Can Sciatica Recur?

That chronic, twinging pain in your lower back may be a sign you have sciatica. This condition can make it difficult for you to stay physically active and may also indicate that you have underlying issues that are affecting the health of your spine.

At New Tampa Interventional Pain & Sports Medicine, experienced interventional pain management specialist, Jose De La Torre, MD, knows how debilitating sciatica can be. Dr. De La Torre offers comprehensive treatments to address your lower back pain and prevent long-term, recurring sciatica-related complications.

Understanding the jolting pain of sciatica

In your back is the sciatic nerve, a large nerve that travels down from your lower spine into your hips and legs. This nerve is responsible for providing sensations to these areas.

When something presses on your sciatic nerve, it can trigger a burning type of pain in your lower back. Many people feel an electric jolt of pain with certain lower back movements, especially sudden movements from a cough or sneeze. Pain can also radiate into your hips and legs, causing numbness and tingling sensations.

There are a number of things that can put pressure on your sciatic nerve. If you’re obese, the excess weight can be responsible for the pressure on your nerve. If you tend to sit for long periods of time, this can also place unnecessary pressure on your lower back and sciatic nerve.

Other common causes of sciatica-related pain include issues that affect the structures of your lumbar (lower) spine, such as:

• Tumors
• Bone spurs
• Herniated disc
• Degenerative disc disease
• Chronic inflammatory diseases

If you have uncontrolled diabetes, the excessively high sugar levels in your blood can lead to diabetic neuropathy (permanent nerve damage) throughout your body, including in your sciatic nerve.

Risk factors for recurring sciatica

The treatments available at New Tampa Interventional Pain & Sports Medicine can effectively ease the jolting pain of sciatica and help you move more comfortably and freely.

However, your sciatica may recur if its root cause is related to spinal disc damage. If you have degenerative disc disease or a herniated disc, the damaged disc will be more likely to put pressure on your sciatic nerve again.

You are also at increased risk for recurring sciatica if you continue putting stress on your lumbar spine region through strenuous physical activity or manual labor.

Steps to improving your spine health

To reduce risk factors for recurring sciatica, Dr. De La Torre works with you on a comprehensive treatment plan to not only ease your pain but also to strengthen your overall spine using:

Lifestyle modifications

Your treatment plan focuses on lifestyle changes you need to make. This may include becoming more aware of your posture and avoiding sitting for long periods of time without a break. You may benefit from physical therapy where you’ll learn special exercises that stretch and strengthen your spine.

Interventional pain relief

To make physical activity pain-free and easier to do, Dr. De La Torre offers pain-relieving treatments like nerve blocks, epidurals, or injections of steroids into the area surrounding your sciatic nerve. He may also recommend therapeutic massage or spinal manipulation techniques to keep your entire spine in alignment.

Dietary improvements

You also should make improvements to your overall diet. Dr. De La Torre can help you construct a healthy eating plan. Following his nutritional advice, you can shed unwanted pounds to reduce pressure on your lower spine.  A good diet also supports your long-term spine health.

Learn how to lessen your risk for recurring sciatica by scheduling a diagnostic evaluation with Dr. De La Torre and his team. Call New Tampa Interventional Pain & Sports Medicine, or request an appointment online today.