How to Find Lasting Sciatica Relief

Your sciatic nerve, the longest nerve in your body, runs from your lower back and down each leg. The nerve helps control the muscles in your legs so you can sit down, stand up, and walk. It also provides sensation.

When this nerve becomes aggravated, sciatica is the result. The main symptoms of sciatica are:

Radiating pain down the back of your leg that feels like an electric shock
A burning or tingling sensation down your leg
Leg weakness or numbness
Worsening leg discomfort when you stand up or sit down
Worsening leg discomfort when you cough, sneeze, or laugh

If you experience sciatica, interventional spine and pain specialist Glenn M. Flanagan, MD, can help at Naples Regenerative Institute in Naples, Florida. Dr. Flanagan explores possible causes of sciatica pain and can treat you accordingly.

Herniated discs and spinal stenosis are the most common causes of sciatic nerve pain. However, any condition that compresses the root of the sciatic nerve can lead to sciatica. Dr. Flanagan provides treatments that support the natural healing process to alleviate the inflammation and resulting nerve compression.

Our best treatments for sciatica

In most cases, sciatica improves with conservative care. This can include physical therapy, over-the-counter anti-inflammatory medications, or applying ice or heat to the painful area.

However, you shouldn’t rest too much. Bed rest isn’t recommended for sciatica and can prolong your pain.

Sometimes, you may need more advanced treatment for lasting sciatica relief. Dr. Flanagan specializes in regenerative treatments that accelerate and improve healing in and around the spine. Your sciatica may improve with:

Prolotherapy

During prolotherapy, Dr. Flanagan injects a small amount of concentrated sugar solution to irritate the soft tissues around your sciatic nerve, which triggers the healing process.

Stem cell therapy

Stem cell therapy borrows immature cells from your bone marrow or body fat, which can assist the healing process when injected near the area of damage. Stem cell therapy can provide sciatica relief for several months or longer.

Platelet-rich plasma (PRP)

PRP is an injection filled with growth factors and plasma from your blood. These components aid in the natural healing process, so injecting them near the injury compressing your sciatic nerve can help reduce inflammation and improve the healing process.

Multiwave Locked System (MLS) laser therapy

MLS laser therapy doesn’t involve injections. Instead, it applies laser energy of specific wavelengths to damaged cells and tissues. The laser energy reduces inflammation while increasing circulation and activating cell metabolism.

Dr. Flanagan may also recommend low-dose cortisone (steroid) injections to reduce inflammation but uses this treatment sparingly to prevent complications.

Preventing sciatica in the future

After treating your sciatica, Dr. Flanagan may offer some recommendations to help you prevent sciatica from returning. You can reduce your chances of future sciatica pain by: