Sciatica & Lower Body Pain

Sciatica is one of the most recognizable and often most disabling forms of nerve pain — the sharp, burning, or electric sensation that travels from the low back through the buttock and down the leg. At Global Pain Management, our specialists have years of experience diagnosing the exact source of sciatic pain and delivering precise, minimally invasive treatments that bring lasting relief to patients throughout Maryland.

What is sciatica & lower body pain?

The sciatic nerve is the largest nerve in the human body, formed by nerve roots exiting the lumbar and sacral spine (L4 through S3) and traveling through the pelvis and down each leg to the foot. Sciatica is not a diagnosis in itself but a symptom complex caused by irritation or compression of one or more of these nerve roots. The most common cause is a herniated lumbar disc, in which the inner gel of a spinal disc ruptures and presses directly on a nerve root, triggering the characteristic radiating pain. Lumbar spinal stenosis — narrowing of the spinal canal due to arthritic overgrowth of bone spurs and ligaments — is a leading cause in older adults and may produce leg pain and weakness that worsens with walking (neurogenic claudication). Piriformis syndrome, in which the piriformis muscle in the buttock compresses the sciatic nerve, can mimic disc-related sciatica and is frequently underdiagnosed. Degenerative disc disease and spondylolisthesis (slippage of one vertebra over another) are additional structural causes. Without treatment, chronic sciatic compression can cause progressive neurological deficits including persistent leg weakness, foot drop, and bowel or bladder dysfunction.

Common symptoms

• Sharp, burning, or electric pain radiating from the buttock into the leg
• Pain that extends below the knee, often into the calf or foot
• Numbness or tingling along the back of the thigh and lower leg
• Muscle weakness in the hip, thigh, or foot
• Pain that worsens with sitting, coughing, or bearing down
• Leg pain that is worse than the associated back pain
• Difficulty walking extended distances due to leg heaviness or cramping

How we treat sciatica & lower body pain

Accurate diagnosis is the foundation of effective sciatica treatment. We use targeted physical examination combined with imaging review to identify the exact level and mechanism of nerve compression. Lumbar transforaminal epidural steroid injections deliver anti-inflammatory medication directly to the affected nerve root, often providing substantial relief within days. Interlaminar epidural injections are another option when multiple levels are involved. For piriformis syndrome, ultrasound- or fluoroscopy-guided piriformis muscle injections relax the compressing muscle and decompress the nerve. When pain is driven by facet or sacroiliac joint pathology, we address those sources with targeted injections and, if appropriate, radiofrequency ablation. Medication management supports the treatment plan, and we coordinate physical therapy for core stabilization and nerve mobilization exercises.

Treatment options we may use