Is it Sciatica?

May 12, 2021

HARVARD TRAINED back PAIN DOCTORS in New jersey

Sciatica Specialist in NJ Describes the Most Common Causes of Back Pain

Despite the fact that back pain is a fairly common issue, not all people experience it in the same ways. Back pain can range from the dull, pulsating aches of osteoarthritis to the intense, rapid pain of a ruptured disc. It can also come and go, be continuous, intensify with exercise or prolonged sitting, or be accompanied by other neurological symptoms such as numbness and tingling.

Though back pain can sometimes be crippling, the majority of people that experience it say it improves or disappears completely with minimal treatment and no injections, typically within a few weeks. If pain continues to bother you and you also experience a change in symptoms, it may be time to visit a doctor to help you with pain management.

If you are looking for a back and sciatica specialist in NJ, then you are in the right place. Our spine clinic is the nation’s most reputable pain treatment center featuring award-winning pain specialists ready to assist you. Our pain doctors are Harvard trained and familiar with a wide range of minimally-invasive back pain treatments, as well as knee injection, back surgery, knee surgery and orthopaedic care, epidural knee injection, and more.

Wondering what may cause your back to ache? Our specialists are here to help. Below are some of the most common conditions that can cause back pain and discomfort.

Muscle Strain or Sprain

Muscle strains and sprains are among the most frequent reasons for experiencing back pain, especially the one felt in the lower back. A strain is defined as the tearing of a muscle or a tendon – the tissue that attaches the muscle to the bone; a sprain is defined as the tearing of a ligament – the tissue that binds bones together.

Schedule an appointment with a sciatica specialist in NJ today and get customized treatments for sciatica. Our trusted sciatica specialists can help!

Pain caused by strains or sprains can vary in intensity, and it is often hard to pinpoint its exact location, often migrating towards the buttocks. This type of pain usually gets worse with movement and improves with rest. Muscle weakness and a restricted range of motion are often reported with back muscle strains and sprains, in addition to pain.

Sciatica

Sciatica can manifest through a range of symptoms that result from the compression or pinching of the sciatic nerve, usually due to a herniated disc or a bone spur. Sciatica may also be caused by an injury or trauma to the pelvis or thigh, diabetes, excessive sitting, and piriformis syndrome, which occurs the sciatic nerve is compressed by spasms in the muscles of the buttocks.

The sciatic nerve happens to be the longest nerve in the body, going from the lower back through both of your legs, so when it gets irritated, pain can be felt anywhere throughout its length, including back, hip, or leg. Patients can also experience a tingling sensation, numbness, or muscle weakness that accompanies the pain.

Bulging and Ruptured Disc

The spinal discs, which are situated between the vertebrae, act as shock-absorbing padding. The discs can begin to deteriorate over time for a variety of causes, including ageing, trauma to the spine, weight gain, smoking, and repetitive movements that put pressure on the spine. This prompts the bulging or slipping of the disc.

Without proper care, the bulging disc will eventually tear. When a disc tears, the nucleus of the disc is released, putting pressure on adjacent nerve roots or the spinal cord. This is called a herniated or ruptured disc.

When a disc rupture happens, it can cause severe back pain that can spread to the buttocks and down the legs. Similarly, a ruptured disc in the neck can cause pain to radiate towards one of the arms. A herniated disc can cause neurological symptoms such as muscle weakness, numbness, or a tingling sensation in addition to pain.

Osteoarthritis

Osteoarthritis can impact any joint in the body, even the spine joints, known as vertebral or facet joints. Spine osteoarthritis develops due to “wear and tear” on the cartilage that lines the joints of the spine. When this happens, a numb, aching, or throbbing type of pain that worsens with movement can appear. This can also be accompanied by a popping sensation as the cartilage wears away entirely and the joints start to rub against each other. Spinal osteoarthritis can also cause joint stiffness and a reduced range of motion.

When osteoarthritis in the spine starts to develop, the body will produce new bony growths to help strengthen the joint. These bone spurs, like a ruptured disc, will gradually put pressure on the adjacent spinal nerve roots, causing numbness and tingling.

Spinal Stenosis

Spinal stenosis is often a common reason for back pain in the elderly population. Because of osteoarthritis and the thickening of tissues in the spine, the spinal canal progressively becomes constricted or shortened as a person ages. Nerve roots can be under additional pressure if the spinal canal becomes too tight, resulting in neurological symptoms such as weakness, numbness, and tingling.

Aside from age and arthritis, other disorders that may cause spinal stenosis include scoliosis and Paget’s disease, a disorder in which bones develop and break down in an abnormal way.

A serious injury that leads to trauma, such as a car crash, can also cause spinal stenosis as a result of the spinal canal getting inflamed.

Scoliosis

Scoliosis is a disorder in which the spine bends and twists in the shape of the letter “S” or “C.” It normally appears in childhood or adolescence. The cause of scoliosis is unclear in the majority of cases, but it may be due to an accident, birth defect, or a genetic aspect. Bad posture can also lead to scoliosis.

Because of the curving and twisting of the spine, scoliosis can lead to neck and back pain, as well as breathing difficulties in severe cases.

If you are looking for one of the best pain centers in New York and New Jersey, then look no further than the experts at Pain Treatment Specialists! Doctor Michael Nguyen and his team are ready to assist you in finding proper pain management options so that you can go back to your everyday life. Schedule an appointment with our trained physicians as soon as possible at one of these 3 locations:

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Meet Our Team of Back Pain Specialists

All of our Pain Doctors in New Jersey are Harvard Trained and Board Certified in Pain Management

Dr. George Hanna - Back Pain Treatment Specialist in NJ

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.

Dr. Lombardi - Back pain treatment specialist NJ

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.

Dr. Shane Volney - Back Pain Doctor NJ

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.

Dr M Circle Thumb

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. Hanna

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.
Dr. 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. Hanna

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. Hanna

Dr. Michael Nguyen

Dr. Nguyen is Harvard Trained and Board Certified in Pain Management. His pain center accepts major medical insurances and Medicare.