Top Sciatica Specialists in New Jersey

What Are the Causes of Sciatica?

Anything that encroaches on or puts pressure on the sciatic nerve can be considered a cause of sciatica. Leading New Jersey sciatica doctors suggest that the common lumbar radiculopathy causes include:

• Herniated discs place pressure on the nerve, in addition to inflammation that irritates the nerve.
• Degenerative joint disease resulting in bony spurs on the facet joints can narrow the intervertebral space placing pressure on the exiting nerve.
• Trauma or muscle spasms can pressure the peripheral nerve, producing symptoms along with that nerve’s distribution.
• Degenerative disc disease that results in wear on the intervertebral disc and a reduction in disc height may result in loss of space at the intervertebral foramen compressing on the exiting nerve.
• Tightness of the piriformis muscle results in compression on the sciatic nerve underlying the muscle.

Sciatica is especially prevalent in athletes participating in sports that require frequent twisting, bending, or lifting. Contrarily, a sedentary lifestyle can also lead to sciatic nerve compression. Our doctors will locate the precise source of the nerve compression to treat sciatica symptoms properly.

What Are the Symptoms of Sciatica?

Sciatica symptoms will occur along the path the sciatic nerve travels. The most common signs are listed below:

• Pain in the back or radicular to the buttock, into the leg, and extending down behind the knee, to the foot depending on the nerve involved and the severity of the encroachment.
• Pain and tenderness localized at the level of the involved nerve.
• Muscle spasm and changes in posture in response to the injury.
• Pain with excess activity and relief with rest.
• Pain and tenderness localized at the level of the involved nerve.
• Loss of motion like the inability to bend backward, move sideways to the affected side, or stand erect for extended periods.
• Sitting, standing, and walking can be difficult if the irritation is severe.
• Impairment of normal reflexes in the lower extremity.
• Numbness tingling may be experienced from the low back to the foot, depending on the affected nerve distribution.
• Muscle weakness may occur on any muscle that the pinched nerve innervates. Long-term pressure on the nerve can produce atrophy or wasting of that particular muscle.

If you experience any sciatica signs above, you should not wait any longer and promptly seek medical assistance. The top sciatica specialists in New Jersey at Redefine Healthcare have tremendous experience in treating all kinds of sciatica symptoms. We pride ourselves on providing a wide range of treatments to get you out of pain as fast as possible.

Moderate to Severe Cases

If the problem persists, consult with your local pain management health care provider of Redefine Healthcare in New Jersey. Our physician will perform a thorough evaluation to determine the possible cause of your symptoms, the structures involved, the severity of the condition, and the best course of treatment.

Medicine Intervenes

In addition to performing a thorough examination, our physicians or experienced pain management doctors in New Jersey of Redefine Healthcare may order the following tests to make a more concise diagnosis:

• X-ray to determine any joint degeneration, fractures, bony malformations, arthritis, tumors, or infection present.
• MRI to determine any soft tissue involvement, including visualization of the discs, spinal cord, and nerve roots.
• CT scans, which can give a cross-section view of the spinal structures.

Medical Procedures

Injections like facet injections, nerve blocks, or an epidural. These may involve the injection of corticosteroids to a specific structure to reduce local inflammation caused by irritating the nerve roots of the Sciatic Nerve. Our specialists have more than enough competencies to perform these procedures:

• Caudal Epidural Injections
• Interlaminar Caudal Epidural Steroid Injections
• Transforaminal Epidural Injections
• Selective Nerve Root Blocks

Surgical Procedures to address the structures that contribute to the compression on the nerve roots of the sciatic nerve:

• Endoscopic Decompression
• Endoscopic Foraminotomy
• Percutaneous Decompression
• IDET Intradiscal Electrothermal Therapy
• Selective Endoscopic Discectomy
• Spinal Cord Stimulator
• Epidural Lysis of Adhesions
• Laser Facet Arthrotomy

The team of physicians led by Dr. Freeman, the best pain relief doctor, can determine the accurate diagnosis and establish the correct sciatica pain care and rehabilitation plan.

Sciatica Risk Factors

Because sciatica is a reasonably common condition, there are several risk factors you should remember. Sciatica risk factors include:

• Sitting for prolonged periods;
• Age: As you age, your spine goes through changes that may include a herniated disk or bone spurs that can cause sciatica;
• Diabetes: This disease increases your risk of nerve damage;
• Obesity: Extra weight adds pressure to your spine, which may lead to sciatica.

Sciatica Prevention

Although total prevention is not always possible, you can reduce your risk of sciatica by doing the following.

1. Exercise: Getting regular daily movement can help strengthen your spine and prevent sciatica.
2. Posture: Maintain good posture by keeping your spine straight but relaxed and your feet hip-distance apart and on the floor.
3. Use good body mechanics: If you lift something heavy, make sure you bend at your knees and maintain a straight back. If you stand for long periods, make sure to periodically switch off your weight from foot to foot. And don’t lift anything too heavy alone.

What to Expect After Sciatic Nerve Pain Treatment?

If you choose sciatic surgery, your pain should be relieved relatively quickly. Your doctor may order that you rest for 24 hours. The doctor gives each patient-specific instructions for their recovery based on their individual needs.