Sciatica Treatment in New York
Our New York sciatica pain doctors identify your leg pain as nerve irritation in the spine and begin with minimal intervention.<br>
What is sciatica ?
Sciatica isn’t a disease by itself; it’s the term for pain that occurs when the sciatic nerve or its roots in the lower spine get pinched or irritated. This nerve is the longest in the body, running from the lower back through the buttock and down the leg.
While the pain is felt down the leg, the problem is typically in the spine where the nerve starts. Identifying the level and cause is crucial for an accurate diagnosis before we can proceed with treatment.
See how it is treated
Sciatica symptoms
Sciatica has a clear pattern: pain that travels down one leg, often accompanied by numbness or weakness. It tends to flare up at the worst moments. These four symptoms often stand out.<br>
Pain from the back down the leg
Intense, sharp, or shock-like pain that extends from the lower back through the buttock and down the leg, often reaching past the knee.
Numbness or tingling in the leg or foot
A sensation of numbness or tingling that extends down the leg or into the foot, following the path of the nerve.
Weakness in the leg or foot
A heavy leg, a foot that stumbles on steps, or a reduced push-off can indicate nerve weakness, which is a sign that requires attention.
Pain that flares with sitting, coughing, or sneezing
The pain increases after sitting for a while, coughing, sneezing, or lifting the leg, but it feels better when standing or walking gently.
What presses on the sciatic nerve ?
Most sciatica is caused by something pressing on the nerve roots in the lower spine. Here are the usual culprits, listed from most common to least common.
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01
A herniated disc
A herniated or bulging disc that compresses a nerve root is the primary cause of sciatica in most cases.
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02
A narrowed spinal canal
Spinal stenosis, the age-related narrowing of the canal that houses the nerves, crowding them as they pass.
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03
A slipped vertebra
Spondylolisthesis occurs when one vertebra shifts forward over another, reducing the space available for a nerve.
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04
Arthritis and bone spurs
Degenerative changes in the lower spine, such as worn joints and bone spurs, can gradually compress a nerve root as these changes develop.
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05
Causes outside the spine or after surgery
The focus will be on piriformis syndrome, sacroiliac issues, and scar tissue. This includes symptoms that persist after previous spinal surgery.
How is sciatica diagnosed?
Your history and movement tests
We inquire about the location of the pain and what factors exacerbate it. Then, we perform straight-leg raise and strength tests to pinpoint the affected nerve.
Imaging only when it will change the plan
Most sciatica resolves by itself. We first examine patients and only scan if pain persists, weakness worsens, or surgery is a real option. An MRI shows which disc might be pressing on a nerve.
Reviewed by both spine specialists
A neurosurgeon and an orthopaedic spine surgeon review the case together, so the plan considers both the nerve and the disc or bone pressing on it.
A plan that starts with minimally invasive care
You understand which spinal level is responsible for your symptoms and why conservative care is the initial approach. You'll also know when surgery might be a viable option.
Sciatica treatment, from conservative care to surgery
Most sciatica improves within weeks with conservative care. Surgery is the exception, reserved for persistent pain or worsening weakness.
Conservative care first
How four in five people get better.
- Stay active and move gently, since rest and prolonged sitting make it worse.
- Physical therapy to build core strength, improve posture, and take pressure off the nerve.
- Medication for nerve pain and inflammation, in short courses where needed.
- Epidural steroid injections to calm the irritated nerve root when pain persists.
Surgery, when the nerve stays pinched
For weakness or pain that has not eased in weeks.
- Microdiscectomy to remove the disc fragment pressing on the nerve.
- Laminectomy or laminotomy to widen the canal and free the nerve.
- Fusion where a slipped or unstable level also needs stabilizing.
- Minimally invasive approaches whenever possible.
When it cannot wait: numbness around the groin, buttocks, or inner thighs, difficulty starting or controlling urination, loss of bowel or bladder control, or sudden severe weakness or numbness in both legs. Call 911 or go to the nearest emergency department right away.
Doctors who treat Sciatica in New York
Our Sciatic Nerve Pain specialists include neurosurgeons and orthopaedic spine surgeons. They make up a sciatica specialist team that reviews each case together throughout the New York metro area.
