Spine Care
Wisconsin Bone & Joint spine care experts offer comprehensive
services to individuals with a wide range of spine, lower back,
upper back and neck issues.
Sciatica
Spine Specialists At Wisconsin Bone & Joint
The physicians at Wisconsin Bone & Joint utilize cutting-edge technology to assess, diagnose and work with patients to develop innovative treatment plans for a variety of spine and neck conditions and injuries. Our team of physicians are committed to providing you with the best treatment options to alleviate your back and neck pain.
Providing trusted Orthopedic care in the community for over 40+ years
At Wisconsin Bone and Joint, we pride ourselves with providing you highly personalized and comprehensive orthopedic care. Our philosophy of direct physician-to-patient care means your physician will be an intrical part of every stage of your care. This commitment to a dedicated continuum-of-care model has made us one of the most trusted and respected practices in Southeast Wisconsin and greater Milwaukee area.
Sciatica refers to pressure on the nerves in the low back which form the sciatic nerve. This causes pain to run down the lower extremity to the thigh, calf and ankle. This can cause numbness, tingling or weakness in the lower extremity as well. Pressure on the nerves that form the sciatic nerve is usually caused by a ruptured disc or bone spurs.
Sciatica Diagnosis
The diagnosis of sciatica is made by listening to the patient’s complaints and combining this with the findings upon examining the patient. The final step in confirming the diagnosis is by obtaining an MRI of the lumbar spine. An MRI is a special study using a magnetic field that shows a detailed image of the spine and allows the physician to see pressure on the nerves that form the sciatic nerve.
Sciatica Treatment
Treatment of sciatica depends upon the severity of the patient’s pain. If the symptoms are not severe than no treatment is necessary. Patients will not become paralyzed from this condition. Patients that have bothersome pain are first treated with a short course of oral steroids followed by a non-steroidal medication. If the patient does not respond to this, then the next treatment step is an Epidural Steroid Injection, which is the placement of steroids around the nerves using xray control with the goal of decreasing the inflammation of the nerves. Occasionally patients will not respond to this non-operative care and surgical treatment becomes an option. The specific surgical treatment depends upon the location and degree of pressure on the nerve roots. Many of these procedures are done on an outpatient basis with the patients quickly returning to activity.