I'm Ready to Resolve Recurrent Sciatica: What Are My Options?I

Sciatica — an excruciating pain caused by inflammation of your sciatic nerve — affects up to 40% of people. Sciatica can be short-lived (such as during pregnancy), but for some people, sciatica just doesn’t go away. 

If you’re struggling with recurrent sciatica, you don’t have to suffer in silence. That’s because effective treatment options are available here at the Spine Group Beverly Hills in Santa Monica, California.

The first step, though, is to pinpoint the source of your pain. Bone spurs, herniated discs, trauma, spinal stenosis, and poor lifting techniques are just a few reasons you might develop sciatica. 

Read on as Dr. John Regan shares both non-surgical and surgical strategies for managing recurrent sciatica. 

Non-surgical sciatica management options

If you’re looking for a non-surgical approach to managing sciatica, you might:

Try physical therapy

A structured physical therapy program strengthens your core, improves flexibility, and reduces pressure on your sciatic nerve. A therapist can guide you through targeted exercises to ease pain and prevent future flare-ups.

Use hot and cold therapy

Applying ice packs reduces inflammation, while heat helps relax tight muscles around your sciatic nerve. Alternating between hot and cold therapy can provide quick relief.

Heat therapy may be particularly helpful if you have piriformis syndrome. Piriformis syndrome happens when tight piriformis muscles irritate your sciatic nerve. Heat from heating pads, warm baths, or hot compresses can help soothe tight muscles. You may also benefit from a few days of rest and at-home stretching.

Take anti-inflammatory medication

Over-the-counter non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) like ibuprofen can help reduce pain and swelling. If your sciatica is severe, Dr. Regan may prescribe stronger medication or muscle relaxants.

Take all medication as directed whether it’s prescription or OTC. If you find that your current medication is no longer effective in managing your pain, reach out to Dr. Regan. 

Consider massage therapy

The American Massage Therapy Association recommends five types of massage for sciatica pain: deep tissue, Swedish massage, trigger point therapy, myofascial release, and neuromuscular massage. 

Massage, especially deep tissue massage, helps relax tight muscles contributing to your pain. However, if the issues are related to your spine (such as spinal stenosis), massage alone may not be enough to address recurrent sciatica.

Try injections

Corticosteroid injections, which combine a local anesthetic with anti-inflammatory medication, provide powerful anti-inflammatory relief. They can offer weeks or even months of pain reduction.

Surgical options for sciatica management

Sometimes non-surgical treatments just aren’t enough to tackle stubborn sciatica. Dr. Regan, a pioneer in minimally invasive spine surgery, offers advanced treatments to relieve sciatica pain with less downtime and faster recovery. 

Using state-of-the-art techniques, he can precisely target the source of your nerve compression, determine the root cause of your pain, and formulate a plan to tackle the source head-on.

Depending on your needs, these surgical options may help:

Microdiscectomy 

During microdiscectomy, Dr. Regan removes a portion of a herniated disc pressing on your sciatic nerve.

Laminectomy

During a laminectomy, Dr. Regan relieves pressure by removing part of the vertebra (lamina) to create more space for your nerve. This is often recommended for those with sciatica related to lumbar spinal stenosis. 

Foraminotomy

Foraminotomy is another type of surgery that provides more room for your sciatic nerve. During surgery, Dr. Regan expands the opening where your sciatic nerve exits the spine (neuroforamen). With more space, there’s less compression on your nerves.

Spinal fusion 

During a spinal fusion, Dr. Regan stabilizes your spine by fusing two or more vertebrae. This is often used for severe cases of instability.

Facetectomy

If degenerated facet joints are compressing your sciatic nerve, Dr. Regan may recommend facetectomy. During this surgery, your facet joints are trimmed or cut to alleviate pressure on your nerves.

Artificial disc replacement 

If a damaged disc is putting pressure on your sciatica nerve, Dr. Regan can replace it with an artificial one to maintain movement and relieve nerve pressure.

Regardless of which type of surgery you need, the goal is to resolve recurrent sciatica. 

Which options are right for you?

Wondering which options are best for your sciatica? Dr. Regan can conduct a thorough examination, review diagnostic imaging, review your symptoms, and walk you through all of the options that best meet your needs.

To schedule your sciatica consultation, call Dr. Regan at 424-238-3281 or click here.