Sciatica can be a nuisance, or it can be debilitating. This type of pain might be localized to your lower back, or it might radiate down one of your legs. You might feel tingling, numbness, and muscle weakness along with the discomfort, too.
All told, you don’t want to live with this condition. Fortunately, a number of interventions can help, including medications and injections — and it also might mean dropping excess pounds.
We can help with all of that. At Vascular & Interventional Associates in Crestview Hills, Kentucky, our team of sciatica experts tailors a treatment plan to you. We have experience helping people throughout northern Kentucky and the Cincinnati, Ohio, area get relief from sciatic nerve pain.
In some cases, that means addressing their weight. Here’s why.
Sciatica develops because of pressure on your sciatic nerve. These nerves start at your low back, running through your buttocks and down each of your legs. That’s why sciatica can cause lumbar pain along with pain radiating down your legs.
Something specific —such as a bone spur or herniated disc — might be pressing on your sciatic nerve. When you visit our office, our team starts by looking for issues like that.
If we don’t find anything, though, it’s time to evaluate other potential sources of that pressure. That could mean inflammation, but it could also mean excess weight. Added pounds add pressure throughout your body, including on your sciatic nerve.
Multiple studies — such as one published in Frontiers in Endocrinology in December 2021 and one published in The Spine Journal in May 2024 — have directly linked being overweight with sciatica.
Losing weight can make a big difference in your pain levels when you’re dealing with sciatica. One of the best ways to do that is through regular physical activity. Not only does this help toward reaching a healthy weight, but it can also strengthen the muscles that support your spine. With a better support system, your sciatic nerve may experience less pressure.
Plus, exercise releases endorphins, which naturally fight pain in your body.
Our team recommends starting small. Short walks are a great way to get moving. As you move, maintain a short stride and engage your core to avoid worsening your sciatica. As you feel up to it, you can add more distance.
We acknowledge that losing weight is difficult. And getting moving can be particularly daunting when you’re in pain. That’s why we offer targeted treatments to help with the discomfort. These include epidural steroid injections and pain-relieving medications like nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), antidepressants, and anti-seizure medications.
Our goal is to alleviate the pain of your sciatica. To start working with our team, make an appointment at Vascular & Interventional Associates by calling our office or by booking your visit online today.
