Dr. Stefano Sinicropi, M.D.

Sciatica is a painful condition that involves compression or damage to one or both of the sciatic nerves that run down your spine and into each leg. Due to the location of the nerve, sciatic nerve problems can lead to pain, muscle weakness or numbness in your spine, hips or legs. The condition can also be stubborn in terms of responding to treatment, so below, we take a closer look at how to treat sciatica pain that won’t go away.

Treating Stubborn Sciatica Pain

There are a number of different reasons why you may be having difficulty calming your irritated sciatic nerve. Here’s a look at some of the common reasons why you can’t shake sciatic nerve pain, and what to do to get relief.

• Treating The Wrong Problem – For starters, it’s always a good idea to ensure that you have a precise diagnosis from a trained physician. Online research can give you an idea of what you’re dealing with, but if you’re actually plagued by a different problem, treatment may not be successful. If you’ve gone weeks without relief, set up a consultation or consider seeking a second opinion.
• Treating The Wrong Nerve Segment – There’s also the possibility that you’re treating the wrong part of the nerve. The sciatic nerves are the longest nerves in the body, and because the nerve can cause symptoms in other areas, you may think the problem is housed in one area when it’s actually located further up the line. Again, a second opinion or a clinical imaging test can work to pinpoint the precise area of compression or damage.
• Wrong Nerve Problem – There are a couple main issues that can cause the sciatic nerve to act up. It can become compressed or it can adhere to a muscle, which in turn restricts its ability to move freely, both of which can lead to pain. You may know that you have sciatica, but until you undergo a clinical diagnosis, you may not know whether compression, adhesion or damage to the nerve itself is causing your symptoms.
• Not Responding To Conservative Care – Finally, despite your best efforts and the best efforts of your doctor, your sciatic nerve may not respond as hoped to conservative care. In these instances, surgery may be necessary. In many cases where a herniated disc is causing the compression, the surgery will make a few small incisions and laparoscopically remove part of the damaged disc, which decompresses the nerve. A decompression operation is the most common form of sciatic nerve surgery, but your specific operation may vary based on your individual needs.

So if you’re dealing with stubborn sciatic nerve pain, you owe it to yourself to talk to a spine specialist. Left untreated, the nerve may succumb to more damage, leading to an increase in symptoms. Get a handle on your nerve pain and get back on the path to wellness by talking to a spine specialist like Dr. Sinicropi today.

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