Sciatica Specialist

What is sciatica?

A pinched or compressed sciatic nerve causes sciatica. Sciatic pain usually starts in your lower back and travels down your leg. This is the path of your sciatic nerve, the longest nerve in your body.

Sciatica typically affects only one side of your body. The condition is most commonly triggered when bone spurs, a herniated disk, or narrowing of your spine press down on the sciatic nerve.

What are the symptoms of sciatica?

The most common sign is pain radiating from your lower back down the pathway of the sciatic nerve. The pain can feel a variety of ways, including:

• A mild ache
• Jolt or electric shock
• Sharp, burning sensation
• Excruciating pain

You might also experience muscle weakness, tingling, or numbness.

It’s important to note that pain shooting down the back of your leg can be due to numerous causes, not just pinched nerves and sciatica. Therefore if you have these symptoms, you should visit Dr. Flanagan for an evaluation to figure out what's actually going on.

What puts you at risk for sciatica?

A variety of factors can increase your chances of getting sciatica. These risk factors are:

• Aging
• Being overweight
• Performing work that requires twisting, carrying heavy loads
• Driving for long periods of time
• A lifestyle that includes a lot of sitting
• Having diabetes

How is sciatica diagnosed?

Dr. Flanagan begins with a physical exam, which may include checking your reflexes and muscle strength. He may ask you to perform a series of actions, such as walking on your toes or heels, or rising from a squatting position, because sciatica is usually worse during these actions.

Depending on your condition, Dr. Flanagan may recommend imaging tests to look for causes of sciatica, such as bone spurs or herniated disks.

How is sciatica treated?

At Naples Regenerative Institute, Dr. Flanagan creates a comprehensive treatment plan based on your diagnosis. Your options may include medications, physical therapy, and advanced approaches like prolotherapy, stem cell therapy, and platelet-rich plasma (PRP) therapy.

These injectable treatments support your body’s built-in healing processes, giving them a boost that helps damaged tissues to repair and regenerate naturally. If your pain is severe and you are not interested in regenerative treatments, you may instead choose to have a low-dose cortisone injection into your spine.

To learn more about effective sciatica treatments, call the office or schedule a consultation online today.