Sciatica Doc in NJ Debunks 6 Myths About Sciatica
October 31, 2021
Sciatica is a form of pain that is present in most patients along the length of the sciatic nerve, which extends from the lower spine to the hips and back of the legs. This type of debilitating pain is experienced when the sciatic nerve is compressed either by a nearby muscle, joint, bone, or tissue. In terms of intensity, the pain can be anywhere from mild to excruciating, depending on the condition that causes nerve compression, the area affected, your age, and even your lifestyle. Symptoms of sciatica include discomfort in the lower back that radiates to the hips or the back of either leg.
Sciatica is a common ailment, yet there are many misconceptions about it. This frequently inhibits patients from getting appropriate therapy, resulting in prolonged severe discomfort or possible nerve damage.
The only way to know for sure what’s causing your sciatica pain is to make an appointment with a sciatica pain doctor. Only a specialist can provide an accurate diagnosis and help with pain management.
At Pain Treatment Specialists, we prioritize educating our patients about their conditions so that they make well-informed decisions about their treatment options. This is why, today, Dr Shane Volney, a board-certified sciatica doc in NJ is here to debunk some of the most frequent sciatica misconceptions and provide us with the facts that help us understand this condition.
1. Sciatica is a clinical condition
Sciatica pain is often referred to as a disease or a diagnosis since it is so specific. Generally traversing from the lower back to the lower limbs, sciatica is, in reality, an indication that something is compressing your sciatic nerve.
The difficult part is determining what exactly is putting pressure on the nerve. Sciatica pain is most commonly caused by a herniated disk or nerve damage, however, this is not always the case. The sciatic nerve can be irritated by a variety of disorders, resulting in pain and discomfort.
By doing a physical examination and taking a look at your medical history, a sciatica pain doctor can determine what causes the compression or pinch of the nerve and recommend further treatment.
2. Sciatica is always a sign of a herniated disc
While it is true that the most prevalent cause of sciatica pain is a herniated disc, these symptoms can be caused by a variety of conditions, and only a specialist can provide an exact diagnosis.
Conditions that can cause sciatica include:
- Degenerative disc disease affecting the lumbar region
- Spondylolisthesis
- Lumbar spinal stenosis
- Piriformis syndrome
- Back or spine-related injuries
- rarely, tumors of the spine
3. The symptoms will eventually disappear on their own
Many individuals believe that all they need to do to get rid of their sciatica pain is relax and wait. While it’s true that sciatica pain can go away on its own or with over-the-counter medication in certain circumstances, you should still seek expert help with pain management to ensure the symptoms do not come back.
Only a professional physician will be able to pinpoint the source of your pain and provide the most effective sciatica therapy. If you just wait for your pain to go away, you run the danger of developing significant problems, such as irreversible nerve damage.
4. Surgery is the only treatment option
While sciatica may not go away if you just sit and wait, this does not mean you need to go under the knife to eliminate the source of the problem. In reality, our sciatica doctors use minimally invasive procedures, such as steroid injections, to relieve sciatic nerve pain and these procedures work in most cases.
The fact that surgical treatments are sometimes required to treat herniated discs gave rise to the popular belief that surgery is the best approach to cure sciatica. However, as previously stated, sciatic nerve pain is caused by a variety of factors, not just bulged discs.
In fact, some patients continue to report sciatica pain even after surgical procedures, which means different methods of treatment need to be applied. Recurring symptoms described by patients include back discomfort after the lumbar radiculopathy surgical recovery period, buttock pain following laminectomy, and ongoing nerve pain after a microdiscectomy.
5. If I take a painkiller, the symptoms will be gone
While anti-inflammatory medicine may be administered to reduce symptoms such as pain and inflammation, a pain reliever or muscle relaxant is not always sufficient to eliminate the cause of the pain. Taking pain relievers like Ibuprofen will only provide momentary relief, and the pain will eventually return.
Sciatica symptoms range from moderate back pain to severe pain radiating down the legs, which is why only a skilled physician can tell you whether you need medication, minimally invasive therapy, chiropractic therapy, or a more complex procedure to treat it.
6. Young people don’t deal with sciatica
While it is true that as you become older, you are more likely to develop sciatica pain, it does not mean young people are entirely protected. Anyone, regardless of age, can be affected by sciatica. Sciatica can be caused by a sedentary lifestyle, poor posture, sitting for long periods of time, or excessive weight.
Sciatica is more likely to occur during pregnancy because of the baby’s weight, which puts pressure on the sciatic nerve.
Sciatica pain can go away on its own at times, but it is recommended that you see a pain doctor to be sure there are no underlying disorders that might cause the discomfort. If you have additional symptoms like numbness or weakness in your legs, or if the pain is preventing you from doing your usual tasks, you should visit a sciatica doc in NJ as soon as possible. At Pain Treatment Specialists, our doctors will do a complete examination to determine the source of your sciatica pain and provide the right treatment methods to alleviate it. Schedule an appointment with our trained physicians as soon as possible at any of our clinics in Paramus on Route 17, near the Paramus Park Mall, in Clifton, NJ, on Route 46 E, past the Ford dealership, or in West Orange, near the Essex Country Club.
Book a Consultation
Scheduling a consultation with one of our pain treatment specialists is one of the best ways to determine the proper solution for pain relief.
Meet Our Team of Back Pain Specialists
All of our Pain Doctors in New Jersey are Harvard Trained and Board Certified in Pain Management
Back Pain Doctor Clifton & West Orange NJ
Dr. George Hanna
Dr. Hanna is a Harvard Trained back specialist in New Jersey and New York. He serves as Medical Director of Pain Management.
Back Pain Doctor Clifton & West Orange NJ
Dr. Laura Lombardi
Dr. Lombardi is a Harvard Trained back pain treatment doctor, currently seeing patients in Clifton and West Orange, New Jersey.
Back Pain Doctor Clifton & West Orange NJ
Dr. Shane Volney
Dr. Volney is a Harvard Trained back treatment doctor seeing patients in the NJ areas of Clifton & West Orange, and in NYC.
Back Pain Doctor Clifton & West Orange NJ
Dr. Michael Nguyen
Dr. Nguyen is Harvard Trained and Board Certified in Pain Management. His pain center accepts major medical insurances and Medicare.
Dr. George Hanna
Dr. Laura Lombardi
Dr. Lombardi is a Harvard Trained back pain treatment doctor, currently seeing patients in Clifton and West Orange, and Paramus New Jersey.
Dr. Shane Volney
Dr. Volney is a Harvard Trained back treatment doctor seeing patients in the NJ areas of Clifton & West Orange, and in NYC.
Dr. Michael Nguyen
Dr. Nguyen is Harvard Trained and Board Certified in Pain Management. His pain center accepts major medical insurances and Medicare.