Why Am I Just Now Feeling Pain Days After My Car Accident?
If you get into a car accident, the shock can delay the onset of painful symptoms. Here, we explore why that happens and what to do if you start hurting a few days afterward.
Why Am I Suddenly Getting Sciatica?
A pinched nerve is notoriously painful. But when that nerve is large and runs through most of your body, the situation becomes more dire. That’s the case with sciatica.
With this condition, something negatively impacts your sciatic nerve. You have two of these nerves, which are the thickest and longest in your body, running from your low back down each leg. Something impacting either sciatic nerve can cause back and leg pain, numbness, muscle weakness, and more.
If those symptoms occur suddenly, it’s a sign you should see a doctor. Fortunately, as an expert in back pain, Patrick S Hill, MD, can help. Visit him at our office in Beverly Grove, Los Angeles, California.
Dr. Hill can discover what’s causing your sudden sciatic pain. More importantly, he develops treatment to alleviate your discomfort.
What causes sudden sciatic pain
Several things can affect either or both of your sciatic nerves. The common causes of sciatica include:
- Spinal stenosis (the narrowing of your spinal canal)
- A problem with one of the discs that cushion your vertebrae
- A tumor pressing on the nerve
- A bone spur pressing on the nerve
- A traumatic injury
- Osteoarthritis
- Spondylolisthesis (one of your vertebrae moving out of place)
- Piriformis syndrome (when the piriformis muscle presses on your sciatic nerve)
- Pregnancy
Clearly, many factors could be at play. That said, if you’re suddenly getting sciatic pain, it’s most likely stemming from a herniated disc, bone spur, or tumor. In other words, something changed in your body that’s now impacting the sciatic nerve.
Here at our office, Dr. Hill can pull from a wide range of diagnostic tools to discover what’s causing your sudden-onset sciatica. This way, we can tailor treatment to bring you fast and lasting relief.
What you can do about sciatica
The right treatment to bring you relief depends on what’s causing your sciatic pain.
For example, if it’s a problem with one of your discs, some people find relief with physical therapy and rest, while others need more involved treatment like spinal injections.
If a bone spur or tumor causes your back or leg pain, removing the growth is the best way to get relief. As a specialist in robotic spine surgery, he can address the issue with a minimally invasive procedure.
All told, you have options ranging from conservative treatments to highly effective surgery. The right choice for your body depends on the root cause of your sciatica. To get that diagnosed so you can find relief, call our office or schedule your appointment online today.
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