3 things you should know about sciatica

Sciatica, if you’ve ever suffered this you will know how debilitating it is. If you are living in pain with this condition, please keep reading, there is help out there. 

What is sciatica?

In simple terms, sciatica is a term to describe symptoms caused by a problem with the sciatic nerve. The most common symptoms are leg pain, tingling, or weakness that travels down your lower back and into one of your legs. Radiculopathy is another term used for this condition. If the sciatic nerve becomes impinged or trapped, then problems may occur.

The main causes are herniated disc, degenerative disc disease, and spondylolisthesis. Sciatica can be diagnosed using medical history, physical examination, and imaging studies. There are several treatments to consider. Non-surgical therapies, which may be physical therapy, therapeutic injections, or medication. Alternative therapies may also be of use.

What are the surgical options?

Sometimes though the condition requires surgical intervention. This is where you want to know that you are choosing a specialist in this area. Dr. Matthew Hepler is an orthopedic spine surgeon. He is based in both Fort Lauderdale and Delray beach. Dr. Hepler has been an orthopedic spine surgeon for 17 years and is an active member of the North American Spine Society. He is also the editor of the Spine Deformity journal. His knowledge of spinal conditions is very comprehensive.

His surgical treatment for sciatica is dependent on the severity and cause of the condition. Most commonly performed is a microdiscectomy. This is a minimally invasive procedure, often done as a day case. By using endoscopic techniques he can minimize soft tissue injury and facilitates faster recovery. The word Endoscope refers to an insertion of a long thin metal tube into the body. Through this tube there is introduced a light source, allowing the surgeon to see inside the body. The diameter of these scopes is less than half an inch, therefore doing very little damage to muscle or tissues. Then he can pass instrumentation through the scope channel to achieve the surgical intervention needed. As you can imagine, this is much easier for the body to recover from. 

More complex surgery might be a laminectomy or a fusion. A laminectomy is where a portion of the vertebral bone is removed, allowing the sciatic nerve more freedom. If a spinal fusion is required, then this is a lengthier procedure. This is where two or more vertebrae will be fused together, eliminating the spinal compression that has occurred. This procedure might be done using a bone graft or titanium cages. Recovery time would then of course be relevant to which surgery was performed.

Do they work?

These surgical treatments are extremely effective. Testimonials are always beneficial to read, as you want to know that Dr. Hepler is the right surgeon for you. Dr. Hepler has many testimonials on his website, several of which refer to the success of post-operative surgery for sciatica.

You don’t have to live with the misery of sciatica. There are treatments available and, if surgery is required, you need to know you are choosing an expert in that field. Dr. Matthew Hepler is one of the leading orthopedic spinal surgeons and you will be in excellent hands.

Learn how to improve spine health from our spine surgeon in Palm Beach County

Don’t let back pain take over your life. If you are suffering from constant discomfort in your back, our orthopedic spine specialist is ready to help. Dr. Hepler is an adult and pediatric spine surgeon in Fort Lauderdale, Boynton Beach, and Delray Beach.

He treats all cervical, thoracic, and lumbar spine conditions, and provides spinal stenosis treatments. Additionally, he offers non-operative treatment options, such as pain medications, steroid injections, and physical therapy. But, he also provides operative treatments, including both minimally invasive techniques and complex reconstructions.

If you would like to learn more about our orthopedic spine surgeon, please Contact Us. 

The material contained on this site is for informational purposes only and DOES NOT CONSTITUTE THE PROVIDING OF MEDICAL ADVICE, and is not intended to be a substitute for independent professional medical judgment, advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice of your physician or other qualified healthcare providers with any questions or concerns you may have regarding your health.