Sciatica Specialist

If you have pain that radiates from your lower back through a leg, it might not just be a sore muscle. It could be sciatica. Millions of people deal with this condition each year, with symptoms ranging from mild to severe. Working with a top sciatica specialist in Los Angeles can help you find your way back to lasting relief. Dr. Sarkiss offers personalized care to address the root cause of sciatic nerve pain and give you back daily comfort.

Common Causes of Sciatica

Sciatica occurs when the sciatic nerve becomes irritated or compressed. This nerve, the longest in your body, provides impulses to the thighs, leg, and foot. But when compressed or irritated, it can lead to symptoms that travel down the back and leg. Issues with your sciatic nerve can stem from:
  • Herniated or slipped disc
  • Degenerative disc disease
  • Spinal stenosis (narrowing of the spine)
  • Piriformis syndrome
  • Spondylolisthesis
  • Trauma or injury to the lower back
  • Prolonged sitting or poor posture

Benefits of Treating Sciatica

Early treatment is key for seeing the greatest amount of benefit. Some of the core benefits of treating sciatic nerve issues include:
  • Prevent Chronic Pain: Prolonged irritation or compression can lead to lasting damage if untreated.
  • Symptom Relief: Experience improvements in leg, hip, and lower back pain.
  • Quality of Life Improvements: Sleep better, experience improved mobility and flexibility, and restore daily function.
  • Avoid Medication: Successful treatment can often reduce your reliance on pain medications.

Sciatica Treatment Options

In some cases, sciatica can resolve on its own or with a few lifestyle modifications. The best approach for you will depend on the cause and severity of your nerve pain. Dr. Sarkiss approaches each case individually, building a tailored plan to provide optimal relief.
Treatment plans can include:
  • Physical therapy and stretching programs
  • Anti-inflammatory medications or steroid injections
  • Chiropractic adjustments
  • Acupuncture or dry needling
  • Epidural steroid injections
  • Minimally invasive spine procedures
  • Microdiscectomy or laminectomy (if surgery is needed)

Sciatica FAQs

What results can I expect?
Early treatment with an experienced sciatica expert tends to produce notable results. Even minor interventions can provide lasting relief from pain or even fully resolve the issue. For most patients, it takes about 4 to 6 weeks to reach a point of significant pain relief. Long-term benefits are usually the result of continued lifestyle modification and guided rehabilitation.

Many patients first think that sciatic nerve pain is just a sore muscle. As such, they may try stretching or working out to loosen the muscle. However, this may actually work counter to your symptoms. A few ways to pinpoint sciatica include the following:

  • Sharp or burning pain in the lower back, buttock, or leg
  • Tingling, numbness, or weakness in the affected leg
  • Pain that worsens when sitting or coughing
  • Difficulty standing or walking for long periods
  • Pain usually affects only one side of the body
Many patients will never need to have surgery for sciatica. Instead, conservative, noninvasive management usually proves sufficient. However, each person has a unique situation. If conservative measures do not resolve symptoms, we may begin considering surgery. Surgery may help relieve compression of the nerve, especially if there is another underlying issue.
  • Microdiscectomy: Removal of herniated disc material pressing on the nerve
  • Laminectomy: Removal of part of the vertebra to relieve nerve pressure
  • Spinal fusion: Reserved for severe cases, stabilizes the spine to reduce nerve irritation

Schedule a Consultation

Don’t let sciatica control keep you from living your life to the fullest. Set up a personalized consultation with our spine and nerve specialist, Dr. Sarkiss, at the Global Brain and Spine Institute. He can help you understand your options and start your recovery with personalized treatment plans. Contact us today to schedule an appointment and take the first step toward pain relief.