Sciatica Doctors
In Maryland, Pennsylvania, Florida and Virginia
Sciatica is a nerve pain condition that originates from the lower back and causes pain that travels down one or both legs. This discomfort, often described as sharp, burning, or jolting, might be accompanied by numbness, muscle weakness, or difficulty moving the leg. At Pain and Spine Specialists, we offer a variety of treatments for sciatica that aim to relieve these symptoms and improve your overall quality of life.
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We Are Sciatica Treatment Specialists
Sciatica is a prevalent condition that affects millions of people worldwide. It's estimated that up to 40% of people will experience Sciatica at some point in their lives, making it a widespread concern. Sciatica pain can be mild or severe, typically targeting just one side of the body. Some people experience pain gradually, while some people experience pain very suddenly.
For more information about sciatica, we invite you to explore further using the navigation buttons below. You'll find detailed explanations about the causes, symptoms, and treatments we offer for sciatica.
When you're ready, our team of sciatic nerve doctors are available to schedule a new patient consultation. You can reach us by submitting a contact form or by giving us a call. Remember, early intervention for sciatica is crucial. The sooner you seek help with our sciatica pain specialists, the better your chances of successfully managing the pain and restoring your quality of life.
What Patients Are Saying
Great office, good people. Been there quite a few years. Never a problem. Leave them a message, they always respond. I've had six back surgeries 2knees and right shoulder. Gregg keeps my chronic debilitating pain managed well so I can still live my life best I can. Im so grateful.
Jenny Martins / google review
Dr. Rao. I can't find the words to tell you how much he has meant to me. I followed him from an old practice to his very new high tech office. They offer so many different areas of assistance to those with issues from nutrition to spinal surgery... and much more. His office is professional.
Mom To2 / vitals
Dr. Rao is such an amazing doctor! During my first visit, he never tried to rush through my appt.; he genuinely listened to all my concerns and then took his time to explain to me in detail all his recommendations and how they would help me.
Nikki / healthgrades
Sciatica Treatment Guide
Sciatica Digital Guide
We specialize in treating sciatica using minimally invasive treatments, offering proven success and relief for those in chronic pain. Find out more by checking out our digital sciatica treatment guide.
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Access to our Sciatica guide, pain quiz, FAQ's, and patient reviews.
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What Is Sciatica Pain?
The sciatic nerve is the largest and longest nerve in the body. The nerve diverges into the left and right nerves on both sides of the body. It extends through the hips and buttocks and continues down the leg, ending right below the knee. At the knee, the nerve branches off into other nerves, which continue into the feet.
Sciatica occurs when there is pressure or damage to the sciatic nerve. Each case of sciatica can vary in terms of how long it lasts or whether treatment is necessary. Some people only experience pain from sciatica for about one to two weeks before it clears up on its own. Others will have pain lasting several years, with multiple flare-ups occurring yearly.
Many people can clear up their pain with at-home care, which includes hot or cold packs, over-the-counter anti-inflammatory medication, and safe stretches. Anyone who cannot see improvements after trying home remedies may need to see a doctor to manage or alleviate their pain.
What Type of Doctor Treats Sciatica?
There are several types of sciatica pain doctors who can treat sciatica, each with their own specific expertise, such as:
- Orthopedists
- Neurologists
- Chiropractors
- Pain Management Specialists
What Is the Cause of Sciatica?
What is the main cause of sciatica? The truth is that pressure or damage to the sciatic nerve in the neck can occur for a variety of reasons.
Causes of sciatica can include:
Risk Factors for Sciatica
Understanding risk factors can help you manage and prevent sciatica.
These risk factors for sciatica include:
What Is Sciatica Symptoms?
Sciatica is typically marked by discomfort originating in your lower spine and traveling down the back of your leg.
Some common signs and symptoms of sciatica are:
- 1Pain: Sciatica pain can range from mild aching to a sharp, burning sensation or excruciating discomfort. Often, it worsens with prolonged sitting or sudden movements.
- 2Numbness or Muscle Weakness: You might experience numbness, tingling, or muscle weakness in the affected leg or foot which can be an indication of sciatica.
- 3Loss of Bowel or Bladder Control: Loss of bowel or bladder control is a rare but serious symptom of sciatica that requires immediate medical attention.
- 4Hip Pain: Sciatica can cause pain in the hip area, which may be confused with hip arthritis.
- 5Reduced Reflexes: You might have reduced knee-jerk or ankle-jerk reflexes due to sciatica.
Variations in Symptoms Based on Severity
The symptoms of sciatica can significantly vary in intensity.
- Mild Sciatica: Mild sciatica symptoms are often intermittent and annoying but manageable. They might include mild pain accompanied by tingling, numbness, or weakness.
- Moderate Sciatica: Symptoms of moderate sciatica are more persistent. This can include constant pain, especially when sitting, and numbness and tingling down the leg.
- Severe Sciatica: Severe sciatica symptoms may be debilitating and significantly interfere with daily activities. This includes severe pain radiating down the leg, significant weakness, and potential bowel or bladder control loss.
Types of Sciatica Pain
Sciatica generally progresses through acute, subacute, and chronic stages.
Acute Stage (0-6 Weeks)
The acute stage of sciatica is characterized by the sudden onset of pain in the lower back or hip that radiates to the buttocks and down the leg. The pain can vary from mild discomfort to severe, debilitating pain. You might also experience numbness, tingling, or muscle weakness in the affected leg or foot. During this stage, conservative treatment options like pain relievers, anti-inflammatories, and physical therapy are typically recommended.
Subacute Stage (6-12 Weeks)
If symptoms persist beyond six weeks, the condition enters the subacute stage. During this phase, the pain might lessen in intensity but continue to limit daily activities. The focus of treatment at this stage often involves a combination of continued medication, physical therapy, and possibly injections to reduce inflammation and pain.
Chronic Stage (12+ Weeks)
Sciatica is considered chronic when it lasts for 12 weeks or longer. At this stage, the pain may come and go, but it tends to be more persistent. Treatment may involve a more integrated approach, including medication, physical therapy, lifestyle modifications, and potentially surgical intervention if the pain is severe and other treatments have not been effective.
Remember, sciatica symptoms can be similar to those of other conditions. That's why seeking professional help for a sciatica differential diagnosis and treatment plan is crucial.
Low back pain, which includes sciatica, affected approximately 619 million people in 2020.
The lifetime incidence of sciatica is reported to be between 10% to 40%.
10% of patients with low back pain have sciatica
Living with Sciatica
The pain associated with sciatica can often make routine tasks feel overwhelming. Simple activities like sitting, standing, or even walking can trigger sharp, shooting pain, making you immobile for moments. This can affect your ability to work, participate in recreational activities, and even hinder social interactions. The constant discomfort can also lead to sleep disturbances, further exacerbating the condition and leading to a vicious cycle of pain and fatigue.
Moreover, the unpredictability of sciatic pain can add another layer of stress. Not knowing when the pain might strike can cause anxiety and emotional distress, affecting your mental well-being. This combination of physical discomfort and emotional strain can significantly impact your life.
Coping Mechanisms and Lifestyle Adjustments
Despite these challenges, there are ways to manage sciatica and mitigate its impact on your life. One of the most crucial coping mechanisms is understanding your body and recognizing what exacerbates your symptoms. This can help you adjust your lifestyle to avoid these triggers.
Regular exercise, particularly gentle stretching and strengthening exercises, can help alleviate symptoms. It's important to remember that while physical activity can be beneficial, listening to your body and not overdoing it is crucial.
Another effective coping mechanism is maintaining proper posture. Whether sitting, standing, or lifting objects, properly aligning your spine can help prevent unnecessary strain on the sciatic nerve.
Implementing relaxation techniques such as deep breathing, meditation, or yoga can also help manage the stress and anxiety associated with living with sciatica.
When to See a Doctor
While it is possible your pain will clear up on its own, if it is a mild case, you may need to see your doctor if:
- You do not see improvements in your symptoms after trying home remedies.
- The pain does not go away after one to two weeks.
- Your pain is worse than it has been in the past or starts to intensify over time.
You should seek immediate medical attention if:
- You start to feel pain after an accident or injury, such as a severe fall.
- You are unable to control your bladder or bowels.
- You have excruciating pain or muscle weakness originating in your lower back or the legs.
More Frequently Asked Questions
What doctor to see for sciatica depends on your specific needs. You should consider seeing a neurologist, orthopedic surgeon, or rheumatologist as they specialize in the nervous system, musculoskeletal system, and autoimmune conditions, respectively. Most importantly, a pain management specialist can provide comprehensive care and treatment options for Sciatica.
You should see a doctor if the sciatic pain lasts longer than a week, it's severe or suddenly gets worse, or if you have trouble controlling your bowels or bladder.
A pain specialist can provide a tailored treatment plan that includes both medication and non-medication treatments, helping you manage your pain and improve your quality of life.
Coverage varies by insurance company and policy. It's best to contact your insurance provider for specific information about your coverage.
You can use online resources such as the American Chronic Pain Association or the American Board of Pain Medicine to locate treatment centers in your area.
You can use online directories, like the one provided by the American Medical Association, to find a doctor specializing in treating Sciatica.
Comprehensive pain management involves a multidisciplinary approach to treat the whole person, not just the pain. It could include medications, physical therapy, psychological therapy, and lifestyle modifications.
A board-certified doctor has gone through rigorous training and examination in their specialty. Seeing a board-certified sciatica specialist ensures you're getting care from a highly trained professional.
Minimally invasive treatments typically involve less pain, lower risk of complications, shorter hospital stays, and faster recovery times compared to more invasive procedures.
First-line treatments often include over-the-counter pain relievers, anti-inflammatories, and physical therapy.
If first-line treatments don't work, your doctor may consider prescription medications, epidural steroid injections, or minimally invasive advanced procedures like nerve blocks or spinal cord stimulation.
There isn't a universally recognized "Stage 4" in Sciatica. The condition is typically categorized into different types, such as acute, chronic, bilateral, and alternative, rather than stages.
There are several types of injections that may be used to treat Sciatica, including epidural steroid injections, facet joint injections, medial branch blocks, and sacroiliac joint injections. The best injection for you will depend on the cause and severity of your pain.
Sciatica Diagnosis
Our board-certified sciatica doctors at Pain and Spine Specialists will carefully examine you to diagnose the cause of your symptoms. Our sciatica specialists follow a comprehensive approach that includes reviewing your medical history, conducting diagnostic imaging tests, performing necessary nerve tests, and using diagnostic nerve blocks when applicable.
Review of Medical History
Your journey with us begins with a thorough review of your medical history. We take into consideration any previous injuries or illnesses, lifestyle habits, and current symptoms. Understanding your past health experiences and present complaints helps us get a clearer picture of your condition.
Diagnostic Imaging
We employ state-of-the-art diagnostic imaging techniques to visualize your spinal structures. These may include X-rays to show the alignment of your vertebrae and whether you have a herniated disc or bone spurs. In some cases, we might use magnetic resonance imaging or computed tomography scans to provide detailed images of your spine, helping us identify any abnormalities causing your sciatica.
Nerve Tests
If necessary, nerve tests such as electromyography will be performed. This test measures the electrical impulses produced by the nerves and the responses of your muscles. It can help confirm whether you have sciatica and pinpoint the affected nerves.
Diagnostic Nerve Blocks
In some instances, we might use diagnostic nerve blocks to determine the specific source of pain. This involves injecting an anesthetic around the suspected nerves, such as in a facet joint injection, epidural steroid injection, SI injection, or medial branch block. If the injection relieves your pain, it can confirm the specific nerve root causing your symptoms.
Once we have an accurate diagnosis, we will work together with you to create a treatment plan tailored specifically for you.
Treatments for Sciatica at Pain and Spine Specialists
At Pain and Spine Specialists, we offer a comprehensive range of treatments for sciatica. We aim to alleviate your pain and improve your mobility.
An overview of the treatments we offer includes:
Injection Therapies
Injection therapies can offer non invasive treatment for sciatica. We offer a variety of injections, such as epidural steroid injections, which can reduce inflammation around your nerve roots, and facet joint injections or medial branch block, which can help diagnose the source of your pain and treat it. Sacroiliac joint injections are also available to treat pain originating from the sacroiliac joint that may be causing sciatica.
Advanced Interventional Procedures
For more severe cases, our sciatic nerve treatment doctors offer advanced interventional procedures. Sciatica treatment devices, such as spinal cord stimulation (SCS), can help manage chronic pain by sending electric signals to the spinal cord. The minimally invasive lumbar decompression (MILD) procedure can remove excess ligament tissue, causing nerve compression. The Intracept Procedure targets the basivertebral nerve to relieve chronic low back pain. Radiofrequency ablation is another option that uses heat to hinder the nerve's ability to send pain signals to the brain.
Conventional Treatments
We also offer conventional treatments, including medication management programs to ensure you take the most effective medications for your condition in the safest manner possible. For some patients, an intrathecal pain pump may be beneficial, delivering medication directly to the fluid around the spinal cord. We also provide referrals to physical therapy. Sciatica treatment physical therapy can help strengthen the muscles supporting your spine, improve flexibility, and promote better posture.
Sciatica Alternative Treatment
In collaboration with our sister company, Shakthi Health and Wellness Center, we offer alternative therapies to complement our conventional treatments. These include acupuncture, which can help relieve sciatica pain, and infrared sauna or Amethyst BioMat therapy, which uses heat to help relax muscles and soothe aches.
Surgical Treatment for Sciatica
If conservative and non-invasive treatments do not provide relief, our board-certified surgeons will evaluate your condition. Depending on the severity of your sciatica, you might be a candidate for spinal fusion or a laminectomy procedure. The type of surgery most appropriate for you will depend on the cause of your sciatic nerve compression and pain.
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Our Comprehensive Approach to Treating Sciatica
Our approach to treating sciatica at Pain and Spine Specialists is holistic and patient-centered. We start by conducting a thorough evaluation to understand your symptoms and medical history. This helps us identify the underlying cause of your sciatica and develop a tailored treatment plan that addresses your unique needs.
We believe in empowering our patients with knowledge about their conditions and treatment options. We will work closely with you, guiding you through each step of the treatment process, answering your questions, and addressing your concerns.
During your first visit, you'll meet with one of our pain specialists, who will conduct a comprehensive evaluation. Based on the findings, they'll discuss the most appropriate treatment options with you.
How to Get Started
Getting started with our Pain and Spine Specialists team is easy. You can call our office or fill out the appointment request form below. One of our friendly staff will contact you to schedule an appointment at a time that's convenient for you.
About Us
We specialize in treating Sciatica using minimally invasive treatments, offering proven success and relief for those in chronic pain.
Digital Guide
View our providers, locations, services, and patient reviews.
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Treatment Options
Patients diagnosed with Sciatica may be good candidates for the following treatments.
Common Causes
Sciatica is often caused by the following conditions.
Types of Pain
Sciatica often causes the following types of pain.
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*We accept workers' comp and personal injury claim patients
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Appointment FAQ's
We Accept All Insurances!
That includes Medicare and state Medicaid.
Usually within one week of the initial call.
Appointments can be schedule by phone or through our contact form here.
At Pain and Spine Specialists we provide comprehensive pain care while offering the most up-to-date minimally invasive techniques. Our ethos is to treat each patient (and potential patient) as if they were a family member.
At Pain and Spine Specialists we want to provide the most efficient and pleasurable experience possible. As in all medical facilities, we have certain policies in place to ensure that you receive the time you require to address your needs as well as enhance your experience while in our care.
We encourage patient feedback to better improve your experience. We strive to create a friendly and warm environment where patients feel their voices are heard and validated.
Meet Our Team
Sciatica Specialists in Maryland, Pennsylvania, Florida and Virginia
At Pain and Spine Specialists, we're proud to have a team of board-certified sciatica treatment specialists with over 20 years of experience in treating chronic pain. Our doctors have dedicated their careers to understanding sciatica's complexities and providing our patients with the most effective treatments. Our specialists are recognized for their expertise and commitment to patient care. They have undergone rigorous training and continue to stay updated with the latest advancements in pain management.
