At Pacific Pain Medicine Consultants in Oceanside and Encinitas, CA, Nathan Perrizo, DO, and Brooke Towne, MD, are board-certified pain medicine specialists with advanced training who treat disc herniation and related spine conditions.
How Does a Herniated Disc Trigger Sciatica?
The discs between your vertebrae have a soft inner material surrounded by a tougher outer layer. A herniated disc occurs when some of that inner material pushes through the outer layer. In the lumbar spine, the displaced material can irritate or compress a nearby nerve root.
Sciatica describes symptoms that follow the sciatic nerve pathway, usually through the buttock and down the leg. A lumbar herniated disc is a primary cause of this type of nerve pain.
What Does Sciatica Caused by a Herniated Disc Feel Like?
Symptoms can vary depending on which nerve root is affected. You may experience:
- Radiating pain: Pain can move through the buttock, thigh, calf, or foot.
- Burning or shooting sensations: Some people describe the pain as sharp, burning, or electric.
- Tingling or numbness: Parts of the leg or foot may feel different than usual.
- Muscle weakness: Nerve compression can affect strength in the leg or foot.
Not every herniated disc causes sciatica. Some cause no symptoms at all, while others cause localized back pain or nerve symptoms depending on the disc’s location.
When Should You See a Pain Specialist?
Consider having your symptoms evaluated if you experience:
- Persistent leg pain: Pain that doesn’t improve or continues to worsen.
- Severe pain: Discomfort that makes walking, sleeping, working, or daily activities difficult.
- Ongoing symptoms: A pain specialist can discuss options such as activity changes, physical therapy, or image-guided procedures when appropriate.
- Sudden or worsening weakness: Seek immediate medical attention.
- Bladder or bowel problems: Loss of bladder or bowel control requires prompt medical care.
- Numbness around the groin: Numbness around the inner thighs or groin area requires immediate medical attention.
Find Relief From Herniated Disc and Sciatica Pain
To schedule a consultation with Pacific Pain Medicine Consultants, call our Oceanside office at 760-941-7336 or 760-943-6494, or our Encinitas office at 760-753-1104. Our team can help you find care suited to your needs.
