Sciatica Nerve Pain Treatment Doctors, Top Specialists in Brooklyn & Manhattan, NY

Sciatica Nerve Pain in Downtown Brooklyn & Lower Manhattan

Our award-winning sciatica specialist at Downtown Pain Physicians offer sciatica pain relief to our patients in Downtown Brooklyn and Lower Manhattan.

With years of treating different pains, feel free to visit us for any type of nerve pain you are going through. There are several nerve pains that happen in the body, the causes of these pains are unknown to the individual experiencing them. As people, we go through a series of daily actions and some of these actions result in unwanted pain. Many times we are unaware of the root cause until an experienced pain doctor can diagnose it and provide treatment. Sciatica nerve pain is one of such pains.

FAQ: Sciatica Nerve Pain

What is Sciatica?

Sciatica is pain that comes from the sciatic nerve, which is a large nerve which branches out from the lower back and travels through your hips, buttocks, and down each leg. Because the sciatic nerve covers such a long distance in the body, there are many different aches and pains that can be related to it and they’re all called sciatica. There can also be several different causes of sciatic pain which opens the door for a variety of treatment options. This means you are likely to have a successful outcome when you visit one of our Downtown Pain Offices for sciatica treatment.

Sciatica Symptoms

Sciatica, sometimes called radiculopathy, can present as a stabbing pain in the hip for one person and something totally different, like a tingling in one leg for another person. The symptoms not only vary from person to person, but the same individual can experience different pain symptoms, too.

Some common feelings that our patients with sciatica have reported include:

• Shooting pain from your back down your leg
• Stabbing feeling that makes walking difficult
• Numbness, tingling, or muscle weakness in one leg
• Bowel or bladder changes
• Radiating pain that comes in waves
• A feeling like a jolt or electric shock in your back

Sciatica can come and go, leaving you unsure of when it will strike again. Our pain-relief specialists use regenerative medicine and interventional pain management to treat the underlying cause so you’re not constantly waiting for the next attack.

What Causes Sciatica

Most of the time, sciatica happens when the sciatic nerve is pinched. There are several different ways that this “pinching” can occur, some are common, and others are less prevalent.

• A Herniated Disc.
• Lumbar Spinal Stenosis.
• Spondylolisthesis.
• Spinal tumors (malignant and/or benign).
• Damage from disease such as diabetes.

Sciatica Risk Factors

There are several risk factors associated with sciatic nerve pain, some of them you can do something about and decrease your odds of having sciatica, others you can’t control.

• Age. Obviously, a risk factor that has time working against you and there’s nothing you can do about it. As we age, spinal changes occur and these changes can have a damaging effect on the body, including causing sciatica.
• Obesity. Excessive weight causes stress on the spine that can lead to pinched nerves and spinal problems. Losing weight and aiming to be in a normal weight range will not only help you prevent sciatica, it will dramatically improve your overall health.
• Sitting for long periods of time. Sitting all day for a job or people who have a sedentary lifestyle are more prone to sciatic nerve problems. This is something that you can absolutely do something about. Being able to stand at work or use a standing desk for part of your day will help. Adding a few miles of walking to your day can help considerably in your efforts to avoid spinal pain and specifically sciatica.
• Repetitive movements. If your job or a sport you’re active in requires you to carry heavy loads or repeat the same motion, you may be more prone to developing nerve impingement in your spine.
• Diabetes. People with diabetes are more likely to get nerve damage, including sciatica. If you have diabetes, this is something you should discuss with your primary physician, so you know what to keep an eye out for.

Sciatica Prevention

Whether you’ve never had sciatica or you’ve had a bout of it, preventing it is a good course of action. It can be extremely painful, and most people would choose to avoid that pain. There are some tips you can use to help prevent sciatica.

• Vary your position. Try to change the position you sit in and stand in throughout the day so you’re not adding undue stress or strain to your spine.
• Exercise. You don’t have to become a gym rat but adding some daily exercise to your life can strengthen your spine and surrounding muscles and prevent nerve impingement. Focusing on building core strength and back strength is a good idea and any physical therapist or sports trainer can help you create a gentle exercise program that you’ll stick with.
• Focus on posture. Slouching is easy and it’s a habit that many people seem to have, break that habit and support your spine health.
• Maintain a healthy weight. Keeping your weight within normal limits can help you avoid extra stress on your entire body.
• Lift properly. Make sure you don’t unnecessarily strain your back by lifting incorrectly. Use your legs and try not to twist while lifting. Get help if you need it.

Diagnosing Sciatica

Because sciatica is so tricky and can show up as one pain symptom for one person and a different pain symptom for another, careful diagnosis must be made. This is done in our office on your first visit. It’s important to us that your symptoms are taken seriously and you have a diagnosis as soon as possible so we can start your treatment plan. A diagnosis will be created using a combination of the following at your visit.

• Oral history. We will listen carefully as you explain your back pain or leg pain symptoms and how they came about. It’s important that we understand any changes you’ve experienced in your pain and any other concerns you might be having.
• Physical Exam. Your sciatica doctor will then examine you to determine if there are any obvious physical signs of injury, swelling, disease, etc.
• MRI. Magnetic resonance imaging or MRI scan uses a magnetic field and radio waves to create detailed images of your body tissues and gives us a better look at what’s happening inside the body.
• Same-Day EMG. An EMG is electromyography that measures your muscle response or electrical activity. We are able to conduct this test in our state-of-the-art facility so you don’t need to go off-site or suffer through long waits until you can get the results you need for an appropriate diagnosis.

Once your top-rated sciatica doctors in Brooklyn have all of the information available, they can make an appropriate diagnosis and begin treating your sciatic nerve pain or they can address any other diagnoses you may have.

Treatment for Sciatic Nerve Pain

The good news is that there are numerous treatment options available to people who are suffering from sciatica. Your individual cause of nerve pain will need to be explored before a treatment plan can be prescribed but there are some very useful treatment options, both conservative and surgical.

Sciatica Treatment Options at Downtown Pain Physicians

Treatment for sciatica pain will typically begin with conservative care and in roughly of the cases, this will resolve your issues. Your treatment plan will be customized to your symptoms, but it may include the following.

• Epidural steroid injections. We find that most people do very well with conservative treatments such as ice and rest combined with an epidural steroid injection. There are two different types of injections that your doctor will consider to ease your pain.
  1. 1. Transforaminal epidural steroid injection
  2. 2. Interlaminar epidural steroid injection
  Both of these injections have the same goal, to deliver a steroid to the affected area to control pain and swelling in patients with sciatica and radiating low-back pain. The injection technique your doctor chooses will be based on what they believe with be the most effective way to deliver the injectate.
• Endoscopic discectomy. During this procedure, your surgeon will remove whatever is pressing on your sciatic nerve. Most discectomies are done under general anesthesia and you’ll be able to go home that same day.
• Spinal cord stimulator. People who have ongoing back pain after surgery (what is often termed failed back syndrome) may need to have a spinal cord stimulator. This is a device with thin wire electrodes and a small battery that’s similar to a pacemaker. The electrodes rest between the spinal cord and the vertebrae and the generator is placed under the skin. This allows the patient to use a remote control to send electrical impulses to the area of pain and stop it immediately.
• Physical therapy. In addition to any or all of the above sciatica treatment options, physical therapy may be recommended for conservative management and strengthening of the surrounding region. This can help prevent or lessen future episodes of sciatic nerve pain.

Why Choose Downtown Pain Physicians for Your Sciatica Treatment

If you are suffering with nerve pain, it’s important to be seen by a doctor to determine what the cause is and to help find the best solution to resolve your pain issues. Our doctors are dedicated to each patient and believe that individual care is the best way to achieve results. We listen carefully to your pain history and use state-of-the-art diagnostic tools to make accurate diagnoses. If you’re looking for sciatic pain relief in the New York City area, then it’s time to visit one of our two convenient locations. Our doctors are top-rated specialists in relieving pain and will do what is necessary to find the cause of your pain and help you find relief.

• ★★★★★

  “EXPERIENCE HAS BEEN GREAT!”

  Dr. Raj was very informative, and he really spent enough time listening and discussing my issue. He walked me through the treatment plan step by step, and I didn’t feel rushed throughout my appointment at all. I felt at ease and I’m confident that he can help fix my medical issue. There was virtually no wait time and everyone was so accommodating.

• ★★★★★

  “HIGHLY RECOMMEND”

  I would highly recommend Dr. Raval. He was patient, kind and knowledgeable. Made me at ease which is very important in my book. Office was professional and helpful. Cannot say a negative thing at all about my experience…

Read more reviews

What to Expect at Downtown Pain Physicians

At your first visit to our office, you can expect a thorough health examination and history so your doctor can get a good idea of your health concerns. There may be x-rays or an ultrasound evaluation necessary at your appointment to gain a deeper understanding of your condition. After a diagnosis is achieved, your doctor will have a thorough discussion of treatment options with you to make sure you know what steps are possible and you can make an informed decision. You’ll also receive a detailed recovery plan, so you never have to question what to do next.

We want your visit to our offices to be as pleasant as possible from the moment you walk through our doors. Individual attention is part of the fabric of our practice and it’s a critical component of an effective treatment plan. Whether you’re suffering from sciatica or any other type of back pain, we are here to help you find pain relief and get back to living your life.

Finding Sciatica Doctors Near Me

When looking for effective ways to address crippling low back pain radiating down to your lower limb, choose an interprofessional team of healthcare experts, including board-certified pain management doctors, interventional pain & musculoskeletal medicine specialist, and orthopedic spine surgeons as well as highly experienced and compassionate medical staff specialized in diagnosis and management of lower back pain with sciatic radiation based on a careful history and clinical examination.

Locate sciatica doctors near you providing non-invasive pain treatment, including physical conditioning, analgesics, anticonvulsants, and muscle relaxants, as well as more aggressive approaches, such as epidural infiltrations and radiofrequency. If you develop chronic symptoms that don’t respond to treatment and consistently interfere with the quality of life or functionality, the team at Downtown Pain Physicians is fully equipped to provide neurosurgery options, including diskectomy, laminectomy, and spinal fusion, to help you live free from pain and discomfort.

Do you have any questions about sciatica pain treatment? Would you like to schedule an appointment with top pain management doctors in Downtown, Brooklyn and Lower Manhattan? Please call our office for a consultation and indicate which location you want to visit.