It’s estimated that up to 40% of people experience sciatica at some point in their life, and it tends to occur more frequently with age. While many people may only experience periods of inflammation, chronic sciatica can lead to long-term nerve pain and other disruptive symptoms.
If you’re struggling with treatment-resistant sciatica — meaning that medications and noninvasive and minimally invasive therapies have failed to bring you lasting relief — it might be time to consider surgical intervention.
Dr. Ajay Kumar and our team at New Jersey Advanced Pain Management Center routinely help patients suffering from neuropathy and pain caused by conditions like sciatica. We can help you decide if it’s time to explore surgery when you have chronic sciatica.
The sciatic nerve is the longest and thickest nerve in the body, consisting of an entire bundle that branches from the spinal cord into each leg. The nerve runs through your hip and buttock and down the back of your leg. Problems with the sciatic nerve can affect walking and even bowel function.
When the sciatic nerve becomes inflamed, it can lead to a number of neuropathic symptoms, including:
Most cases of sciatica are mild, often caused by things like pregnancy, prolonged sitting, or herniated discs. However, certain conditions can lead to chronic sciatica, meaning pain that lasts more than three months or pain that seems to resolve but comes back. These conditions include:
Depending on what’s causing your sciatica, your overall health, and your age and weight, you might be a good candidate for surgery. Dr. Kumar can go over your treatment options with you and help you decide if you’re ready to undergo a surgical procedure to address your sciatic nerve pain.
When your sciatic nerve becomes seriously compressed, you may experience trouble walking and going to the restroom. If your symptoms are severe or fail to improve after trying more conservative treatments, it might be a sign that surgery is necessary.
A specialist can perform diagnostic tests to determine the nature of your sciatica. These may include spinal X-rays, computed tomography (CT) scans, and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI).
Your doctor uses this information to diagnose what’s causing the inflammation of the sciatic nerve. Surgery for sciatica often involves removing whatever is putting pressure on the nerve, such as a bulging disc or part of the damaged vertebrae.
To learn more about surgical options for chronic sciatica, schedule a consultation with Dr. Kumar and his team. Call the location closest to you — in Hackettstown, New Jersey, Matamoras, Pennsylvania, and Warwick, New York — or book an appointment online.
