Is Back Surgery the Quickest Way for Sciatica Relief? 

Sciatica happens when there is pressure in the wrong spot of your lower back. It is a common nerve issue that can flare up suddenly and cause low back pain, leg pain, reduced mobility, and more. For mild cases of sciatica, the pain can often be treated through exercise and chiropractic care. However, more serious cases might require surgery for the quickest relief. Here is when surgery is an option for sciatica relief. 

Understanding Sciatica 

Sciatica is a common nerve issue that can randomly cause you pain when you wake up or do simple daily tasks, like doing laundry or even cooking. In this article we will teach you more about the symptoms, causes, and risks of sciatica to free yourself from the burden of hip and leg pain as soon as possible. 

When an injury or muscle strain causes pressure to be placed on the sciatic nerve, you will more than likely experience sciatica. This happens when the nerve becomes compressed and irritated in the lower back. Experiencing this pain isn’t the same as having general lower back pain, due to its distinctive symptoms that set it apart. 

Sciatica Symptoms 

The common symptoms of sciatica can include: 

• Leg pain that is worse when you sit down
• Lasting pain in the buttocks or hips
• Restriction in movement or reduced flexibility 
• Stabbing sensations that make standing difficult
• Irritation that extends from the hip to the foot
• Weakness in the legs
• Symptoms on one side of the body or the other 

Causes of Sciatica 

When a person suffers from this injury, it typically involves a compression of the nerve. Common ways this nerve can become compressed include:

• Spinal stenosis: Which is a condition that narrows the spinal canal. 
• Misalignment: When one vertebrae in the back slips over another, the sciatic nerve could be at risk. 
• Herniated discs: A bulging spinal disc puts a lot of pressure on nearby nerves. 
• Bone spurs: These are rough edges on the vertebrae. 

Who’s at Risk? 

Unfortunately, some people are more likely to develop sciatica than others. Risks that could be making you more susceptible include:

• Sedentary lifestyle that includes sitting a majority of the day and not getting enough exercise.
• Smoking and overusing alcohol. 
• Playing contact sports or doing things that require repetitive twisting or bending.
• Not maintaining a healthy weight.
• Not stretching or cooling down before or after exercise. 
• An injury to the hip, legs, or back. 

Common Sciatica Treatments 

When it comes to treating your sciatica, there are non-invasive options we can try that include exercise plans, heat and cold therapy, chiropractic care, massage, and anti-inflammatory injections. However, sometimes surgery is best when leg pain is consistent and progressive even after trying these non-invasive treatment methods. 

Surgery for this type of back pain is typically recommended when leg pain or weakness has been occurring for six to eight weeks, despite having tried other methods like chiropractic care and exercise. Spine-Health explains that surgery is performed with the goal of eliminating the cause of sciatica and to control the pain and weakness in the legs. 

The most common surgery for sciatica is a microdiscectomy. This surgery includes a small part of the disc material coming out. A microdiscectomy is commonly an open surgery and uses minimally invasive techniques, Spine-Health explains. Research has proven that up to 86% of patients will experience sciatica pain relief after undergoing this type of surgery. 

Other common surgical techniques to help with sciatic pain include:

• Laminectomy: This includes removing part or all of the lamina, which is often done for sciatic pain that is caused by lumbar spinal stenosis. 
• Foraminotomy: In this surgery, the neural foramen is enlarged by removing bony overgrowth, which gives the nerve root more room. 
• Facetectomy: This surgical procedure is used to relieve compression on pinched nerves caused by degenerated facet joints. These joints are trimmed, undercut, or removed to help relieve nerve pressure. 

Get Help with Sciatic Pain with Texas Spine and Sports Therapy Center

At Texas Spine and Sports Therapy Center, we want to help you recover from the pain and issues that sciatica can cause. We will start with a full assessment to determine what the cause of your issue is. From there, we will start working to reverse the damage with one of our treatment options. Whether it’s a non-invasive treatment or if you need surgery, our skilled doctors can do it all. Make an appointment with us today.