Sciatica Specialist

Interventional Pain Consultants

Pain Management, Spine, & Sports Medicine Physicians located in Parsippany, NJ

Approximately 40% of Americans experience sciatica at some point in their lives. If you suffer from sciatica, Kevin Elaahi, MD, Benjamin Kim, MD, and the team at Interventional Pain Consultants in Parsippany, New Jersey, can offer expert diagnosis and treatments to relieve your pain and help you get back to an active and healthy lifestyle. Call the Interventional Pain Consultants today or schedule a consultation online.

973-335-1440

Sciatica Q & A

What is sciatica?

Sciatica is the name for the pain and other symptoms caused by compression of your sciatic nerve in your lumbar spine. Sciatica symptoms vary. You may experience lower back pain, or your pain may radiate through your buttocks and down your legs. You may also have numbness, pins-and-needles sensations, or weakness in your legs. Sciatica usually affects only one side of your body.

Your experience with sciatica is unique. Your pain may be sharp and stabbing, or it could burn or feel like an electrical jolt. Some people find that sneezing, coughing, or laughing triggers their symptoms, while others say that prolonged sitting aggravates their discomfort.

What causes sciatica?

Many conditions can contribute to sciatica. One of the most common causes is a herniated disc in your lower back.

You have rubbery discs in your spine that cushion your vertebrae and absorb shocks created by movement. The discs have a thick shell that surrounds a more gel-like interior. As you age, your disc can become dry and at risk of tearing.

When the outer layer of a disc tears and the soft center bulges through, you have a herniated disc. The bulge often compresses the nerves in your spine, leading to pain, numbness, and weakness.

Other conditions that cause sciatica include:

Bone spurs
Spinal stenosis
Tumors
Diabetes

Your risk of sciatica increases with age. If you’re overweight, spend a lot of time sitting, or have a career that physically taxes your spine, your chances of developing sciatica are higher.

How is sciatica treated?

At Interventional Pain Consultants, the team offers comprehensive consultations and exams to identify the cause of your sciatica. Finding what is behind your pain and other symptoms is critical to determining the treatments that will most effectively relieve them.

Your pain management specialist may suggest a number of treatments to help relieve symptoms related to your sciatica. Your treatment plan may include: