Treating Sciatic Pain
September 08, 2021
Sciatica is a condition that can be agonizing.
The sciatic nerve branches from the lower back and is the largest nerve in the body. It controls the muscles in the back of the knee and lower leg.
According to Charles C. Edwards, II, M.D., Medical Director of The Maryland Spine Center at Mercy, sciatica is typically a product of aging.
"As we all get older, the discs in our back get shorter, and the discs can push on one of the nerves and that is the source of the pain numbness and weakness that goes down into your leg," Dr. Edwards said.
Discomfort can vary from a mild ache to excruciating pain. Physical therapy and cortisone injections can help, but if that doesn't work, Dr. Edwards noted that surgery to provide more space for the nerve is an option for some people.
To view Mercy spinal surgeon Dr. Charles Edward II’s interview regarding sciatica and its treatment, click here.
About Mercy
Founded in 1874 in Downtown Baltimore by the Sisters of Mercy, Mercy Medical Center is a 183-licensed bed, acute care, university-affiliated teaching hospital. Mercy has been recognized as a high-performing Maryland hospital (U.S. News & World Report); has achieved an overall 5-Star quality, safety, and patient experience rating (Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services); is A-rated for Hospital Safety (Leapfrog Hospital Safety Grade); and is certified by the American Nurses Credentialing Center as a Magnet™ hospital. Mercy Health Services is a not-for-profit health system and the parent company of Mercy Medical Center and Mercy Personal Physicians.
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