Studies estimate that 5-10% of people in the United States who complain of low back pain are suffering from sciatica. Given that 50-70% of the population has had some low back pain at one point or another, the prevalence of sciatica is considerable. If you’re suffering from this painful condition, there’s much that Alex Roit, DC, and his team at North Shore Rehab Associates can do to help relieve your pain. If you’re in Great Neck, New York, and you have sciatica, call or request an appointment using the online scheduling tool.
Your sciatic nerve, the largest nerve in your body, starts in your low back, then divides and travels down the back of your buttocks and legs. When this nerve is irritated, compromised, or compressed, you may be left with pain or numbness that radiates down one side of your lower body, sometimes traveling as far as your foot.
The pain that’s caused by sciatica is the primary feature of the condition, and it can present itself as a dull ache, a sharp jolt of pain with certain movements, or a burning sensation. Along with the pain, you may also experience numbness or tingling that radiates down your leg and, in less common cases, you may have some muscle weakness on one side.
A full 90% of the cases of sciatica are caused by a herniated disc with a nerve root compression. Your discs provide crucial cushioning between your vertebrae, as well as shock absorption, and they’re made of a tough, fibrous exterior and a jelly-like interior to get the job done. If the tough outer layer bulges out of its space or herniates, the interior substance can leak out and irritate your sciatic nerve.
In less common cases, sciatica may be caused by:
Rest assured, Dr. Roit works with you to get to the bottom of your sciatica in order to get you on the right treatment plan.
Once Dr. Roit determines the source of your sciatica, he typically uses a multidisciplinary approach to remedy the pain and ensure long-term relief. This may include:
By tackling your problem from every angle, Dr. Roit is able to help you find immediate relief from the debilitating pain and also help you prevent sciatica from recurring.
If you’d like to learn more about how you can find relief from sciatica pain, call North Shore Rehab Associates or fill out the online form to request an appointment.
