Surgery for sciatica pain may be considered when other treatments fail to provide relief, or when specific severe sciatica symptoms are present. For example, when symptoms persist or worsen when the patient has undergone treatments regiments such as physical therapy, chiropractic adjustments, therapeutic massage and spinal decompression therapy. Surgery may be recommended if you have loss of bladder or bowel control or if you have increasing severe leg pain, weakness, or numbness, as these symptoms can indicate neurological declination.
Fortunately, surgery and accompanying complications and difficult recovery time is not necessary for all sciatica pains. Most patients find relief quickly with a treatment plan customized to their lifestyle. At Aligned Medical Group, we treat each patient as a whole and address the root cause of the pain to relieve your sciatica symptoms.
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What Is Sciatica?
Sciatica pain typically feels like a sharp, shooting sensation, often accompanied by numbness or tingling that follows the path of the sciatic nerve starting in the lower back through the hips, buttocks, and down the legs. It usually results from irritation, inflammation or compression of the sciatic nerve.
This type of pain can make everyday activities like walking, sitting, or even standing uncomfortable. In more severe cases, it can greatly affect a person’s overall quality of life restricting their mobility, disturbing their sleep, and interfering with work or household responsibilities. Effective treatment options such as chiropractic care, targeted stretching, and nutritional support through diet changes can help relieve symptoms and improve daily functioning.
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Non-Surgical Treatments for Sciatica
Most patients with sciatica can find significant sciatica pain relief without surgery. Getting a diagnosis for the cause of the pain will help you get your pain-free quality of life back faster.
Aligned Medical Group focuses on non-surgical sciatica treatments, accounting for each patient’s diagnosis. A team of highly skilled specialists collaborate and develop a customized treatment plan for each patient that will eliminate the pain as soon as possible. Medical professionals specializing in sciatica pain treatments should be consulted when the pain persists for more than a few weeks or seems to get worse over time.
Chiropractic Adjustments
Chiropractic adjustments are one of the fastest and most effective ways to relieve the compression on the sciatica nerve. This non-invasive approach releases muscle tension, improves nerve function and increases spinal mobility so that the body can heal itself.
Therapeutic Massage
A therapeutic massage promotes deep muscle relaxation, encouraging the body to release pain killing endorphins and muscle tension relieving pressure on the sciatic nerve. When applied properly to sciatica pain treatment, therapeutic massages promote ideal conditions for healing while restoring balance, mobility and pain relief.
Spinal Decompression Therapy
Spinal decompression therapy is an effective sciatica treatment option that helps to stretch the spine, promoting spinal healing and reducing inflammation with gentle, rhythmic spinal stretching.
Trigger Point Injections
Trigger point injections are minimally invasive treatments that deliver an anti-inflammatory medication directly to the irritated muscle tissue. As these muscles relax, they release the tension on the sciatic nerve, allowing blood to flow and heal the body and increase mobility without pain.
When Sciatica Surgery May Be Necessary
When all non-surgical treatment options for sciatica pain have been exhausted, a team of medical professionals may suggest sciatica surgery for severe cases. When stretching, chiropractic care and therapeutic massages fail to alleviate the pressure on the sciatic nerve causing the pain, surgery may be able to help.
What Types of Sciatica Surgery Are There?
Common surgical procedures for sciatica pain aim to decompress the affected nerve, alleviate pain, and restore mobility. Consulting with a spine specialist can help determine the most appropriate treatment plan based on individual symptoms and health status.
Before resorting to invasive surgery with extended recovery times, consider the non-surgical options available for sciatica relief from a team like Aligned Medical Group that specialize and collaborate with each other to treat the cause of each patient’s sciatica pain.
Microdiscectomy
A microdiscectomy is a minimally invasive surgery that removes the portion of a herniated disc pressing on the sciatic nerve. This procedure helps relieve nerve pressure and reduce pain, often resulting in quicker recovery times compared to more extensive surgeries.
Laminectomy
A laminectomy involves removing part of the vertebral bone (the lamina) to create more space for the nerves. This surgery aims to relieve pressure on the sciatic nerve and is often recommended when spinal stenosis contributes to sciatica symptoms.
Spinal Fusion
Spinal fusion surgery permanently joins two or more vertebrae to stabilize the spine. It’s typically considered when sciatica is caused by spinal instability, severe degeneration, or deformities, and aims to reduce nerve irritation and improve long-term spinal health.
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How Long Does It Take to Recover from Sciatica Surgery?
Recovery from sciatica surgery varies depending on the procedure. For less invasive surgeries like microdiscectomy or laminectomy, recovery typically takes 4 to 12 weeks, while more extensive surgeries like spinal fusion may require 3 to 6 months. Post-surgery care usually involves rest, physical therapy, and pain management.
However, surgery can often be avoided with non-surgical sciatica treatments, such as chiropractic care, spinal decompression therapy, and physical therapy. These treatments address the root causes of sciatica and can lead to quicker recovery and fewer complications, making them a preferred option for many patients.
Ultimately, consulting with medical professionals early on and exploring all non-surgical options may help you avoid surgery altogether or provide the best possible support before, during, and after any procedure.
Is Sciatica Surgery Right for You?
Most individuals experiencing sciatica find relief through non-surgical sciatica treatments. With the help of the medical professionals at Aligned Medical Group, treatments such as physical therapy, medications, and lifestyle modification treatment plans often effectively manage sciatica symptoms, making surgery unnecessary for the majority of patients. Call Aligned Medical group at (610) 644-3166 to schedule an evaluation with our team and learn more about how we can holistically treat your sciatica pain.