The doctors at Saratoga Spine are pleased to offer educational resources such as this website, the blog about spine issues, and educational videos. Below is a video in which Dr. Keshmiri disucsses the basics of Sciatica. Watch the video below. Or, if you prefer to read, the transcript is below.

Common Causes of Sciatica

Common causes of sciatica include disc herniations in the low back, spinal stenosis which describes generalized narrowing of the spinal canal, and spondylolisthesis which indicates instability of the spine.

The majority of time people with sciatica do get better with conservative measures within a few weeks or few months. The pain often can vary in severity and intensity and can also be intermittent.

Non-Surgical Pain Relief Methods

Non-surgical methods that we use to relieve the pain of sciatica include medications, often times oral steroids are prescribed for a short time period, physical therapy and/or chriopractic treatment are commonly used. In addition, in patients sometimes injections in the spinal canal called epidural steroid injections can lessen the inflammation around the nerve and provide pain relief.

In general with sciatica, the pain will gradually improve on its own. And some numbness and tingling and even a little bit of weakness initially could be monitored and will improve.

However, if patients continue to have severe pain and/or significant weakness that is getting worse, then surgery is a good option to relieve their pain and hopefully improve their weakness.