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When you’re struggling with sciatica, sitting at your desk, getting out of the car, or even taking a short walk may trigger pain that travels from your lower back into your hip, buttock, or leg.
The good news? Surgery isn’t the only path to relief. Many people with sciatica improve with conservative treatments designed to reduce irritation, restore movement, and address the underlying cause of their symptoms.
That fits our mission here at Coastal Spine in Mount Laurel, Sewell, Galloway, Wall Township, and Vineland, New Jersey. We’re committed to finding the best treatment available for your needs, from physical therapy to surgery when necessary.
When it comes to sciatica, the correct approach depends on what’s causing the sciatic nerve irritation and how severe your symptoms are. Here are five treatment options our team considers before contemplating surgery.
1. Physical therapy and targeted exercise for sciatica
When sciatica affects your mobility, physical therapy can help you move safely while addressing contributing factors such as muscle weakness, poor flexibility, or spinal mechanics.
Our physical therapist may recommend specific stretches and strengthening exercises for the core, hips, and lower back. The goal isn't simply to make you stronger. It's to improve how your body moves and place less stress on irritated spinal structures and surrounding tissues.
A personalized program is especially important because an exercise that helps one person may aggravate symptoms in another.
2. Medications for pain and inflammation
Depending on your symptoms and overall health, medications may provide short-term relief while your body heals. Over-the-counter options such as nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) may help reduce inflammation and discomfort for some people.
Your provider can help determine whether medication is appropriate and how long you should use it. We may consider prescription medications when symptoms are more difficult to manage.
Medication generally works best as part of a broader treatment plan and not the sole solution.
3. Epidural steroid injections to relieve inflammation and pain
When inflammation around a spinal nerve root contributes to significant leg pain, an image-guided epidural steroid injection may be an option. During the procedure, we deliver a corticosteroid medication into the epidural space near the affected nerves.
The injection doesn't correct structural problems such as a herniated disc pressing against a nerve. However, it may decrease inflammation and provide temporary pain relief. That window of reduced discomfort can make it easier to do physical therapy and return to normal activities.
Your Coastal Spine physician can determine whether your symptoms and imaging findings make an injection appropriate.
4. Lifestyle changes and movement strategies
Sometimes, small adjustments make a surprisingly large difference. Remaining active within your comfort level can help prevent stiffness and deconditioning.
Your Coastal Spine provider may also recommend improving your sitting posture, taking regular breaks to move and stretch, modifying activities that trigger symptoms, or learning safer ways to lift and bend.
Weight management, when appropriate, may reduce stress on the lower back and irritated nerves over time. We also recommend limiting high heel use since that can trigger sciatica.
5. Minimally invasive, nonsurgical RFA
Depending on the underlying cause of your sciatica and how it responds to conservative treatment, your provider may recommend more advanced therapies.
For instance, radiofrequency ablation (RFA) is a minimally invasive, injection-like treatment that uses heat energy produced by radio waves to block pain signals from spinal nerves. Pain relief can last for months.
Finding the right nonsurgical approach
Sciatica isn't a single condition with one universal treatment. It can result from a herniated disc, spinal stenosis, bone changes, or other causes of nerve irritation. That's why persistent or recurring symptoms deserve an individualized evaluation.
If sciatica interferes with your work, sleep, exercise, or everyday activities, schedule an evaluation at Coastal Spine today so we can explore your options.
