A sharp pain runs from your lower back into your leg. Sitting hurts. Standing hurts. Even sleeping may become uncomfortable. If that sounds familiar, you may be dealing with sciatica.

Sciatica is not simply another type of back pain. It usually involves irritation or compression of the sciatic nerve. This large nerve travels from your lower back through your hips and down each leg.

The pain can feel sharp, burning, aching, or electric. Some people also notice numbness, tingling, or weakness.

At Sekiwala Pain Management Center, we look beyond the pain itself. We want to understand what may be causing your symptoms. We also consider how those symptoms affect your everyday life.

Our goal is to help you understand your options. We then develop a treatment approach suited to your condition.

You May Be Able to Treat Sciatica Without Surgery

Hearing the word “sciatica” can make people worry about surgery.

Surgery can be appropriate for certain serious spinal conditions. However, it is not automatically required for every person with sciatic pain.

Many cases are initially managed with non-surgical approaches.

The right path depends on what is causing the nerve irritation. It also depends on symptom severity and other medical factors.

Our role is to evaluate your condition and explain your options.

Patients looking for sciatica treatment in San Francisco, CA, may also want specialized pain management guidance. We can discuss your symptoms and help you understand potential treatment paths.

When Your Leg Starts Hurting More Than Your Back

  • Pain May Travel Beyond Your Back: You might feel pain in your buttock, thigh, calf, or foot. The location can vary from person to person.
  • Your Symptoms Can Offer Useful Clues: Changes in pain during certain movements can provide helpful information. Your provider can consider these patterns during an evaluation.
  • A Spinal Nerve May Be Irritated: Sciatica often develops when something irritates or compresses a spinal nerve. A herniated disc is one possible cause.
  • Other Spine Changes Can Play a Role: Spinal stenosis and other changes around the spine can also contribute. However, sciatica does not have the same cause for everyone.
  • Treatment Should Start With the Cause: Finding the possible source of your symptoms is an important first step. Effective sciatica treatment in Los Angeles, CA, should be based on that evaluation.

Your Sciatica May Not Need the Same Treatment as Someone Else's

Two people can have similar pain but completely different problems. One person may have a disc-related issue. Another may have nerve compression from changes within the spine.

Their treatment plans should not automatically look alike. At Sekiwala Pain Management Center, we review your symptoms and medical history carefully. We also consider previous treatments and relevant diagnostic imaging.

The goal is to identify the most likely source of your symptoms. Once we have a clearer picture, Dr. Kulubya can discuss suitable treatment options. These may include interventional procedures when they are medically appropriate.

The recommendation depends on your condition, not simply the fact that you have sciatica.

What Can Happen When Rest and Medication Aren't Enough?

Many patients try to manage sciatica at home first. You may have rested for several days. Perhaps you changed your sleeping position or tried exercises. You may also have taken pain medication.

Sometimes those steps provide relief. Other times, the pain keeps coming back.

Persistent symptoms can interfere with work, exercise, driving, and sleep. You may start avoiding movements because you expect them to hurt. That can make daily life feel smaller.

Pain management provides another option for patients who need additional care. Depending on the cause, targeted procedures may help reduce pain and improve function.

Could a Targeted Procedure Be Part of Your Treatment?

Interventional pain management focuses on treating specific sources of pain. For certain patients, an injection near an irritated spinal nerve may be considered. Epidural steroid injections are one example used for some forms of radiating leg pain.

Other procedures may be appropriate when different spinal structures are involved. These treatments are not suitable for everyone.

Their potential benefits and risks depend on your diagnosis, health history, and individual circumstances. That is why we do not recommend procedures simply because they are available. A proper evaluation comes first.

If you are searching for sciatica treatment in Orange County, CA, our team can discuss your symptoms. We can help you understand whether interventional treatment may fit your situation.

Back Pain Care Near You

  • Irvine, CA
  • Orange County, CA
  • Sacramento, CA
  • San Francisco, CA
  • Beverly Hills

When Is It Time to Stop Waiting for Sciatica to Improve?

Some episodes of sciatica improve with time and conservative care. However, persistent or worsening symptoms deserve medical attention.

You should also seek prompt medical care for serious symptoms. These include significant weakness or new problems controlling your bladder or bowel.

Those symptoms can indicate a more serious spinal problem. For ongoing pain without those emergency symptoms, a pain evaluation can still be worthwhile.

You do not have to wait until your pain controls your routine. If you need sciatica treatment in Los Angeles, CA, Sekiwala Pain Management Center can evaluate your condition. We can then discuss whether non-surgical or interventional care may be appropriate.

Call us at 714-234-7485 to schedule an appointment.

Frequently Asked Questions

1. Why does my sciatica hurt more after sitting?

Sitting can increase pressure around certain areas of the lower spine. Your symptoms may also depend on your posture and underlying condition. A proper evaluation can help identify why sitting triggers your pain.

Sciatica can fluctuate as irritation around a spinal nerve changes. Activity, posture, inflammation, and the underlying cause can influence symptoms. Repeated flare-ups deserve medical evaluation.

Yes, it can. Some people experience little back pain while feeling significant symptoms in the leg. Pain may travel through the buttock, thigh, calf, or foot.

Nerves traveling from your lower spine supply sensation to parts of your leg and foot. Irritation affecting those nerves can sometimes cause tingling or numbness. Your specific symptoms still require proper evaluation.

Persistent sciatica should not be ignored. The long-term outlook depends on the underlying cause and other individual factors. Proper evaluation can help determine the appropriate next step.

Pain medication may reduce symptoms without addressing the source of nerve irritation. Persistent pain may require a closer evaluation. Your treatment plan may need to change based on the findings.

No. Injections are only one possible treatment option. Your recommended care depends on your symptoms, diagnosis, and medical history.

There is no single waiting period that suits everyone.

Severe, persistent, worsening, or recurring symptoms deserve medical attention. A new significant weakness also requires prompt evaluation.

Sekiwala Pain Management Center provides specialized pain management care. Our team can evaluate your symptoms and discuss suitable treatment options. Call 714-234-7485 to schedule an appointment.

Call Now Button