Sciatica Treatment in New Jersey

That shooting pain going down your leg? The numbness that makes you wince with every step? Sciatica can turn simple daily activities into painful ordeals. Dealing with sciatic pain can be deeply frustrating and nerve-wracking, especially when you can’t find relief.

At One Oak Medical, we see patients like you every day who just want to move without pain. You can visit our offices in Princeton, Paramus, Wayne, Middletown, Point Pleasant, and Clifton, New Jersey. Meet with Dr. Homam Badri and Dr. Ahmad Badri for personalized sciatica treatment that targets your specific symptoms and their cause.

What Is Sciatica and Why Does It Happen?

Sciatica is a symptom of pressure on your sciatic nerve, the largest nerve in your body. This nerve runs from your lumbar spine (lower back), through your hip and buttock, and down each leg. When something pinches or irritates this nerve, you feel that characteristic pain shooting down your leg.

Your sciatic pain often comes from a herniated disc in your spine, putting pressure on the nerve root. Think of the discs in your spine as cushions between your vertebrae (the bones that make up your spinal cord). When one of these discs bulges or ruptures, it can press against the nearby sciatic nerve. Several risk factors might make you more likely to deal with sciatica:

Age: As you age, natural wear and tear on your spine can lead to bone spurs and herniated discs.
Weight: Extra pounds put additional stress on your spine.
Occupation: Jobs that involve heavy lifting, twisting, or sitting for long periods can increase your risk.
Diabetes: This condition can affect how your body uses blood sugar, which can damage nerves.
Injury: Back trauma can directly damage the sciatic nerve or surrounding tissues.

How We Treat Your Sciatica at One Oak Medical

When you come to us with leg pain from sciatica, we look for the root cause of your symptoms. Our treatment approach begins with thoroughly examining your back, hip, and leg to pinpoint where and why the sciatic nerve is irritated.

Treatment at our centers follows a progression that starts with conservative approaches and only moves to more invasive options when necessary:

Physical therapy: Our PTs create exercises to strengthen your back and core muscles, taking pressure off the sciatic nerve while improving your flexibility.
Heat therapy: Applying heat helps relax tight muscles around your lumbar area and increases blood flow to promote healing.
Pain management techniques: We’ll help you find positions and practices that reduce nerve inflammation and ease discomfort.
Massage therapy: Targeted massage can loosen muscle tension that might be contributing to your nerve compression.
Corticosteroid injections: We may recommend an injection to reduce inflammation around the nerve root for severe cases.

We take the time to explain each treatment option and work with you to find approaches that fit your lifestyle. Your recovery plan will be based on the specific cause of your sciatica, the severity of your symptoms, and your overall health goals.

Common Causes of Sciatica Pain You Should Know

That radiating pain down your leg has specific triggers. There can be varying causes of lower back pain, so knowing all the possible symptoms causing your sciatica is the first step toward getting treatment tailored to this condition. Here are the most common culprits we see:

Herniated or bulging discs: When the soft tissue between your vertebrae pushes out, it can press on nearby nerve roots.
Spinal stenosis: This narrowing of spaces in your spine can put pressure on nerves that exit your spinal cord.
Piriformis syndrome: This happens when the piriformis muscle in your buttock spasms and irritates the sciatic nerve.
Spondylolisthesis: When one vertebra slips forward over another, it can pinch nerve roots.
Trauma or injury: Direct injury to your lumbar area or sciatic nerve can trigger symptoms.
Muscle strain: Severe strains in your back can sometimes affect the sciatic nerve.
Pregnancy: The changes in weight distribution can put pressure on the sciatic nerve.

The pain might travel from your back all the way down to your foot, or it might concentrate in your hip or knee. Each person’s experience with radiculopathy (nerve pain) is unique, which is why personalized treatment matters so much.

Non-Surgical vs. Surgical Treatment Options

Most patients with sciatica get better without surgery. Your body has amazing healing capabilities, especially when given the right support. Non-surgical treatments focus on reducing inflammation, relieving pressure on the nerve, and strengthening supporting muscles. For many patients, a combination of rest (but not too much — staying completely inactive can make things worse) and gentle movement provides significant relief. Physical therapy plays a crucial role by teaching exercises that strengthen your core and back muscles, which helps take pressure off the sciatic nerve.

Heat therapy is another effective approach we often recommend. The application of heat improves blood flow to the lumbar area and helps relax tight muscles that might be contributing to nerve compression. Anti-inflammatory medications can also help reduce swelling around the nerve, giving it space to heal. Many patients find relief through gentle stretching exercises specifically designed for the hip and lumbar region. For those carrying extra weight, even modest weight management can significantly reduce strain on the spine and decrease sciatica symptoms.

Surgery becomes an option only when specific conditions are met: persistent pain lasting more than 6-12 weeks that doesn’t respond to conservative treatments, progressive muscle weakness that affects your ability to function, or loss of bowel or bladder control (which requires immediate medical attention). As surgeons who work with spinal conditions daily, we only recommend surgical intervention when the benefits clearly outweigh the risks. The decision to operate isn’t made lightly; it’s a collaborative process between you and your medical team.

When surgery is needed, modern techniques allow for smaller incisions and faster recovery times than in years past. The goal of surgical treatment is typically to remove whatever is pressing on your sciatic nerve, whether that’s part of a herniated disc, a bone spur, or other tissue. Microdiscectomy is one common procedure that removes the portion of a herniated disc that’s irritating the nerve. In some cases, a surgeon might recommend a lumbar laminectomy to create more space for the nerve roots by removing a small portion of the bone. Recovery times vary based on the procedure and individual factors, but many patients report significant improvement in their leg pain almost immediately after surgery.

When Should You See a Doctor for Sciatica?

Not all leg pain requires visiting your primary care doctor or a specialist. But certain symptoms signal that you should seek medical help sooner rather than later:

Pain that lasts longer than a week despite rest and over-the-counter pain relievers
Severe pain that makes it hard to move or sleep
Numbness or weakness in your leg or foot
Pain following a sudden injury to your back
Difficulty controlling your bowels or bladder (this requires immediate medical attention)

When you come in for an evaluation, we’ll check the strength in your leg muscles, test your reflexes, and assess your ability to feel sensations in different parts of your leg and foot. Imaging tests like X-rays can show bone problems, while MRIs can reveal soft tissue issues affecting your spinal cord and nerves.

Early treatment often means faster relief and less chance of long-term nerve damage. Don’t try to “tough out” severe or persistent sciatica symptoms — that can sometimes lead to chronic pain issues that are harder to resolve.

Additional Support for More Than Just Sciatica

Living with sciatica is obviously very painful, but there are so many more conditions out there. Thankfully, One Oak Medical can provide treatment and care for a wide slate of other back conditions via our fantastic orthopedic specialists. We’re always here to help, so reach out for accurate care and diagnosis of your troubles.

Ready to Find Relief From Sciatica Pain?

Living with sciatic nerve pain can feel overwhelming; we’re here to help you find the right treatment path that addresses not just your symptoms but the underlying cause.

One Oak Medical proudly serves locations throughout New Jersey, with offices in Princeton, Paramus, Wayne, Middletown, Point Pleasant, and Clifton, NJ. Schedule your consultation with our experts today for personalized care that can help you move beyond the limitations of sciatica.