Sciatica

Sciatica causes stabbing and shooting pain from your lower back into your leg, which can be severe and is often disabling. At Noble Pain Management, the premier pain management facility in mid-Missouri, Bradford R. Noble, DO, FAOCPMR, offers comprehensive care in a comfortable and accessible setting. They provide first-class services for patients who have sciatica and other pain conditions. Book your appointment online or call the office in Columbia, Missouri, to schedule a consultation.

What is sciatica?

Sciatica is a painful lower back and leg condition that develops when your sciatic nerve gets pinched. Your sciatic nerve starts in the lower part of your spine, called the lumbar region, and heads down toward your buttocks, then divides into two, with one branch traveling down each leg all the way to your foot. Sciatica may develop if the sciatic nerve gets damaged or comes under pressure from surrounding tissues.

Your sciatic nerve may potentially come under pressure due to the following:

• Herniated disc
• Muscle spasms in your back or buttocks
• Lumbar spinal stenosis
• Spondylolisthesis
• Degenerative disc disease
• Pregnancy

You’re more likely to develop sciatica if you carry excess weight or don’t get much exercise, and wearing high heels puts you at a greater risk of developing sciatica.

It’s important to get treatment at Noble Pain Management if you have any sciatica symptoms, as pinched nerves left untreated can lead to permanent nerve damage.

What are the symptoms of sciatica?

Sciatica causes a distinctive type of stabbing or shooting pain that radiates from your lower back, through your hip and buttock, and down your leg, following the sciatic nerve path. The pain is often worse when sitting down or at night in bed.

In addition to pain, sciatica can cause:

• Tingling
• Numbness
• Muscle control problems
• Weakness
• Decreased mobility
• Feeling as if your leg has fallen asleep 

In most cases, sciatica only develops in one leg.

How is sciatica treated?

At Noble Pain Management, sciatica treatments focus on removing the pressure on your sciatic nerve that’s causing your symptoms. They prepare an individualized treatment plan that may include therapies such as:

• Anti-inflammatory medication
• Massage therapy
• Physical therapy
• Stretching exercises
• Epidural injections
• Radiofrequency ablation

A combination of gentle exercise and rest is more likely to ease the pain of sciatica than staying immobile. Following the program Noble Pain Management develops for you ensures that you carry out the right type of exercise to optimize your recovery.

Once the pressure on your sciatic nerve reduces, your symptoms should resolve, but prompt treatment offers the best chance of a full recovery. If you have any symptoms of sciatica or other back pain problems, call Noble Pain Management, or click the provided online booking tool now.