, as well as how often and how long you have had sciatica, and answer other questions to get to the root of the issue. We may order tests to help us further diagnose the situation and ensure there is not a reason to recommend surgical intervention. 

Assuming we feel we can effectively treat you, our doctor will proceed to realign your spine to relieve the nerve pressure. Alternate treatment methods may involve the usage of ultrasound, ice therapy, or a TENS device that stimulates the nerves with electrical impulses. We look forward to helping you find relief. 

To schedule an appointment, contact our office today!