Sciatica Pain Overview
Sciatica refers to pain that radiates along the path of the sciatic nerve, which branches from your lower back through your hips and buttocks and down each leg. Sciatica occurs when the sciatic nerve becomes compressed or irritated, often due to a herniated disc, bone spur, spinal stenosis, or piriformis syndrome. This compression can cause pain, numbness, tingling, or weakness in the lower back, buttocks, and legs, making it difficult to stand, walk, or sit comfortably. At Empire Orthopaedic and Pain Management Specialists, we specialize in the diagnosis and treatment of sciatica, offering comprehensive care to alleviate symptoms and improve function. When you experience sciatica, it can significantly impact your mobility and quality of life, leading to decreased productivity and increased discomfort. Our team of orthopedic specialists begins the evaluation process with a thorough assessment of your medical history, followed by a physical examination and may utilize imaging studies such as X-rays, MRI, or CT scans to accurately diagnose the underlying cause of your sciatic nerve compression.
Treatment options for Sciatica Pain may include:
- Conservative therapies: Initially, we may recommend conservative treatments such as rest, ice or heat therapy, activity modification, nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), and physical therapy to reduce pain and inflammation, improve mobility, and promote healing.
Medications: Depending on the severity of your symptoms, we may prescribe medications such as muscle relaxants, neuropathic pain medications, or corticosteroid injections to alleviate pain and reduce inflammation associated with sciatica.
Physical therapy: Our experienced physical therapists design specialized exercise programs focused on stretching, strengthening, and postural correction to alleviate pressure on the sciatic nerve, improve mobility, and prevent recurrence of symptoms.
Minimally invasive procedures: For persistent or severe sciatica that does not respond to conservative treatments, we may offer minimally invasive procedures such as epidural steroid injections, nerve blocks, or radiofrequency ablation to provide targeted pain relief and improve function.
Surgical intervention: In cases of severe or debilitating sciatica that does not improve with conservative or interventional treatments, surgical intervention may be necessary to decompress the affected nerve roots or address underlying structural abnormalities in the spine
Meet Our Team Of Doctors
Dr. James Yu
Board Certified Anesthesiologist
Board Certified Interventional
Pain Management Physician
Dylan J. O'Rourke
Certified Physician Assistant
Pain Condition We Treat
Improve your quality of life with our comprehensive approach to pain management
We are dedicated to finding individualized treatment options tailored to fit your needs. Our team is dedicated to helping you lead a productive and active life, free from pain and disruption.
We use an integrative approach to conduct a comprehensive evaluation and assess your condition.
Physical examination and review of your medical history. We assess the cause of your pain, determine its severity and duration, and help you develop an individualized treatment plan.
We provide a range of treatments and procedures to address your chronic pain. These include nerve blocks, injections, physical therapy, implantable therapies and more. We also offer health education to help you better manage your condition.