Sciatica
Treatments & Surgery
California Neurosurgergical Institute
Encino CA, Valencia CA, Bakersfield CA.
The pain of sciatica doesn’t just make your back hurt; it can travel all the way down one leg, or even both.
If you have sciatica and it’s not responding to treatment, the board-certified specialist physicians at California Neurosurgical Institute can help with a range of sciatica treatments.
If you live in or near Bakersfield, Encino, or Valencia, California, you could benefit from the world-class skills of the neurosurgeons at California Neurosurgical Institute.
Call your nearest office today to schedule a consultation or book an appointment online.
Sciatica Q & A
What is sciatica?
Sciatica is a back problem that develops when something irritates or compresses the sciatic nerve. It causes pain in your lower back that travels through your hip and buttock and down one leg, following the path of the sciatic nerve.
The compression or irritation of the sciatic nerve that triggers sciatica could come from one of several causes, the most common being:
- Herniated or bulging disc
- Degenerative disc disease
- Osteoarthritis
- Spinal stenosis
- Sciatica tends to affect younger, active adults, but can develop at any age.
What are the symptoms of sciatica?
Sciatica can cause other symptoms in addition to the radiating pain, including:
- Desensitization
- Numbness
- Loss of function
- Pins and needles
- Tingling sensations
- Muscle weakness
- Sciatica pain is often worse at night and could disturb your sleep.
How is sciatica treated?
Many patients find that their sciatica clears up after a course of conservative treatments such as:
- Massage therapy
- Physical therapy
- Stretching exercises
- Epidural steroid injections
- Sciatic nerve blocks
The team at California Neurosurgical Institute uses the least invasive therapies to start your sciatica treatment.
The majority of cases respond to these conservative measures, but if your sciatica isn’t improving, then you might need to consider surgery.
When is surgery used to treat sciatica?
Surgery is usually only considered when conservative treatments aren’t improving your symptoms after six months.
However, there are some cases in which the team at California Neurosurgical Institute might recommend surgery sooner:
Cauda equina syndrome
This is a medical emergency involving the bundle of nerves at the base of your spine called the cauda equina. Compression of these nerves leads to a loss of sensation and movement in your lower body.
Bilateral sciatica
Sciatica normally only affects one leg, but in some cases, it affects both. This can be due to a particularly bad herniated disc, a series of herniated discs, or central spinal stenosis.
Other reasons you might need sciatica surgery sooner rather than later include:
- Tumors
- Cysts
- Abscesses
- Severe lumbar fractures
- Pelvic infection
One of the main surgeries used to treat sciatica is lumbar disc microsurgery. This is a minimally invasive procedure for sciatica that’s due to a herniated spinal disc.
Your surgeon at California Neurosurgical Institute uses endoscopic instruments that fit inside very small incisions to remove pieces of the disc that are pressing on your sciatic nerve.
Other options that your surgeon might recommend, depending on the cause of your sciatica, include lumbar decompression surgeries such as:
- Laminectomy
- Foraminotomy
- Facetectomy
If you have symptoms of sciatica or any other back problems, schedule a consultation with the team
at California Neurosurgical Institute by calling the office today, or using the online booking tool.
Our Patient Care Services & Specialties
Sciatica
The pain of sciatica doesn’t just make your back hurt; it can travel all the way down one leg, or even both. The board-certified specialist physicians at California Neurosurgical Institute can help with a range of sciatica treatments.
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Brain Tumor
At California Neurosurgical Institute, the skilled board-certified neurosurgical team utilizes the most cutting-edge surgical techniques for the removal of brain tumors that provide better outcomes and less risk than other treatments.
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Slipped Disc
Slipped discs that don’t respond to treatment can become a chronic pain problem, but the expert team at California Neurosurgical Institute can help when other approaches aren’t relieving your symptoms.
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Spine Surgery
If you have unresolved back pain, the expert physicians at California Neurosurgical Institute can help using their exceptional skills and expertise in carrying out the most advanced forms of spine surgery... Read More >>>
Back Pain
Our experienced board-certified neurosurgical team utilizes cutting-edge technology and skills to treat conditions that cause back pain and can provide you with your best possible treatment options.
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Spinal Cord Injury
According to the National Spinal Cord Injury Association, 450,000 Americans currently live with a spinal cord injury. California Neurosurgical Institute could help improve or restore function following spinal cord injury.
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Nerv Compression
The experienced board-certified neurosurgeons at California Neurosurgical Institute, with offices in Bakersfield, Encino, and Valencia, California, utilize cutting-edge tools and skills to treat nerve compression.
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Herniated Disc
As many as 20 out of every 1,000 adults in the United States develop a herniated disc each year. While symptoms vary widely, for some people, a herniated disc can lead to chronic pain... Read More >>>
Concussion
California Neurosurgical Institute, with offices in Bakersfield, Encino, and Valencia, California, specializes in the management of concussions and traumatic brain injuries and can provide the care you need for proper healing.
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Neurosurgery Consultation
California Neurosurgical Institute is one of the best and most trusted neurosurgical centers in Kern, Ventura, and Los Angeles Counties. If you have a spine or brain disorder diagnosis, we can conduct a neurosurgery consultation to evaluate your condition and suggest the best possible treatment options.
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Artificial Disc Replacement
Spinal disorders can lead to chronic back or neck pain that not only affects your physical health but can also affect your emotional well-being. California Neurosurgical Institute can determine if you would benefit from an artificial disc replacement.
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Pinched Nerve
Pinched nerves can be extremely painful, and also cause other unpleasant problems such as burning sensations and loss of function. If you have a pinched nerve...Read More >>>
Spinal Stenosis
Spinal stenosis typically a cause of narrowing of your spinal canal. These conditions lead to pain and dysfunction, but the expert team at California Neurosurgical Institute can help reduce back pain and restore normal function.
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Pain Management
California Neurosurgical Institute, with offices in Bakersfield, Encino, and Valencia, California, specializes in the surgical management of many pain conditions.
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Surgical Decompression (Laminotomy or Laminectomy)
Surgical decompression is an effective treatment for relieving the pain of trapped nerves in your spine when other treatments aren’t helping. Board-certified neurosurgeons at California Neurosurgical Institute can help ... Read More >>>
Scoliosis
Having an abnormal curvature in your spine called scoliosis doesn’t always result in pain and disability, but for many people, it can. If you or your child has scoliosis... Read More >>>
