Sciatica Pain Gives You Trouble? Sciatica Doctor in Hackensack Reveals 7 Potential Causes

Sciatica Pain Cause #1: Inflammatory conditions

When inflammation occurs, spinal nerves can get trapped between the muscle and the vertebrae, which causes pain. Inflammation does tend to disappear in a few days, either on its own or with the use of anti-inflammatory medicine.

However, certain chronic inflammatory conditions can cause sciatic pain to reappear whenever the symptoms of their condition get worse. One such example is rheumatoid arthritis, a long-term progressive disease that causes pain and swelling around the joints.

Sciatica Pain Cause #2: Herniated Disk

In most cases, sciatic nerve pain is caused by a herniated disk. This is a condition that affects the spine, most commonly in the lower back, and causes the vertebrae disk’s nucleus to bulge and rupture the vertebrae ring. This situation can cause a lot of pressure on the spine and nerves, causing pain and inflammation.

With proper care, herniated disks can improve in time, reducing sciatica pain as well. Oftentimes, the doctor will prescribe minimally invasive treatment to prevent the condition from worsening, but there are also instances in which an orthopaedic surgeon is the only one that can help remove the cause of the pain.

Sciatica Pain Cause #3: Spinal Misalignment

If the spine is not aligned as it should, it can put pressure on the vertebrae and cause pain. One such example is scoliosis, which is a condition that causes the spine to curve to one side, affecting both the upper spine and the lower back.

When this happens, the sciatic nerve can easily get trapped between the vertebrae and get damaged, causing sciatic pain. The pressure can sometimes cause herniated disks as well, increasing the risk of developing sciatic pain and prolonging the healing process.

Sciatica Pain Cause #4: Recent injury

It is common for people with sciatic pain to link the pain to a previous accident. While it is true that an injury does not always result in chronic pain, if your condition does not improve in a few days or you start feeling leg pain as well, it is time to seek medical advice.

If the injury caused a herniated disk, the repeated physical effort could cause the condition to worsen and result in more pain. If you have recently started feeling pain in the lower back and legs after an injury, manage your physical activity and be sure not to push yourself too much.

Sciatica Pain Cause #5: Infection

Infections inside the spine or around the vertebrae can cause a swollen mass to appear. This mass is called an abscess and can push spinal nerves, trapping them and causing sciatica pain. Because abscesses are linked to infections, your body will try to fight the disease and protect you from it. This can cause fever, pain in the body, and other symptoms.

To remove the abscess, you will need to talk to a doctor. In some cases, spinal surgeons are the only ones that can help by performing surgery and cleaning up the infection so that you can continue living a pain-free life.

Sciatica Pain Cause #6: Physical exhaustion

Sciatica pain is more likely to appear after the age of 30 when degeneration of the intervertebral disks begins. It is normal for your body not to be as strong as it used to. But if you pair that with continuous physical effort, your chances of developing sciatic pain grow even more.

If you start experiencing pain in the lower back, do not try to push through it. Instead, take the time to relax and allow your body to heal. Pain is never a good sign, so the last thing you want is to force your body more. If necessary, take some anti-inflammatory medication. If the pain continues, you need to seek help from a pain doctor. They can evaluate your condition and prescribe minimally-invasive treatment such as epidural steroid injections or electrical nerve stimulations.

Sciatica Pain Cause #7: Lifestyle factors

If you are dealing with sciatic pain, certain lifestyle factors can increase the pain or prolong the healing period. Some people also find sciatica pain returns from time to time, either due to prolonged physical stress or because of an underlying condition that has not been accurately treated yet.

Individuals with jobs that require prolonged sitting, such as working at a desk or driving, are at more risk of developing sciatic pain and have fewer chances to recover fast from it. Overweight people will also heal harder from sciatic pain due to the excess weight that puts pressure on the lower back. The same can happen for pregnant women due to the weight of the baby.

The best way to treat sciatica pain is by contacting the best back doctors New Jersey has to offer. Dr. Laura Lombardy, Dr. George Hanna, and Dr. Shane Volney of Pain Treatment Specialists are happy to offer medical advice. Also, they will help you get rid of your sciatica pain. Book an appointment with the best sciatica doctors of Hackensack. You can find us in Clifton, NJ, on Route 46 E, past the Ford dealership, in West Orange, near the Essex Country Club, and in Paramus on Route 17, near the Paramus Park Mall.