Restore Your Mobility and Enjoy Pain Relief from Sciatica in Pennsylvania

Sciatica, a radiating pain that runs down the leg, is a prevalent condition affecting a considerable percentage of people who suffer from chronic back pain. Statistics show that the condition affects around 10% of all persons struggling with chronic back pain and is mostly caused by other severe conditions like spinal stenosis. At Steel City Spine and Orthopedic Center, Jocelyn Idema, DO, offers professional invasive and non-invasive treatments to help restore your mobility function by relieving sciatica pain. For patients seeking to restore their life quality by relieving pain caused by sciatica in Washington, PA, they should call Steel City Spine and Orthopedic Center’s office or request an appointment online.

What is sciatica?

Sciatica is a term used to refer to the pain which radiates along the sciatic nerve. This nerve is situated in the lower back and travels to the hips, buttocks, and down to one or both legs. This condition develops when something places pressure on or pinches the sciatic nerve.

In most cases, a bone spur or herniated disc is the leading cause of compression in the sciatic nerve. Other possible causes include wear-and-tear, spinal stenosis, spondylolisthesis, and tumors or cysts in the spine. Although rare, some medical health concerns, like diabetes, can damage one’s sciatic nerve.

What are the risk factors of sciatica?

There are several factors which can put one at a higher risk of developing sciatica. These include:

• Age- the spine becomes more vulnerable to herniated discs and bone spurs with age.
• Occupation- particular jobs put more stress on one’s spine and back than others, especially those that require continuous lifting of heavy objects or sitting for long hours.
• Obesity- any excess weight in one’s body exerts extra pressure on the spine. With time, you develop a greater risk of experiencing sciatica.

What are the common symptoms of sciatica?

Unlike acute or chronic back pain, pain caused by sciatica takes a particular path along your sciatic nerve. Patients report experiencing radiating pain that travels from the lower back down to each leg. The pain can be sharp and sudden or might be a burning sensation or dull ache. If your condition is severe, you may experience tingling and numbness along your sciatic nerve.

How To Treat Sciatica

According to your extremity of prevailing symptoms, Dr. Idema provides both surgical and non-surgical treatments for sciatica. Mild to moderate sciatica cases will likely resolve by themselves after several weeks of rest or may benefit from non-surgical treatments, including epidural injections, acupuncture, and physical therapy.

If conventional treatments fail to offer relief from the pain, Dr. Idema may recommend minimally invasive treatments, such as laminectomy and microdiscectomy. The benefit of minimally invasive procedures is that they pose less complications and a minimal recovery time than open surgeries.

In conclusion, do not let sciatica pain make your life miserable. The practitioners at Steel City Spine and Orthopedic Center offer comprehensive care that can help restore your mobility and overall life quality in McKees Rocks, Washington, and Pittsburg, PA. To get started, call the office near you or book an appointment online.