Sciatica is one of the most common causes of lower back pain, affecting up to 40% of adults at some time during their lives. At Pain Management Specialists of Atlanta, PC in Stockbridge and Griffin, Georgia, board-certified pain management specialists Randall Berinhout, MD, and Dominic Seymore, MD, have more than 20 years of experience diagnosing and treating sciatica using a conservative and minimally invasive approach. Call the nearest Pain Management Specialists of Atlanta, PC office today to schedule a sciatica consultation, or book your appointment online.
Yes. Sciatica is a painful condition that occurs when your sciatic nerve –– the longest nerve in your body –– gets compressed due to an injury or a structural problem, like a bulging or herniated disc. This excess pressure causes pain, tingling, and general discomfort extending from your lower back to your buttocks and legs.
Sciatica symptoms include:
Severe cases of sciatica can affect your ability to control your bladder and bowels, resulting in urinary and fecal incontinence.
Anyone can develop sciatica, but several things increase your risk, including being overweight, working a job that requires lots of bending or heavy lifting, and having diabetes. Lifestyle factors can also increase your risk, including smoking and having insufficient core strength.
Your Pain Management Specialists of Atlanta, PC provider reviews your medical records and asks about your symptoms, including where the pain occurs, what it feels like, and if it’s worse during certain activities, like when you bend or lift your legs.
Your provider completes a physical exam, checking your lower back for redness, bruising, and swelling. They also observe your gait (how you walk), looking for noticeable changes.
They also complete a straight leg raise test. During this test, you lie on your back on an exam table and slowly raise your legs one at a time. You let your provider know when you start feeling pain or other symptoms. These insights pinpoint the source of your sciatica and help guide treatment.
The Pain Management Specialists of Atlanta, PC team treats sciatica using a conservative and minimally invasive approach. They might suggest:
If your sciatica continues or worsens even after these treatments, your provider might recommend surgery, like laminectomy or discectomy. These procedures remove pieces of bone or disc pressing on your sciatic nerve to provide lasting relief.
Call the nearest Pain Management Specialists of Atlanta, PC office today to schedule sciatica treatment, or book your appointment online.