Sciatic Pain

Sciatic pain often strikes without warning, causing sharp, electric-shock sensations that radiate from your lower back down your leg. Without treatment from Alexis Tracy, DO, at Somerset Spine & Nerve, sciatic pain can recur and gradually worsen. Dr. Tracy performs advanced diagnostics and creates a personalized, nonsurgical treatment plan to relieve your symptoms. If you’re ready to return to an active life free from sciatic pain, call the Medford, Oregon, office or request an appointment online today.

What is sciatic pain?

The sciatic nerve exits the spinal canal in your lower spine, travels through your buttocks, and runs down both legs. When the nerve becomes inflamed or damaged, it causes sciatic pain.

Sciatic pain typically begins with spinal issues in the lower back, such as:

• Herniated discs

• Spinal stenosis

• Traumatic injuries (including fractures)

• Degenerative disc disease

• Spinal bone spurs

• Thickened ligaments

• Facet joint arthritis

• Spondylolisthesis (slipped vertebra)

• Pinched spinal nerve

• Radiculopathy (pinched nerve root)

In some cases, the muscles in your buttocks can compress the sciatic nerve, a condition known as piriformis syndrome.

What symptoms accompany sciatic pain?

Sciatic pain—commonly referred to as sciatica—is the result of pressure on the sciatic nerve. While pain often starts in the lower back, the hallmark symptom is radiating pain down one leg.

Pain may range from mild to moderate, but many patients describe it as sudden, sharp, or excruciating. Other symptoms may include:

• Tingling or burning sensations

• Numbness in the leg

• Muscle weakness

Red flag symptoms—such as loss of bladder or bowel control—may indicate a serious nerve issue and require immediate medical attention.

How is sciatic pain treated?

Initial treatment often involves anti-inflammatory medication to reduce swelling and ease symptoms. However, physical therapy is a key component of lasting relief.

As a physical medicine and rehabilitation specialist, Dr. Tracy guides you through targeted therapies, including manual techniques and tailored stretching and strengthening exercises.

If conservative care doesn’t provide relief, you may be a candidate for interventional or regenerative treatments, such as:

Nerve Blocks

A local anesthetic is injected to quickly block pain signals from reaching the brain. The injection may also include a corticosteroid to reduce inflammation.

Epidural Steroid Injections

This treatment delivers corticosteroids into the space around the spine, surrounding the nerves and reducing inflammation.

Radiofrequency Ablation

A needle-like device delivers radiofrequency energy to heat the nerve, creating a lesion that interrupts pain signals.

Platelet-Rich Plasma (PRP) Injections

PRP, derived from your own blood, is injected into the affected area to activate natural healing and reduce inflammation.

Don’t let sciatica interfere with your life. Call Somerset Spine & Nerve or request an evaluation online today.