What Kind of Doctor Treats Sciatica In Brooklyn?
Approximately 40 percent of people will get sciatica during their lifetime. While some people develop sciatica due to obesity, poor posture, blood clots, or another issue, others get it due to an auto accident trauma, work-related injury or nerve disorder.
If you are one of the countless people who suffer from sciatica, you’ll need to visit a neurologist for diagnosis and treatment. However, you might get a referral to other specialists as well as part of your treatment plan.
Learn how your neurologist will diagnose sciatica and go over your treatment options.
Diagnosing Sciatica
During your initial appointment, your neurologist will go over your symptoms and order tests to confirm the diagnosis. You’ll likely undergo an X-ray to see if bone spurs are pressing on nerves, causing sciatica.
Your Brooklyn neurologist might order an MRI, as well. The scan can pick up herniated discs and other issues that can cause sciatica.
Electromyography (EMG) and nerve conduction (NCV) study also might be needed. The technician will place thin needles in your muscles and then put electrodes along the nerve pathway. The test analyzes your muscles’ electrical activity and determines if your nerves are functioning properly.
Treating Sciatica With Conservative Therapies
Your neurologist will likely begin with conservative treatments for sciatica. The treatment plan may include anti-inflammatory medications and muscle relaxers. In mild cases, medication is often all that’s needed to relieve the symptoms.
If your pain persists, your neurologist might recommend corticosteroid medicine. The medication is injected into the affected area and quickly reduces inflammation. That, in turn, alleviates the pain.
Once your pain is under control, you’ll need to begin physical therapy in Brooklyn. Your physical therapist will work with you to strengthen the muscles that support your spine while improving your flexibility. Also, your physical therapist can help you maintain good posture to prevent future problems with sciatica.
Chiropractic treatment also might be necessary for your sciatica pain. A chiropractor can perform spinal manipulation to reduce the pressure on the nerve. This is especially helpful if you have spinal stenosis or a herniated disc.
Surgery for Sciatica
Eighty to ninety percent of patients respond to conservative treatments and do not need surgery. However, surgery might be necessary if you are one of the few who don’t get relief with conservative therapies.
Surgery may be recommended when the symptoms are so severe that they lead to the loss of bladder and bowel control, or when the pain gets worse with conservative therapies. Your Brooklyn orthopedic surgeon will remove the herniated disc or bone spur pressing on the nerve. If you do have to undergo surgery, you should experience immediate relief from your sciatica symptoms, although you will need to recover from the procedure.
Don’t Suffer From Sciatica
If sciatica pain is holding you back from getting the most of your life, don’t suffer in silence. Make an appointment with a top Brooklyn neurologist so that you can undergo diagnostic testing. Then, after your neurologist knows the cause of the underlying issue, he or she can create a treatment plan to alleviate your pain.
Call (718) 769-2521 today to schedule your evaluation, same-day appointments may be available.