What Doctor to See for Sciatica?
Trying to figure out what doctor to see for sciatica pain? Sciatica can be debilitating. Whether you have back pain, leg pain or both, here are some ways to find treatment.
Sciatica is the term used to describe pain caused by irritation of the sciatic nerve. This nerve, located in your lower back, is formed by a bundling of nerves that emerge from the lower lumbar region of the spine.
The sciatic nerve is the major neural pathway between your brain and your legs and feet. If the sciatic nerve is pinched or irritated, the pain can “radiate” down the nerve and cause pain or tingling in your legs.
It may be hard to determine what doctor should treat your sciatica since the pain is felt in various locations. Taking a closer look at the causes of sciatica pain can help us determine the appropriate specialist to treat it.
Causes
The most common cause of sciatica is a herniated disc. A herniated disc is when one of the soft gel-filled discs that sit between each vertabrae of the spine ruptures. The material inside the disc releases into the spinal canal. This can often result in pressure on the nerves which leads to pain. The vast majority of disc herniations (95%1) occur in the lower back between L4-L5 or L5-S1 vertebrae. The sciatic nerve is the nerve that is most commonly affected by a herniated disc.
Although less common there are other causes for sciatica such as:
- Spinal Stenosis
- Spondylolisthesis
- Injury or trauma to the spine or sciatic nerve
- Piriformis Syndrome
- Tumor
- Pregnancy
What Doctor to See for Sciatica Pain?
In most cases, sciatica is caused by spine issues. Therefore, if your insurance allows it, usually the best doctor to see for sciatica pain is a spine specialist. These include disc herniation, spinal stenosis, spondylolisthesis and spine injury. Spine doctors are trained in these specific conditions and have the most experience treating them.
If your sciatica is the result of one of the less common piriformis syndrome or a tumor a spine doctor can help diagnose these conditions and refer you to a specialist if necessary.
Women who are pregnant and experiencing sciatica should first discuss their symptoms with their obstetrician. You can then have a conversation with your OB/GYN to determine if you should visit a spine specialist for your pain.
I Live in Saratoga Springs, Where is the Closest Sciatica Treatment Near Me?
Saratoga Spine’s main office is located in Saratoga Springs, NY, near Saratoga Hospital. Dr. Herzog and Dr. Keshmiri have regular office hours at the Saratoga location. Give us a call to schedule an appointment.
Is There Sciatica Treatment Near Me in Glens Falls?
Besides our Saratoga office we have another office located in Glens Falls, NY. Our Glens Falls location is at 7 Murray Street. Call us to schedule an appointment for your sciatica at our Glens Falls office.
I’m in the North Country, Is There Sciatica Treatment Near Me?
Yes! Dr. Herzog has long ties to the North Country and, in 2017, we were proud to open an office in Plattsburgh, NY to serve our patients in the Adirondacks. Schedule an appointment at our Plattsburgh office to talk to the doctor about your sciatica pain.
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