Sciatica Back Pain

Nerve Care Near You in New Jersey

Sciatica is one of the most common forms of leg pain. Up to 40% of adults experience sciatica at some point in their lives. Patients who struggle with sciatica can get relief at Kurdali Spine & Pain. We provide non-surgical treatments, including epidural steroid injections, at locations near you in New Jersey to relieve nerve symptoms and help patients get back to their pain-free lifestyles.

Key Takeaways

Sciatica refers to pain caused by pressure (impingement) on the sciatic nerve.
Symptoms of sciatica include shooting pain, pain that gets worse when moving in certain ways, tingling, burning sensations, numbness, loss of muscle control, and incontinence.
The most common causes of sciatica are a herniated disc and arthritis. Other causes include degenerative disc disease, failed back syndrome, pregnancy, and more.
Kurdali Spine & Pain provides non-surgical relief for neck, back, nerve, muscle, and joint pain with same-day treatment at locations near you in New Jersey.

What Is Sciatica?

Sciatica refers to nerve pain in one or both legs. It is not a specific diagnosis, but a broad term that describes a type of pain. Sciatica has many different causes, but all of them have one thing in common. All cases of sciatica originate from pressure (impingement) on the sciatic nerve.

The sciatic nerve is the longest nerve in the body. It attaches to the spinal cord in the lower back (lumbar spine), extending down through the hips and legs all the way to the heel. Each person has two sciatic nerves, one for each leg. The nerves relay information between the legs and the spinal cord. The sciatic nerves allow the brain to process sensations, understand how the legs are positioned within their environment, and control how leg muscles move.

Symptoms occur when the sciatic nerve is pinched (impinged). The impingement interrupts nerve signals, causing abnormal sensations, such as pain, tingling, burning, or even numbness. These are carried along the nerve, resulting in pain that shoots or radiates down the entire leg.

What Are Symptoms of Sciatica?

Sciatica symptoms vary widely between individuals. Some patients suffer from severe, cramping pain that does not go away for weeks at a time. Others feel normal except for electric jolts of pain whenever they bend their backs in a certain direction. Many individuals experience other symptoms as well. Common signs of sciatica include:

These symptoms can be located at any point along the nerve pathway, which includes the hip, buttock, leg, and foot. They may affect the whole leg at once, or they may seem to shoot or travel down the leg. They may also affect different parts of the leg differently. Most patients experience symptoms on only one side of the body, although some have sciatica in both legs.

What Causes Sciatica?

While sciatica pain is felt in the leg, it most often originates in the lumbar spine (lower back), where the sciatic nerve root connects to the spinal cord. There are many types of spine conditions that may result in sciatic nerve impingement. Common causes include:

Lumbar Herniated Disc

A lumbar herniated disc is the most common cause of sciatica, especially in younger adults. Also called a slipped, bulging, or ruptured disc, this condition occurs when a spinal disc is damaged. The damaged section allows the disc’s gel-like center to leak. The leaking material often enters the spinal canal or the space where nerve roots leave the spine, pressing against and irritating the nerves.

Lumbar Arthritis

Lumbar arthritis is the most common cause of sciatica in older populations. Arthritis occurs when spinal joint cartilage degenerates or breaks down. The bones rub against one another without a protective layer to prevent friction. This rubbing promotes the growth of abnormal bony growths called bone spurs. If a bone spur develops close to the sciatic nerve root, it may cause sciatica.

Lumbar Degenerative Disc Disease

Lumbar degenerative disc disease occurs when spinal discs degenerate or break down. The degenerated discs become thinner with time, reducing the amount of padding between bones in the spine. With less padding, the bones get closer together. This creates less space for the sciatic nerve root to leave the spine. Severe degenerative disc disease often causes sciatica by pinching the nerve root.

Acute Injuries

Acute injuries are back injuries that happen suddenly. If the patient twists and bends outside of their normal range of motion, if they overexert themselves, or if they are subject to a strong force, tissues in their back may be injured. Injuries like a muscle strain, torn ligament, or fracture create inflammation that may tighten around the sciatic nerve root, causing sciatica symptoms.

Overuse Injuries

Overuse injuries are back injuries that happen over time. Repetitive movements cause tiny amounts of trauma that gradually accumulate into an injury. Like acute injuries, they can create inflammation in the muscles, tendons, or ligaments near the sciatic nerve root. Overuse injuries are most common in athletes and people who work active jobs that require frequent bending or lifting.

Failed Back Surgery Syndrome

Failed back surgery syndrome (FBSS) is pain that continues after a spine surgery. In some cases, surgery fails to correct the cause of sciatica. In others, the arthritis or degenerative disc disease gets worse after treatment. The continued degeneration allows the pain to return, even if the initial treatment was successful. A failed surgery may even damage the sciatic nerve root, causing chronic pain.

Other Sciatica Causes

Not all cases of sciatica originate in the spine. Other conditions create external pressure on the lower spine, compressing the sciatic nerve root and causing sciatica. Some less common causes include:

In some cases, doctors cannot identify the cause.

When Should I Seek Care for Sciatica?

Many patients start with at-home care for sciatica. Cold and heat, over-the-counter medications, and gentle stretching may help to relieve symptoms until the condition heals on its own. In some cases, however, medical treatment is required to get relief. Patients should seek medical treatment if:

When home care is not sufficient, Kurdali Spine & Pain can help. We provide modern, non-surgical solutions for all types of spine pain, including sciatica, to relieve symptoms and prevent worsening damage.

How Is Sciatica Diagnosed?

Because sciatica has so many possible causes, diagnostic testing is essential to identify the right one. The diagnosis process begins immediately after the patient visits Kurdali Spine & Pain. Dr. Basil Kurdali will complete the following examinations and tests:

Medical history: Dr. Kurdali reviews the patient’s medical history for current or past conditions that may be contributing to their pain.
Physical examination: Dr. Kurdali assesses the spine and asks the patient questions about their symptoms, when they appeared, and whether the pain has any known triggers.
Medical imaging: Dr. Kurdali uses magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and X-ray scans to examine the spine’s underlying structures for signs of damage or inflammation.
Nerve tests: Dr. Kurdali asks the patient to perform certain movements to test their nerve function. He may also perform tests to evaluate the flow of electricity through nerves.

This thorough process lets Dr. Kurdali correctly identify the cause of the patient’s pain. It also helps him locate the impingement. All this information is used to design the most effective treatment plan.

What Sciatica Treatment Options Are There?

After a confirmed diagnosis, patients at Kurdali Spine & Pain go straight to treatment. Rather than waiting for days, weeks, or months for an appointment, patients can receive care right away to go home with their pain already addressed. Kurdali Spine & Pain focuses on non-surgical treatments that provide relief without an expensive procedure or a long recovery. Treatment options for sciatica include:

Home Care

Dr. Kurdali advises patients on how to care for their condition at home. He may suggest ice and cold therapy, gentle movement and stretching, and resting until the symptoms get better. These steps may be used alone or in conjunction with other treatments to promote recovery.

Physical Therapy

A physical therapist demonstrates exercises and stretches that target the lower back. Over time, these exercises help to improve strength, stability, and flexibility. The stronger muscles help to support the spine, relieve pressure around the sciatic nerve root, and reduce the risk of re-injury.

Medications

Dr. Kurdali recommends over-the-counter (OTC) pain relief medications, including nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), or prescription medications to relieve severe pain. This treatment is often used short-term in conjunction with other therapies for the best results.

Joint Injections

Dr. Kurdali may perform a lumbar epidural steroid injection (ESI) to deliver medication into the epidural layer surrounding the spine. The medication reduces inflammation to loosen the tissues around the sciatic root nerve, relieving impingement. ESIs may also give the nerve time to heal.

Why Choose Kurdali Spine & Pain?

Patients who struggle with long-lasting or recurring nerve pain can get relief at Kurdali Spine & Pain. Led by board-certified pain management specialist Dr. Basil Kurdali, we provide highly accurate diagnoses and medically proven treatments. Patients who visit receive same-day care. They walk into our office with pain and leave with relief, a diagnosis, and a long-term management plan.

While surgery can sometimes relieve sciatica, it is not always the best option. Health, finances, long recovery times, and other factors make surgery the suboptimal choice for many patients. This is why Kurdali Spine & Pain focuses on non-surgical methods of pain management. We help patients stay out of surgery as long as possible. If surgery is absolutely necessary, then patients are referred to Dr. Kurdali’s extensive network of trusted specialists to ensure high-quality care.

Get Sciatica Relief Near You in New Jersey

Sciatica is a common condition that affects both young and older adults. Patients of all ages can get relief today at Kurdali Spine & Pain. Dr. Kurdali provides a full range of non-surgical relief options for neck, back, nerve, muscle, and joint pain. To learn more about our treatment options for sciatica or to schedule an appointment, contact us at one of our locations near you in New Jersey.

Sciatica FAQ

What causes sciatica most often?

For young patients, sciatica is most often caused by a herniated disc. For older patients, sciatica is most often caused by spinal stenosis (narrowing of the spinal canal) due to bone spurs from arthritis.

How can you tell sciatica from hip pain or sacroiliac joint pain?

Hip and sacroiliac joint pain are usually localized to the hips. They cause aching pain, stiffness, movement issues, and instability. Sciatica, meanwhile, causes pain that radiates through the whole leg. The pain is more likely to be burning or electric, and it is often accompanied by other nerve symptoms, such as tingling, numbness, or muscle spasms.

When do epidural steroid injections make sense for sciatica?

ESIs are most suitable for sciatica treatment when other, more conservative methods, such as home care, physical therapy, and OTC medications, have not provided sufficient relief.