It only takes a few pounds of pressure in the wrong spot in your lower back to set off an entire barrage of symptoms. When you have fatigue, chronic pain, and numbness all at once, you may find the normal challenges of daily life too much to handle. Sciatica is a common nerve issue that can suddenly flare up when you wake up or bend over to pick up your toddler. Learn about the symptoms, causes, and risks of sciatica to free yourself from the burden of hip and leg pain.

What is Sciatica

When an injury or strain leads to pressure on the sciatic nerve, you will end up diagnosed with sciatica. This nerve usually becomes irritated by a case of compression somewhere in the lumbar region of the spine. While many people mistakenly assume that this term refers to general back pain in that area, there are a range of specific symptoms that help sciatica stand out from other problems of the spine or nerves. Since the sciatic nerve is the longest one in the body, it can cause pain in a surprising range of locations.

Sciatica Symptoms

If you are dealing with irritation in the back alone, you may or may not have sciatica. Call our Austin team when experiencing other symptoms like:

  • Leg pain that is worse when seated
  • Lasting pain in the rear or hips
  • Restriction in movement or reduced flexibility
  • Stabbing sensations that makes 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

Cause of Sciatica

Nearly all cases of sciatica involve compression of the nerve as it passes through the lower spine or the hip. Narrowing of openings in this area can seriously affect your legs. A sampling of the causes of sciatica include:

  • Spinal stenosis – a conditional that narrows the spinal canal
  • Misalignment – When one vertebrae in the back slips over another, the sciatic nerve could be at risk
  • Hernaited discs – A bulging spinal disc puts a lot of pressure on nearby nerves
  • Bones spurs-rough edges on the vertebra

Sciatica Risks

While some patients develop severe sciatica pain unexpectedly one day, there are a range of behaviors and inherited risk factors that increase the chance that you will experience this condition. Try to eliminate risks like:

  • Sedentary lifestyle that involves a lot of sitting and little walking or standing
  • Smoking and alcohol abuse
  • Playing full contact sports or activities that require repetitive bending or twisting
  • Obesity and excess weight
  • Failing to stretch and warm up before exercise
  • Traumatic injury to the hip, legs, or back

Sciatica Treatment Options

It is possible to avoid and relieve the pain of sciatic nerve compression with some self care. However, you shouldn’t have to skip over your favorite activities just to prevent irritation. Don’t agree to surgery before sampling some of the conservative options we offer at our Austin clinic. You can find long lasting relief without turning to surgery by trying our treatments that include:

  • Exercise plans that help you build muscle strength without further damage to the nerve
  • Recommendations for heat and cold therapy to relieve irritation
  • Chiropractic care and massage to eliminate the compression on the nerve
  • Safe  Sarapin injections that stop overwhelming pain so other treatments can be applied

Find Solutions for Sciatica

When you enter our conveniently located clinic, you become a part of our family. Your recovery from the pain and limitations of sciatica is our priority. We start with a full suite of tests to determine if any old injuries or recent infections are causing your issues. Once the issue is pinpointed and fully understood, we can start reversing the damage and pressure that is leaving you uncomfortable. No matter what problem lies behind the sciatic pain, Texas Spine and Sports Therapy Center can handle it–contact us today!

Call now for a FREE Consultation, (512) 806-0015, or simply contact us by clicking here. Consultations can be done online, via the phone, or in person.

The Initial Visit

When you arrive for your first visit, Dr. Atencio or a member of the Texas Spine and Sports Therapy Center team will spend time with you collecting your patient history. This information will help your Texas Spine and Sports Therapy Center Team know how significant your sciatica problem is and how best to help you. As you get started with a treatment plan for your sciatica, we will most likely give you some at home tips to be aware of. The Team at Texas Spine and Sports Therapy Center has a lot of experience with sciatica, but we will also need your participation in your care for the best results.

Feel free to look at our testimonials page to see what others have said about Texas Spine and Sports Therapy Center. We’re proud to be part of their health care team. We want to thank you for considering us to help with your sciatica. It does not have to be a life sentence. You don’t have to become another statistic, sciatica is a fixable problem.

Free Sciatica Consultation

If you are suffering from sciatica, Dr. Atencio and the team at Texas Spine and Sports Therapy Center are ready to help. Texas Spine and Sports Therapy Center provides specialized treatment plans for sciatica in Austin and can help you understand where your symptoms are coming from and what it will take to improve.

Call (512) 806-0015 today to schedule your free consultation!