Sciatica

Capital Brain and Spine

Desh Sahni, M.D.

Neurosurgeon & Orthopedic Spine Surgeon located in Austin, TX & San Antonio, TX

Pain that travels from your low back down to your leg is often a sign of sciatica, which is a common source of sudden, unexpected pain. Desh Sahni, MD, at Capital Brain & Spine in Austin, Texas, is a spine and nervous system expert who can examine your back and provide treatment to help you get relief from your pain. Call the office today or schedule an appointment using the online booking tool.

Sciatica Q & A

What is sciatica?

Sciatica is a pain-related condition that often gets lumped together with back pain. But the pain itself generates from your sciatic nerve, which is a thick sensory nerve that runs from your low back all the way down to your toes on both sides of your body. The pain develops when the nerve gets pinched or irritated. A herniated disc is one of the most common causes of sciatica.

How do I know if I have sciatica?

If you’ve developed a sudden electric shock-like pain that travels down only one of your legs, it may be sciatica. Dr. Sahni can determine if the source of your pain is from irritation of your sciatic nerve after an examination and review of your symptoms.

In order to help him determine the most accurate diagnosis, it’s important to be as detailed as possible about your pain, as well as what you were doing at the time you started to feel the pain. During your exam, Dr. Sahni may also have you perform various tests so he can pinpoint the location of the irritation on your nerve.

If needed, Dr. Sahni may also recommend diagnostic imaging, such an X-ray or MRI, to take a closer look at your spine and determine if a herniated disc is causing your nerve pain and irritation.

How is sciatica treated?

Dr. Sahni takes a humane and compassionate approach to patient care, and he recommends treatments that provide the most effective relief from your symptoms. While surgery is his specialty, it may not be his first recommendation for treatment.

Your personalized treatment may include:

Anti-inflammatories
Pain medication
Muscle relaxants
Physical therapy
Aqua therapy
Acupuncture
Chiropractic care
Massage therapy

If you continue to experience pain after exhausting all conservative treatment options, Dr. Sahni might recommend surgery. He specializes in minimally invasive spinal procedures and uses these techniques when he can to perform surgery.

Typically, the surgical procedure for sciatica is a laminotomy with a discectomy, which is a removal of part of your lamina and the disc responsible for the irritation.

For compassionate care for your sciatica, call Capital Brain & Spine today, or use the online booking tool to schedule an appointment.