Sciatica, Part 3: How to Cure Sciatica Permanently

If you experience chronic sciatica or sciatic nerve pain, you likely want permanent relief or solutions leading to pain-free normalcy. In many cases of mild sciatica, symptoms can fade over a few weeks. However, it is also possible to see little to no relief over time, causing you to experience chronic complications in your legs or buttocks, including:

Inflammation
Numbness
Pain ranging from a mild burn to sharp, electric jolts
Tingling

If the root cause is severe enough, you could also develop:

Bladder control issues
Bowel control issues
Leg weakness
Mobility difficulties
Foot numbness

Possible Causes of Sciatica

Depending on the source of nerve pressure, sciatica can develop over time, or it can appear as a result of sudden injury. Generally, sciatica occurs following:

Disc bulging or herniation
Spinal bone growth or bone spurs
Spinal tumors
Nerve-damaging diseases like diabetes

Treatment Options to Help Cure Sciatica Permanently

No two cases of sciatica are exactly alike. What may permanently relieve one patient from sciatic nerve pain could fail to work for another patient. However, there are a few treatment options available that range from nonsurgical to surgical options.

Medications

Certain medications can help ease inflammation, removing the pain-inducing pressure from your sciatic nerve. Others can help target the pain and reduce pain signals from the affected area to the brain. Medication options include:

Over-the-counter pain relievers—examples include acetaminophen, aspirin, or NSAIDs
Oral corticosteroids—oral steroid regimen, such as prednisone
Tricyclic antidepressants—examples include amitriptyline
Anti-seizure medications—examples include gabapentin and pregabalin
Temporary opioid regimen—opioids should be a last resort for treatment via medication and should be taken on a short-term basis.

Spinal Injections

Some patients find lasting relief from sciatic nerve pain and the sensations that stem from sciatica via injectable corticosteroid medicine. Your doctor will locate the site of the spinal pressure and administer the injection accordingly. For instance, if your L4-L5 disc has herniated, your doctor may administer an injection at the site for quick and prolonged relief. Some patients may experience lasting relief after one injection, while others may require up to three injections yearly.

Physical Therapy

Patients who are physically able may undergo physical therapy to work out the pain and strengthen their bodies to prevent a recurrence of sciatica. By correcting posture, strengthening core muscles around the stomach and lower back, and increasing your mobility, you may be able to achieve and maintain permanent freedom from sciatic pain.

Surgery

While some nerve problems may ease up or disappear independently, others may require surgical intervention. Severely herniated discs, bone overgrowth, and tumors can require removal surgery to resolve the issue.

Surgery options can include:

Microdiscectomy
Lumbar Laminectomy
Foraminotomy
Facetectomy
Joint Fusion
Spine Tumor Resection

Remember that in some cases, the root issue causing sciatica can be so severe that pain and complications may persist even after treatment. However, a highly skilled neurosurgeon like those at Georgia Neurological Institute can evaluate your condition and work with you to discover the treatment option to deliver the most pain relief possible.

If you are ready to take back your life and face the day without sciatica, rely on the spine specialists at Georgia Neurosurgical Institute.

Our neurosurgeons are advanced, highly trained spine specialists who offer comprehensive solutions for many spinal conditions, including those that lead to sciatic nerve pain. If you are experiencing sciatica and would like to find a cure that lasts, schedule a consultation with our team today: 478-743-7092

Thanks for checking out our 3-part series on sciatica! If you missed parts 1 and 2, check them out here: