One of the most common types of pain is sciatic nerve pain, with nearly 40% of people experiencing this discomfort during their lifetime. So, what doctors can treat sciatica? Let’s take a look at your options below.

What Is Sciatica?

Sciatica impacts more than three million people in the U.S. and can cause constant pain and nerve damage that starts in the spine and shoots down the rear portion of the leg. However, treatment can help.

The longest nerve in the human body it is a group of five nerves exiting from the lumbar spine and sacral foramen. They group together in the muscles of the buttocks and form a sciatic nerve that travels down each leg. The sciatic nerve provides strength to the legs and connects with major muscle groups and the spinal cord. When the nerve is impaired, numbness, pain and weakness may result.

Sciatica Symptoms Vs. Diagnosis

Sciatica is really a set of symptoms as opposed to a diagnosis.

Here are some of the symptoms to look for:

• Piriformis syndrome (muscle in the buttocks becomes tight or spasms).
• Spondylolisthesis (slippage of a vertebra, narrowing the nerve exit).
• General wear and tear on the lower spine.
• Spinal stenosis (narrowing of the spinal canal creates pressure on nerves).
• Slipped or herniated discs (the most common cause).

Types Of Specialists Who Treat Sciatica

There are a few different specialists of medicine that possess the ability to both treat and prevent sciatic nerve pain. The type of specialist who is best fit for your case ultimately depends on the cause and severity of your sciatica.

Let’s take a look the different types of doctors who specialize in treating sciatica.

Chiropractors

Chiropractic care and adjustments are a viable option for treating the pain and symptoms associated with sciatic nerve issues. A 2006 study published in Spine found that manipulations (adjustments) helped relieve pain due to acute back pain and sciatica.

Another study published in 2010 found that sixty percent of sciatica patients (who hadn’t found relief from other therapies) experienced the same level of relief from chiropractic adjustments as patients who eventually had surgery.

A recent study by the American College of Physicians listed these four things as the first line of defense against lower back pain:

• Applying heat.
• Manipulation.
• Massage.
• Acupuncture.

Most chiropractors will focus on treating this pain with as few treatments as possible. As mentioned above, most chiropractors recommend four visits to relieve this pain.

During the treatment sessions, chiropractors will recommend some basic exercises that you can do at home. These exercises can help to stop the symptoms from returning.

Physiatrists

Physiatrists are medical doctors who specialize in diagnosing and treating musculoskeletal system conditions. These conditions include the following:

• Muscles.
• Nerves.
• Bones.
• Tendons.
• Ligaments.

Treatments are non-surgical, consisting of either medication, physical therapy, or both.

Pain Management Specialists

These specialists are trained to diagnose and treat pain from a variety of sources, including sciatic pain. Depending on the diagnosis and the best action of treatment, pain management specialists are trained to do the following:

• Prescribe medication.
• Administer spinal injections.
• Administer nerve blocks.
• Provide rehabilitation programs.

Specialists in the pain management field will work with individuals who experience both acute and chronic pain.

Neurosurgeons

Neurosurgeons are nervous system specialists. They are trained specifically to treat conditions that cause discomfort to the nerves in the body, which includes sciatic nerve pain.

Your neurosurgeon will determine if your case requires surgery on the nerve in order to either relieve pain or repair damage.

Physical Therapists

Physical therapists are trained to understand how body movements affect the body as a whole. Physical therapists will conduct a thorough evaluation and ultimately create a plan of exercises and movements to relieve sciatic nerve pain.

Your physical therapist will be able to provide you with at-home exercises to do in between scheduled appointments in order to accelerate recovery time.

Orthopedists

Conditions associated with the skeletal system are the focus of orthopedists. The orthopedist will conduct a thorough examination and end up suggesting either surgical or non-surgical treatment.

The non-surgical treatment can consist of muscle relaxants, rest, and/or anti-inflammatory medications. Surgery can involve removal of the herniated disc, tumor, or bone spur. Rehabilitation will be strongly recommended post-surgery.