Tag Archives: Sciatica Treatment

An Overview of What Nerve Roots Do – from an AZ pain clinic

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The spinal cord runs from the top of the neck all the way down to the lumbar spine. It ends about the level of L1 (1st lumbar level) and then keeps going but is then referred to as the Pinched Nerve Treatmentdural sac.

At each spinal level, nerve roots come out on both the right and the left side. What exactly are the function of these nerve roots?

Nerve roots end up providing multiple functions that we all take for granted. That is, until something goes wrong and a problem presents itself.

Nerve roots come up from the spine and allow people to feel pain, hot and cold, and balance. Along with the sensation benefits, nerve roots also allow muscle function such as flexing the biceps or lifting up the leg and foot.

The third function of nerve roots is less commonly thought of, and that is the ability to feel the position of the body in space. An example would be to know that the arm is elevated,

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The quadriceps receives innervation from multiple nerve roots, so when one gets pinched it still works, just may be weak.

or to know where the leg is situated in the dark.

Typically, functions of a lot of nerve roots overlap. This means that for instance, the ability to lift up ones quadricep comes from multiple nerve roots innervating the muscles for this function. Therefore, if one of these nerve roots is compressed and unable to provide motor function, typically they will simply be weakness as the other muscles can somewhat compensate.

When a disc herniation occurs and a nerve root gets compressed, that in end of itself does not cause pain. But what it can do is spark up inflammation and that can lead to pain shooting down the person’s arm or leg as a result.

Phoenix pain clinicIn addition, compression of a nerve roots can lead to numbness, a pins and needle sensation along with muscle weakness as well.

Most of the time, if compression is removed from a nerve root, the pain associated with the inflammation will resolve. Interestingly, the numbness that has been experienced from the compressed nerve may never resolve.

If an individual has been having motor weakness from the nerve root compression, often times that will get better with the compression being resolved. If however, the compression has existed for over 3 to 6 months, it may not fully resolve either. What this means is that compressed nerve roots do have a potential to resolve, but not always.

If you are experiencing significant leg or arm pain and suspect you have a pinched nerve, help is available. Arizona Pain Specialists has an Award Winning team of Board Certified pain management doctors in Arizona that offer comprehensive treatment for pinched Arizona pain centersnerves.

These include Phoenix chiropractor treatment, pain medication management, spinal decompression therapy, interventional pain management, acupuncture,physical rehabilitation and more. Call today at (602) 507-6550 for scheduling.

A Look at Epidural Injections for the Lumbar Spine

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One of the most common pain management procedures performed on a dSciatica Treatmentaily basis in America are lumbar epidural injections. They have been performed for over 60 years with many studies showing significant effectiveness for relieving pain from pinched nerves known as sciatica.

There are three popular methods of performing epidural steroid injections. All of these are performed as an outpatient, and in addition all involved numbing medicine plus cortisone to soothe the inflammatory reaction sparked up by the nerve root compression.

The first type of epidural is known as the interlaminar approach. This was the first type invented back in the 1950s, and involves an approach between the bones in the back of the spine known as the lamina. This approach has been shown to be very safe and effective, with pain relief occurring in approximately 75% of patients. Often times, a series of up to three injections may be necessary for optimal relief from the sciatica.

Pain Management Clinics PhoenixThe newest type of epidural injection is known as a transforaminal epidural steroid injection (TESI). This injection involves placing the needle closer to the actual area where the nerve root is being pinched. Nerve roots travel from the spinal canal through the area known as the foramen, therefore the transforaminal injection places the needle in this particular region. There are some studies showing that transforaminal epidural steroid injections in the lumbar spine are better at pain relief than simple interlaminar injections. However, there also studies showing there is no difference in the good to excellent results achieved with these different procedures.

The third type of epidural steroid injection is known as a caudal epidural. This procedure involves placing the needle through the bottom of the spine through an area known as the sacral hiatus. With a caudal injection, the Arizona pain management doctor is able to inject a much larger amount of steroid, as the medicine is able to reach multiple pinched nerves such as in a patient with spinal stenosis. Results with caudal epidural injections have been in line with the other two methods, with the caveat that caudal injections are able to reach numerous nerve roots and not just one.

Caudal Epidural Injection

Caudal Epidural Injection

Complications reported with epidural steroid injections are unusual but they do occur. Therefore they cannot be ignored and include such issues as a slight risk of infection, nerve injury, bleeding or allergic reaction to one of the medicines used. There have been reports of both transient or permanent nerve root injuries due to epidural injections, and There also may be transient weight gain, water retention or elevated blood sugars due to the steroid medication used.

Overall, epidural injections for sciatica have been of huge benefit to a lot of suffering patients. The injections often allow individuals to avoid surgery, get back to work, reduce the amount of narcotic medications necessary for pain relief, and stay active. If you or a loved one is suffering from sciatica, you are not alone. 1% of the population at any one point in time has the same issue. Help is available with Arizona Pain Specialists, the most comprehensive pain management clinics in Phoenix.Pain Management Doctors Phoenix

Currently, Arizona Pain now has a new Phoenix pain management clinic, its fourth location around the Valley. The Phoenix pain clinics accept over 50 insurances, including Workers Compensation, AHCCCS, Medicare, major medical and self pay. Personal Injury Liens are accepted as well.

For one number scheduling, call (602) 507-6550 Today!

When should I have surgery for a lumbar herniated disc?

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One percent of the population suffers from sciatica at any one point in time. Sciatica is pain down a person’s leg that is electrical and burning in nature and can be quite severe. It results from a disc herniation pushing on the nerve root, and the resulting inflammation Sciatica Treatmentcauses the pain traveling down the person’s leg through the area where that nerve root provides sensation.

Fortunately, most patients who experience severe sciatica do not need surgery to relieve the pain. When should surgery be undertaken? Here are the considerations for when an operation should be performed.

There’s only one true instance where surgery for a herniated disc is absolutely mandatory. If the disc herniation results in a condition called cauda equina syndrome, an individual will end up with bowel or bladder dysfunction along with significant pain and disability.

When cauda equina occurs, it is a true surgical emergency and should be addressed within 24 hours.

Cauda equina syndrome is rare, and a more common scenario is compression of the nerve root leading to motor weakness. This may show up as a foot drop, or quadriceps

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Herniated disc pinching a nerve root.

weakness. It also may involve weakness of everting the foot, or other motor functions. It really depends on which nerve root is being pinched.

When motor weakness presents itself, it does not mean the patient has to undergo surgery. It should be watched very closely, and if it becomes progressive then surgery should be heavily considered. If it is not progressive, it can be watched for a month or two to see if function improves. So motor weakness is what is called a relative indication for surgery, not an absolute.

The additional indication for surgery is simply for intolerable pain. If an individual undergoes considerable conservative treatment for over six weeks, and the pain is not tolerable at that point, surgery can be considered. Epidural steroid injections for sciatica work well over 75% of the time. A series of injections may be necessary for best results. Along with the injections, pain management medication may be necessary along with PT, chiropractic, acupuncture and more. Over 95% of the time, satisfactory pain relief can be achieved so Pain Clinics in Phoenixthat surgery can be avoided.

A landmark study in the Journal of the American Medical Association showed that surgery for a pinched nerve allows patients to get back to work faster and to get rid of their pain quicker. Interestingly, at the one year point after surgery, the results were overall no different than if the individual had continued conservative treatment.

While a lumbar discectomy surgery is typically highly successful and maintains low risks, those risks cannot be ignored. There is a risk of infection, nerve injury, anesthesia complication, bleeding and failure to relieve the pain. Regardless of whether surgery is performed, the risk of a re-herniation at the same level is 10%.

If you or a loved one lives in the greater Phoenix and Scottsdale metropolitan area and is suffering from sciatica, let the best Arizona pain clinics in the valley APS Full Logohelp you. Arizona Pain Specialists has an award-winning team of double Board Certified pain management doctors along with exceptional Phoenix chiropractors.

The practice has multiple locations and offers pain management Mesa AZ, Glendale AZ, surprise, Tempe and Phoenix/Scottsdale trust. Call 602 507 6550 for one number scheduling today!