Conservative Medical Care for Low Back Pain and Sciatica in Monmouth County

Sciatica is a major cause of lower back pain, along with other symptoms such as pain in the buttock, back of the thigh, calf, and foot. Muscle weakness, numbness, or tingling may also occur.

The sciatic nerve is responsible for sending signals to the brain from the muscles; it also acts as a conduit between the legs and the brain to transmit sensory information. Sciatica is often responsible for back pain because the sciatic nerve starts from the lumbar spine (lower back).

Lower back pain caused by sciatica is the result of compression of the sciatic nerve. There are several main factors that lead to compression, including herniated or bulged discs; lumbar spinal stenosis; spondylolisthesis; trauma; pregnancy; and (rarely) spinal tumors.

Medical Care/Pain Management for Back Pain Associated with Sciatica

The medical doctor at Monmouth Pain and Rehabilitation is a pain management expert that specializes in treating the many causes of sciatica. The first step in any sciatica treatment plan is a full orthopedic and neurological examination to determine the exact cause of sciatica symptoms. From there, our Medical Director works to create a plan of pain management and rehabilitation that may include any of the following treatment modalities:

• Physical Therapy
• Spinal Decompression Traction
• Acupuncture
• Chiropractic Care

In some cases, lower back pain caused by sciatica can be debilitating, making it impossible for patients to take advantage of physical therapy and other conservative treatment options. It is in these situations that Epidural Steroid Injections are used.

An Epidural Steroid Injection is a minimally invasive procedure that reduces inflammation and pain in the spinal nerves (including the sciatic nerve). This practice delivers a combination of a long-lasting corticosteroid and an anesthetic numbing agent to the spinal nerve through the epidural space. The epidural space is the area between the protective covering of the spinal cord and vertebrae. This strategy is a temporary pain solution that helps patients to benefit from the treatment options listed above.

Treatment for Lower Back Pain and Sciatica at Monmouth Pain and Rehabilitation

The pain management team at Monmouth Pain and Rehabilitation has created a cooperative environment that merges traditional medical care with physical therapy, acupuncture, massage, and chiropractic. This system allows our patients to manage pain and rehabilitate with as many treatment options as possible under one roof, thereby eliminating confusion and increasing effectiveness.

To learn more about Monmouth Pain and Rehabilitation’s approach to sciatica-related back pain, please contact our Red Bank, NJ office today.