Sciatica can cause pain throughout your body. When you come to Twin Cities Spine Center (TC Spine), your spine specialist will use our practice's collective expertise to determine the cause of your pain and prescribe effective treatment.
What Is Sciatica?
The sciatic nerve is the largest single nerve in the body and begins as several nerves from the lumbar spine and sacrum. The term sciatica describes pain from irritation of this nerve, most commonly at the spine level. This pain often travels from the lower back through the buttocks and into the legs. Sciatica describes a type of radiculopathy that occurs when the sciatic nerve is being pinched by a herniated disc, bone spurs or shifting of the vertebra. It is the most common form of radiculopathy.
Sciatica Treatment
The highly skilled spine specialists at TC Spine have the knowledge and expertise to determine whether your symptoms are due to radiculopathy or are the result of musculoskeletal sprains and strains.
Your diagnosis begins with a thorough clinical exam. You'll receive a full neurological assessment, and your doctor may order an electromyographic test to help diagnose which nerve root(s) are involved. An MRI and other x-ray imaging tests may be ordered to ensure that there's no injury, deformity or instability of the spinal column.
Once the source of your radiculopathy has been identified, you will discuss a treatment plan that might include anti-inflammatory medicines or muscle relaxants. Physical therapy may also be prescribed.
Sciatica treatments include exercises, nerve-blocking injections and possibly decompression surgery to take the pressure off the pinched nerve. TC Spine has a team of experienced surgeons to perform the operation should it become part of your personalized treatment plan.