Description
Sciatic pain is a disabling symptom that commonly occurs in degenerative lumbar spine disorders or from herniated discs. Sciatica is characterized by pain in the low back or buttock which radiates down the leg. The pain can radiate into the thigh, calf, ankle, and foot. Sciatic pain results when the spinal roots that make up the sciatic nerve are compressed and inflamed; thus causing symptoms varying from numbness and pain to muscle weakness. Sciatic pain is most often the result of a herniated disc or spinal stenosis (narrowing of the spinal canal due to bony overgrowth).
Symptoms
Patients will usually present with complaints of buttock pain extending down the backside of the leg. The pain is usually exacerbated by sitting or standing for any prolonged period of time. It is usually sharp pain described as an electrical-like shock starting in the buttock and traveling down the leg.
Treatment
Pain is best treated with an anti-inflammatory medication, activity modification (rest), and light exercise. In severe episodes, oral cortisone, narcotic medication, or epidural steroid injections may be helpful.
Procedures
Spinal Injections
Spinal injections are used to diagnose and treat spinal conditions. With most spinal injections, a local anesthetic (numbing medication) is injected into a specific area of the spine. The anesthetic is fast-acting, but the effects wear off within about two hours. A strong anti-inflammatory steroid medication, such as cortisone, is usually injected with the anesthetic to reduce inflammation in the affected area. Cortisone is long lasting and can be slow releasing in order to give the best possible benefit of pain relief. Cortisone may take several days to start working, but the effects may last for months.
Several of the injections given at our office under fluoroscopic guidance include:
Epidural Steroid Injections - Good for reducing radicular pain caused by nerve root irritation from herniated discs and spinal stenosis. The patient may require a series of several epidural injections over a period of a few weeks.
Transforaminal Injections - Selective injection around a specific nerve root and into the spinal canal. This is more effective for nerve compression with sciatica.
Facet Joint Injections - Used to localize and relieve low back and neck pain caused by arthritic facet joints.
Sacroiliac Joint Injections - Used for pain from an inflamed sacroiliac joint.
