Stop Letting Sciatica Control Your Life: Medical Interventions for Spinal Stenosis

One of the most common causes of sciatica is spinal stenosis, a narrowing of the spaces within the spine. Discover effective treatments that can help provide ongoing sciatica relief, so you can get back to doing the things you love.

Sciatica is a common condition that causes lower back and buttocks pain. It occurs when the sciatic nerve, which runs from the pelvis into the legs, is compressed by a herniated disc or structural changes in the spine, such as spinal stenosis (a narrowing of the spaces within the spine).

Research shows that spinal stenosis is the most common cause of sciatica in older adults. Although it can be painful, sciatica isn’t necessarily permanent, and various treatments can help you feel better.

At Palm Beach Pain Institute in Delray Beach, Florida, board-certified pain management physician Marcie Merson, MD, offers complete care for spinal stenosis.

This article explains why spinal stenosis happens, highlights common treatments, and discusses when to consider surgery for relief.

Understanding spinal stenosis

Spinal stenosis occurs when there’s a narrowing of the spaces inside your spinal canal. The spinal canal is a passageway formed by your vertebrae (back bones) that contains your spinal cord.

As the space inside your spinal canal shrinks, your spinal cord or surrounding nerves may become compressed, causing pain, numbness, and mobility issues. Spinal stenosis can happen anywhere in your spine, but it commonly affects the lower back, which may trigger sciatica (irritation or compression of the sciatic nerve).

If you regularly experience lower back pain and it extends into your buttocks or legs, you may have sciatica. This issue is particularly true if the pain occurs on one side of your body, or alongside other symptoms, such as tingling, numbness, and weakness.

Medical interventions for spinal stenosis

People who experience persistent back pain often worry that surgery is their only treatment option, but that isn’t always the case. Conservative treatments and minimally invasive procedures can often provide relief.

After discussing your symptoms, completing a physical exam, and ordering diagnostic imaging if necessary, Dr. Merson may recommend:

Medication management with anti-inflammatory pain medications
Physical therapy to improve strength, posture, and mobility
Epidural steroid injections to reduce inflammation around irritated spinal nerves
Osteopathic manual therapy (OMT) to improve mobility and address musculoskeletal dysfunction

Many patients benefit from combined treatments. Sciatica tends to flare up at different times, so it may take some trial and error at first to settle on an approach that makes the most sense for your situation.

When to consider surgery

Sciatica caused by spinal stenosis typically doesn’t require surgery. However, it may be appropriate in some situations. For instance, if symptoms like numbness, weakness, and chronic pain continue even after conservative care, or they affect your ability to work and exercise, you may benefit from decompression surgery.

Decompression surgery is designed to relieve pressure on pinched nerves and create more space within the spinal canal. If Dr. Merson determines this approach is necessary, she can refer you to a specialist and help coordinate your care.

We can help you manage sciatica pain

Sciatica is a common symptom of spinal stenosis, but you don’t have to accept it as part of your life. The right treatment plan can help ease symptoms and get you back to your routine.