The sciatic nerve runs from the lower back down both legs to the feet. When this nerve gets irritated or compressed, it can result in a painful condition called sciatica. You may also feel a tingling sensation, numbness, or weakness from your hip down to your foot. (Usually, only one side is affected in sciatica.)
When oral medications and physical therapy are not working anymore to relieve your sciatic nerve pain, your orthopedic doctor may recommend and administer steroid injections for long-term pain relief.
Steroid injections, also known as corticosteroids, are an anti-inflammatory treatment to address sciatica pain. These steroid injections are carefully administered by your spine doctor directly into the epidural area of the spine for sciatica pain treatment. The pain relief should last for weeks or even months.
Let’s talk about when your spine doctor might recommend injection therapy as part of your sciatica treatment plan, and where you can go in Rochester Hills and the surrounding area for outstanding spine care.
When Oral Medications Are Not Effective
Oral pain-relief medicine is the go-to treatment for all types of pain, not just sciatica. The most common types of over-the-counter pain-relief medications are known as non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs).
These medications are effective for relieving pain in the short term. However, if you find yourself taking oral medication all day every day, it can cause damage to key organs such as your liver – so you should consider having your spine doctor administer injection treatment for your sciatica pain.
When You Need Fast, Long-Lasting Back Pain Relief
Compared to oral drugs, medications in the form of injections are known for their quick absorption and lasting effects. Steroid injections target the area around the affected nerve root, so it focuses on exactly where you need pain relief. Your sciatica pain treatment medicine no longer needs to go through your digestive tract and react with the powerful GI enzymes.
When Sciatica Pain Persists Despite Physical Therapy
Physical therapy tries to address the root cause of your sciatica pain without surgery or medication. Despite this, you might still feel pain while doing the exercises. Some exercises and positions can even trigger a shooting pain that makes the condition worse.
For these reasons, you might consider getting epidural corticosteroid injections. These fast-acting and effective pain relievers can help you enjoy relief from sciatica pain.
Sciatica Pain Treatment in Southeast Michigan
Living with sciatica can be extremely painful and even crippling, so it is important to know that there are several ways to relieve your pain without causing harm to your liver and other organs. Epidural steroid injections are one of the most popular methods of achieving relief from sciatic pain, but it should be administered by an experienced spine surgeon who knows how to avoid causing any spine damage during the injection process.
If you are in the southeast Michigan area, Dr. Bradley Ahlgren at Ahlgren Spine is here to provide lasting relief from your sciatica pain. Visit us at our main clinic in Rochester Hills or either of our satellite locations in Bad Axe and Royal Oak. You can call us today at (248) 215-8080 or fill out our online form to request an appointment. We look forward to serving you!
