SCIATICA PAIN DOCTORS IN CHICAGOLAND

Leaders in nonsurgical solutions that effectively treat sciatica. Discover the difference at MAPS Centers For Pain Control today

Whether it’s shooting pain through the hip, legs, or a radiating burning sensation that leaves weakness and numbness in the lower extremities – sciatic pain is a very real and very common condition that impacts people’s ability to work, move around, and take care of themselves and their families.

As concerning and painful as these symptoms may be, they rarely require surgery. The double-board certified physicians at MAPS Centers For Pain Control recognized a true need for patients suffering from this condition to have effective solutions in finding relief from their pain.

If you experience sciatic pain, contact the team at MAPS Centers For Pain Control to schedule your appointment:

What is Sciatica and Sciatic Nerve Pain?

Sciatica is a common condition that causes pain in your legs. It occurs when the sciatic nerve, which runs from your lower back down one or both legs, becomes pinched. In addition to pain, people with sciatica may experience a tingling sensation. In most cases, pain is experienced along one side of the body and worsens with movement.

Sciatica Symptoms

Sciatica can cause a range of symptoms, including:

• Sharp, shooting pain: This pain usually starts in the lower back and travels down through one or both legs. Movement or prolonged sitting and standing can make it worse.

• Numbness or tingling: A “pins and needles” feeling, often accompanied by inflammation, may affect the legs or feet.

• Muscle weakness: Sciatic nerve pain can weaken your muscles, making it difficult to walk, stand, or even just lift your foot.

• Lower back pain: In addition to leg pain, people with sciatica may experience discomfort in their back (particularly in the lower back).

• Mobility issues: Pain and nerve irritation can impede mobility and disrupt your ability to complete daily tasks.

What Causes Sciatica?

As mentioned above, sciatica occurs when the sciatic nerve becomes compressed or pinched. A pinched nerve may be caused by the following:

• Herniated disc: Your spine depends on discs to absorb shock and provide flexibility. Herniated discs, or slipped discs, occur when the inner part of these discs pushes out and presses on the sciatic nerve.

• Bone spurs: Arthritis or general wear and tear can cause bone spurs, or bone overgrowth. This narrows the spinal canal and pinches the sciatic nerve.

• Spinal stenosis: Spinal stenosis occurs when your spinal canal narrows, increasing pressure on the spinal cord and nerves.

• Degenerative disc disease: Over time, the discs between your vertebrae naturally deteriorate, which causes inflammation and irritates the sciatic nerve.

• Trauma or injury: Falls or injuries that damage the spine or hips may cause sciatic nerve irritation.

• Tumors: In rare cases, tumors can press against the spine and sciatic nerve.

• Pregnancy: Pregnancy exerts weight and pressure on the spine, resulting in pinched nerves.

• Sedentary lifestyle: A sedentary lifestyle increases the risk of obesity, which places excessive pressure on the spine and sciatic nerve.

Sciatica Diagnosis

Whether your sciatica is the result of a herniated disc, an injury or some other issue, it’s key to achieve the right diagnosis. By properly understanding the cause, you can find the best possible treatment. At MAPS Centers for Pain Control, we pride ourselves on our highly accurate diagnosis process. Here is a brief overview of what to expect:

• Consultation: We recognize that every patient has their own unique experience with pain. That’s why we take the time to learn more about you and your sciatica. In addition to inquiring about your symptoms, we may ask about your medical history and any medications you’re currently taking.

• Physical examination: The consultation might include a quick physical examination to assess your pain. You may be asked to perform certain movements, such as lifting your leg or flexing muscles.

• Imaging tests: We may suggest imaging tests to get a visual representation of your spine and achieve an accurate diagnosis. Tests such as X-rays can help diagnose issues like herniated discs and bone spurs.

What Sciatica Treatments Do We Offer?

Looking for treatment for sciatica in Chicago? At MAPS, we offer a wide variety of non-surgical solutions designed to deliver rapid pain relief. Treatment plans can consist of a combination of different solutions, all of which are tailored to your needs.

Injection-Based Therapy

Many patients respond positively to our injection-based treatments. These therapies not only help reduce pain but also promote quicker recovery. Our treatment options include:

• Lumbar and Cervical Injections: Designed to reduce inflammation in the lumbar (lower back) or cervical (neck) regions.

• Epidural Steroid Injections: Target the epidural space around the spinal cord to alleviate inflammation near the sciatic nerve roots.

• Sacroiliac Joint Injection: Focus on relieving pain in the sacroiliac joint, which connects the lower spine to the pelvis.

• Trigger Point Injections: Treat painful muscle knots (trigger points) that can aggravate sciatica and other conditions.

• Lumbar Sympathetic Block: Blocks pain signals from the lumbar sympathetic nerves near the lower spine, providing targeted relief.

• Interscalene/Intercostal Blocks: Numbs pain in specific areas, such as the shoulders (interscalene) or ribs (intercostal), through localized nerve blocks.

Responsible Medication Management

When used appropriately, medications can provide effective pain relief for patients with sciatica. Our physicians carefully assess each patient’s needs and may recommend:

• Ethical Pain Medication Management: This approach focuses on relieving pain while minimizing the risk of addiction, misuse, or adverse effects, ensuring safe and responsible use of medications.

Minimally Invasive Procedures

As leaders in interventional pain management, we target the root cause of sciatica instead of just masking symptoms with medication. Using advanced medical technology, we intercept pain signals before they reach the brain. Many patients experience long-term relief through these minimally invasive procedures:

• Radiofrequency Ablation (RFA): RFA uses heat from radio waves to target and deactivate nerve fibers responsible for sending pain signals.

• Spinal Cord Stimulator Implantation: This procedure implants a small device under the skin, which sends electrical impulses to block pain signals from reaching the brain.

• Kyphoplasty: Designed to treat spinal compression fractures, this procedure involves inserting a balloon into a fractured vertebra and filling it with bone cement to restore height and stability.

• Vertebroplasty: Similar to kyphoplasty, this technique injects bone cement directly into a fractured vertebra to stabilize the spine and relieve pain.

• Disc Decompression: Reduces pressure on herniated or bulging discs by removing part of the disc, alleviating nerve compression and pain.

Physical Therapy

Many of our patients find positive results when they couple their treatment with a physical therapy program. Our physicians work with primary care physicians as well as experienced, qualified physical therapists to ensure our patients benefit from a comprehensive treatment plan.

Bracing & Supports

While it’s a challenge to move when a patient is in pain, bracing and rehabilitative support can help provide better outcomes in many sciatica pain treatment scenarios. Bracing gives stability to the bones and ligaments in the spine, while rehabilitation strengthens the muscles and helps redevelop balance as part of a sciatica pain treatment program.

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