Sciatica

Sciatica

Sciatica causes stabbing and shooting pain from your lower back into your leg, which can be severe and is often disabling. If you have sciatica and need an effective solution, Bart Gatz, MD, and the team at American Interventional Pain Institute in Greenacres, Florida, can help. Dr. Gatz is a distinguished pain medicine specialist providing first-class services for patients who have sciatica and other pain conditions. If you're suffering from the pain of sciatica, call 561-641-0089 to request a consultation today.

What is sciatica?

Sciatica is a painful lower back and leg condition that develops when your sciatic nerve gets pinched. Your sciatic nerve starts in the lower part of your spine, called the lumbar region, and heads down toward your buttocks, then divides into two, with one branch traveling down each leg all the way to your foot. If the sciatic nerve gets damaged or comes under pressure from surrounding tissues, sciatica may develop.

Your sciatic nerve may potentially come under pressure due to:

  • Herniated disc
  • Muscle spasms in your back or buttocks
  • Lumbar spinal stenosis
  • Spondylolisthesis
  • Degenerative disc disease
  • Pregnancy

You’re more likely to develop sciatica if you’re overweight or don’t get much exercise, and wearing high heels puts you at a greater risk of developing sciatica as well.

It’s important to get treatment at American Interventional Pain Institute if you have any symptoms of sciatica, as pinched nerves that are left untreated can lead to permanent nerve damage.

What are the symptoms of sciatica?

Sciatica causes a distinctive type of stabbing or shooting pain that radiates from your lower back, through your hip and buttock, and down your leg, following the path of the sciatic nerve. The pain is often worse when you’re sitting down or at night when you’re in bed.

In addition to pain, sciatica can cause:

  • Tingling
  • Numbness
  • Muscle control problems
  • Weakness
  • Decreased mobility
  • Feeling as if your leg has fallen asleep

In most cases, sciatica only develops in one leg.

How is sciatica treated?

At American Interventional Pain Institute, sciatica treatments focus on removing the pressure on your sciatic nerve that’s causing your symptoms. Your provider prepares an individualized treatment plan that may include therapies such as:

  • Anti-inflammatory medication
  • Massage therapy
  • Physical therapy
  • Stretching exercises
  • Epidural injections
  • Weight loss program

A combination of rest and gentle exercise is more likely to ease the pain of sciatica than staying immobile. Following the program your provider at American Interventional Pain Institute develops for you ensures that you carry out the right type of exercise to optimize your recovery.

Once the pressure on your sciatic nerve reduces your symptoms should resolve, but prompt treatment offers the best chance of a full recovery. If you have any symptoms of sciatica or other back pain problems, call American Interventional Pain Institute to schedule a consultation today.

Why AIPI?

At AIPI, we treat our patients with respect and compassion. Our staff is highly effective in treating a variety of conditions. Our goal is to limit the use of prescription drugs and surgery and to focus on minimally invasive treatments when possible. 

  • Quality Diagnostics
  • Advanced Digital Imaging System
  • On-Site Procedure Rooms
  • Individually Tailored Pain Management
  • Results-Oriented Treatment
  • Decades of Experience
  • Patient Advocates & Coordinators
  • Full-Service Pain Management Office