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Sciatica Specialist

Apollo Pain Management Our Services Sciatica
Apollo Pain Management - - Interventional Pain Management Specialist

Apollo Pain Management

Interventional Pain Management Specialists located in Sun City Center, FL & Lakewood Ranch, FL

If you’re experiencing pain radiating from your low back down into your legs, that’s a common sign of sciatica, a nerve condition. At Apollo Pain Management, R. James Warren, MD, is an interventional pain management specialist with the skills and knowledge needed to diagnose and treat sciatica. The practice is conveniently located in Sun City Center, Florida. To learn more about effective treatments for sciatica, call today or schedule a consultation online.

Sciatica Q & A

What is sciatica?

Sciatica is brought on by pinching or compressing your sciatic nerve, the longest nerve in your body. Sciatica can cause pain in your lower back to radiate down into your leg.

Sciatica is usually triggered by compression of one or more of the five sets of sciatic nerve roots. Conditions affecting your discs and spine can compress or pinch these nerve roots.

What are the symptoms of sciatica?

The most common symptoms of sciatica are back pain or leg pain in either of your legs. The pain can range from mild to excruciating.

Other signs of sciatica include a:

  • Jolt, or electric shock
  • Sharp, burning sensation
  • Pain that’s worse when you sneeze, cough, or sit for long periods

You could also experience muscle weakness, tingling, and/or numbness in the affected area.

What causes sciatica?

The most common causes of sciatica are:

  • A herniated or bulging disc: when a disc in your back bulges or breaks through its outer covering
  • Lumbar spinal stenosis: a nerve compression disorder
  • Spondylolisthesis: a condition where a vertebra slips out of position
  • Piriformis syndrome: this happens  when the piriformis muscle in your lower back irritates the nerve

Trauma, such as a serious car accident or a major sports or work injury, can also bring on sciatica. In rare cases, a tumor can cause sciatica.

How is sciatica diagnosed?

Dr. Warren performs a physical exam and assesses your reflexes and muscle strength. He could ask you to perform a series of movements that trigger sciatic pain. These actions include walking on your toes or heels or rising from squatting position.

To confirm your diagnosis, you might need imaging tests — X-rays, a CT scan, an MRI, and/or an ultrasound — to look for causes of sciatica, like herniated discs.

How is sciatica treated?

Dr. Warren creates a comprehensive treatment plan tailored to the cause of your sciatica. He prescribes medications or gives you epidural injections to treat your sciatica.

An epidural injection involves injecting powerful anti-inflammatory medicine near the nerve roots. An injection can minimize pain for months, sometimes longer.

If you’re ready for effective treatment of your sciatica, call Apollo Pain Management today or schedule a consultation online with Dr. Warren.

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