What Should I Know Before I Visit a Sciatica Pain Doctor in Clifton?

February 18, 2021

HARVARD TRAINED back PAIN DOCTORS in New jersey

Sciatica Pain Q&A with our Harvard-trained Back Doctors

The sciatic nerve is the largest nerve in the body, stretching from the lower spinal cord down to your buttocks, hips, and legs. When it gets damaged or irritated, it causes a specific type of pain that starts in the lower back and can be felt radiating anywhere throughout the sciatic nerve. This means you may be feeling this pain in your buttocks, legs, and feet. Sometimes the pain can also be accompanied by weakness in the legs and a tingling sensation in your feet, depending on how irritated are the nerve roots.

The risk of developing sciatica pain increases as you age, and chances are you will be experiencing this type of pain at least once in your life. Factors such as excessive weight, prolonged sitting, lifting heavy objects, or improperly doing physical exercises can increase the risks of developing sciatica pain.

In some cases, sciatica pain can be managed with over the counter medicine and simple physical therapy. Other patients experience long-term severe pain that prevents them from living their daily life. If you have been dealing with sciatic pain for more than a few days, and the nerve pain seems to become worse, it is time you seek medical advice.

The experts at Pain Treatment Specialists are here to help you learn more about sciatic pain and prepare you for your medical appointment. This is why one of our Harvard-trained sciatica pain doctors agreed to answer a series of questions about sciatica pain.

Book an appointment with a Harvard-trained sciatica pain doctor in Clifton. Get a customized treatment plan and get rid of back pain once and for all!

Continue reading to learn more about this condition from a board-certified Sciatica Pain Doctor in Clifton.

Q: What Are the Main Causes of Sciatica Pain?

Dr. Laura Lombardi: Sciatica pain is not a medical condition, but rather a symptom that can hide a serious cause. This means there can be many reasons why people experience sciatica pain. In some cases, it may be caused by an injury that causes damage to the sciatic nerve, or a condition that affects the spine and causes the nerve to get irritated, such as spinal stenosis.

The only way to find out for sure what is causing your sciatica pain is if a doctor performs a physical examination. However, these are the most common reasons you may be dealing with sciatic pain:

  • Herniated disks: a herniated disk occurs when the layer of cartilage that is found between your spinal bones rips. If this rupture applies pressure on your sciatic nerve, it can result in nerve pain and irritation.
  • Degenerative disc disease: as you age, spinal discs can get affected by wear-and-tear, sometimes breaking down. When this happens, it can apply pressure on the sciatic nerve and cause sciatic pain as well.
  • Injuries to the spine: if you have recently been involved in a minor incident that affected your spine, you might be dealing with sciatic nerve inflammation. The injury can generate back pain and numbness in your legs.

Q: How Much Can Sciatica Pain Affect a Person’s Daily Life?

Dr. Shane Volney: If the cause of the pain is diagnosed early on, and your back doctor can prescribe accurate treatment in a timely manner, sciatica pain should not last for more than a few weeks. Still, some people report they have experienced severe pain for more than one month before finding relief.

Because a variety of conditions can cause sciatica pain, it is difficult to determine exactly how much it can affect a person’s life. Pain is never a good sign, and it is indicated you visit a doctor if you experience any kind of pain that lasts for more than one week, as it can hide a more serious condition.

In cases with severe sciatica pain, patients have barely been able to move, ultimately affecting their daily life. Fortunately, these cases occur rarely.

Q: What Type of Treatment Will a Sciatica Doctor Recommend?

Dr. Laura Lombardi: The type of treatment your doctor decides to administer depends on the root cause of your sciatica pain. In most cases, your back doctor will start by recommending minimally invasive treatment such as anti-inflammatory medications and muscle relaxants, steroid injections, and physical therapy.

While some patients need to undergo surgery in order to get rid of the sciatic pain, this usually happens in severe cases when the cause of the inflammation needs to be eliminated. Examples can include severely herniated disks, tumors, or infections.

Q: Besides Treatment, Is There Anything Patients Can Do to Improve their Condition?

Dr. George Hanna: In order to ensure it does not come back, sciatica pain needs to be properly diagnosed and treated by a pain physician. Still, it is true that certain activities can cause sciatica pain to go away sooner.

These activities include:

Light exercises: if you experience sciatic pain, doing some light core exercises can help deal with the pain. A pain doctor can recommend a light routine to keep the pain under control

A better sleep: sleeping on your back is highly recommended if you suffer from sciatic pain. Add a pillow under your knees as well, to take the pressure off the spine.

Q: Are some people more at risk of developing sciatica than others?

Dr. George Hanna: Sciatica pain is fairly common, but it is true that some people are more at risk of developing it. Age is an important factor because our bodies wear down as we get older. Other risk factors include conditions such as diabetes, vitamin B deficiency, as well as leading an inactive life.

Additionally, certain lifestyle choices can also raise the risk of developing sciatica pain. These include bad posture, prolonged seating, improperly lifting heavy objects, sleeping in a bad position, overweight, and performing physical exercises wrong.

Pregnant women are also at risk of developing sciatica due to the weight of the baby. The risk grows with twin pregnancies.

Pain should not prevent you from living your life. If you suspect you may be experiencing sciatica pain, it is time to schedule an appointment with a trained doctor. Contact Pain Treatment Specialists as soon as possible if you are looking for a sciatica pain doctor near you in Clifton. Schedule an appointment at our Clifton pain clinic located, on Route 46E, just past the Ford dealership and our dedicated back doctors will offer a customized treatment plan. Our board-certified back doctors are happy to help you find effective pain management solutions to get rid of sciatic pain once and for all.

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Meet Our Team of Back Pain Specialists

All of our Pain Doctors in New Jersey are Harvard Trained and Board Certified in Pain Management

Dr. George Hanna - Back Pain Treatment Specialist in NJ

Back Pain Doctor Clifton & West Orange NJ

Dr. George Hanna

Dr. Hanna is a Harvard Trained back specialist in New Jersey and New York.  He serves as Medical Director of Pain Management.

Dr. Lombardi - Back pain treatment specialist NJ

Back Pain Doctor Clifton & West Orange NJ

Dr. Laura Lombardi

Dr. Lombardi is a Harvard Trained back pain treatment doctor, currently seeing patients in Clifton and West Orange, New Jersey.

Dr. Shane Volney - Back Pain Doctor NJ

Back Pain Doctor Clifton & West Orange NJ

Dr. Shane Volney

Dr. Volney is a Harvard Trained back treatment doctor seeing patients in the NJ areas of Clifton & West Orange, and in NYC.

Dr M Circle Thumb

Back Pain Doctor Clifton & West Orange NJ

Dr. Michael Nguyen

Dr. Nguyen is Harvard Trained and Board Certified in Pain Management. His pain center accepts major medical insurances and Medicare.

Dr. Hanna

Dr. George Hanna

Dr. Hanna is a Harvard Trained back specialist in New Jersey and New York.  He serves as Medical Director of Pain Management.
Dr. Hanna

Dr. Laura Lombardi

Dr. Lombardi is a Harvard Trained back pain treatment doctor, currently seeing patients in Clifton and West Orange, and Paramus New Jersey.

Dr. Hanna

Dr. Shane Volney

Dr. Volney is a Harvard Trained back treatment doctor seeing patients in the NJ areas of Clifton & West Orange, and in NYC.

Dr. Hanna

Dr. Michael Nguyen

Dr. Nguyen is Harvard Trained and Board Certified in Pain Management. His pain center accepts major medical insurances and Medicare.