Do You Have Symptoms of Sciatica?

You’re having pain in your back and/or leg. You can tell that this isn’t some minor muscle ache you might get the day after a long tennis match. This pain is sharp and severe. You may have sciatica. 

What is sciatica?

Sciatica is a painful condition that affects your lower back and can often also affect your leg. Your sciatic nerve is a large nerve that moves from your lower back through your buttocks and all the way down both of your legs. It’s the largest nerve in your body in both width and length. 

Your sciatic nerve has a big job to do. This nerve provides feeling to the back of your thigh as well as your lower leg, all the way to the ankle and the sole of your foot. It also enables your muscles to perform. Sciatica occurs when this nerve is compressed. 

Our team at Apollo Pain Management in Sun City Center, Florida, treats many patients with sciatica. We’re here to help you regain mobility and guide your return to your normal daily activities. 

Why does the sciatic nerve become compressed? 

Your sciatic nerve could have become compressed due to a herniated disc; narrowing of the spinal cord, called spinal stenosis;or perhaps a bone spur. Your spinal discs normally provide a soft cushion between each vertebra, but they can become damaged. 

Discs can become worn from normal wear and tear, or they can be damaged by an accident. If your disc herniates, some of the material in a disc can slip out, which irritates the nerve. It becomes inflamed, and you have sciatica. Likewise, if your spinal cord narrows, or if you have a bone spur, part of the cord or the growth on the bone from the bone spur can impinge on the nerve. 

Symptoms of sciatica

Once you know the symptoms, if you have them again, you’ll recognize it as sciatica. Following are typical symptoms:

• Pain radiating from your lower spine down the buttock to the back of the leg, even from the thigh to the calf
• Pain may vary: 
• Aching
• A burning feeling 
• Intense pain
• Pain similar to an electric shock
• Pain that’s worse when you sneeze or cough
• Pain after sitting for a while
• Numbness
• Tingling
• Muscle weakness
• Feeling numb, tingling, or muscle weakness in one part of your leg or foot and pain in another

Treatment for sciatica

Once your Apollo Pain Management team has diagnosed sciatica and ruled out other causes of your pain, they form a comprehensive plan for your treatment tailored to relieve the source of this distressing condition. Our board-certified pain-management physician may give you an epidural injection along with pain medication. 

You may need physical therapy to help you recover. Your therapist may perform deep massage to help release tight muscles that may be placing pressure on the nerve. You’ll learn gentle stretches and do exercises that strengthen the muscles around the sciatic nerve so they can support you better. 

Your therapist may help you work on your posture. Standing or walking with poor posture can place undue pressure on your spinal discs and joints. 

Call Apollo Pain Management or request an appointment through our online portal today for relief of your sciatica. We’re here to guide you back to better health.