Sciatica

The sciatic nerve is the longest nerve in your body, and if it’s compressed, it can cause sciatic pain that can be so intense you aren’t able to move. At Pain Management Centers of New England, the team of dedicated pain management experts has helped countless patients in Gloucester, Danvers, and Newburyport, Massachusetts, reduce pain and address the underlying cause of sciatica. If you’re experiencing sciatic pain, you no longer need to suffer. Call the nearest office or use the online scheduler to request your consultation today. We have north shore pain patients covered. 

What is sciatica?

Sciatica is a term that refers to the symptoms of pain or numbness that result from a pinched or compressed sciatic nerve.

The sciatic nerve is a large nerve that runs from your lower back, down your buttocks, and through each leg. When this nerve becomes compressed, you experience pain in your lower back, hips, and legs. 

What are the symptoms of sciatica?

Sciatic pain is a distinctive pain that radiates from your lower back to your buttocks and down the backs of your legs. 

This localized pain can vary in intensity from a minor lower back ache to an unbearable pain that shoots down your leg and leaves you completely immobile. The pain may feel like a burning or tingling sensation that makes your legs weak or completely numb. Patients with severe pain may also experience a loss of bladder or bowel function.

Most patients fully recover from a compressed sciatic nerve with the proper treatment. However, an untreated sciatic condition can result in permanent nerve damage, so it’s essential to get medical treatment at Pain Management Centers of New England as soon as you notice symptoms.

A team member at Pain Management Centers of 

How do you treat sciatica?

New England performs a physical exam to assess your discomfort level and determine the cause of your sciatic pain. They may order additional imaging tests like an X-ray or MRI scan to confirm their diagnosis or determine if there’s another underlying cause of your sciatic pain.

Once you receive your diagnosis, the team works to reduce your pain and increase your mobility. The practice offers epidural steroid injections to deliver a targeted dose of corticosteroids or other muscle relaxant medicine to reduce inflammation and pain. 

Injections for pain management can be combined with physical therapy, which uses a series of gentle movements to reduce pressure on your nerve and any resulting pain.

For severe cases that don’t respond to less invasive therapies, the team may recommend surgery to decompress the sciatic nerve or to remove fragments of a herniated disk or bone spur.

To learn more about sciatica and the treatments available, call Pain Management Centers of New England or use the online booking tool to request a consultation today.