Sciatica

If you have shooting leg pain, it could be sciatica, a problem that affects as many as 4 in 10 adults during their lifetime. At Gorman Medical, PC, an experienced team of pain management specialists offers comprehensive care for sciatica, from chiropractic care to medication management, steroid injections, and radiofrequency ablation. There are two offices conveniently located in Colorado Springs and Cripple Creek, Colorado, so reach out to the nearest one online or by phone today. 

What is sciatica?

Sciatica is a specific type of pain that can strike when something in your spinal canal, like a bulging disc or bone spur, pushes on your sciatic nerve. This nerve, the longest one in the body, goes down each leg. 

What does sciatica feel like?

Sciatica pain often radiates, following the path of the sciatic nerve. Many people experience sharp, burning, or electrical-type pain that starts in the lower back and shoots down the buttocks and the leg. The pain may trail off under the knee but can sometimes continue to the heel. 

Typically, sciatica only affects one side of the body. Although pain is the main feature, you may also experience a tingling pins-and-needles sensation or numbness in the sciatic nerve. 

In severe cases, you may experience muscle weakness and difficulty controlling your bladder or bowels. These symptoms are an emergency requiring immediate care.   

How is sciatica diagnosed?

Sciatica pain is fairly unique, so the Gorman Medical, PC, team may make an initial diagnosis after reviewing your symptoms and performing a physical exam. In some cases, you might need additional tests, like an X-ray, to confirm or rule out the causes of your pain.

You may also need electromyography (EMG) and nerve conduction velocity (NCV) tests to assess the electrical signals in your muscles and nerves. 

What is the treatment for sciatica?

Sciatica relief starts with gentle, noninvasive therapies like rest, ice, heat, and anti-inflammatory medications. Gorman Medical, PC, offers chiropractic care in the office and also provides alternative therapies like acupuncture for sciatica pain. 

The team may recommend a steroid injection to reduce inflammation in your sciatic nerve if your pain persists. For long-lasting sciatica, the team may recommend radiofrequency ablation, a minimally invasive treatment that burns and deactivates the nerve to stop it from shooting pain signals down your leg. 

Sciatica responds to noninvasive and minimally invasive treatments quickly in most cases, so there’s no reason to suffer with every step you take. Call the Gorman Medical, PC, office or use the online booking link to schedule your consultation with the pain management experts.