Sciatica care in Meridian, Mississippi

Sciatica is leg pain, tingling, or weakness that travels from the low back into the buttock and down the leg. It usually comes from irritation or compression of a lumbar nerve root (lumbar radiculopathy), often from a herniated disc, spinal stenosis, or degenerative changes.

I am Edward Smith, M.D., a board-certified, fellowship-trained orthopaedic spine surgeon at Meridian Orthopaedic Specialists. I evaluate and treat sciatica in Meridian for patients from across east Mississippi and west Alabama. You do not have to drive out of town for a spine-trained assessment of sciatica.

When to see a spine surgeon for sciatica

Many people start with primary care or interventional pain management. Consider a spine specialist sooner if:

• Pain, numbness, or weakness is getting worse after several weeks of conservative care
• You have progressive leg weakness, foot drop, or trouble walking
• Imaging already shows a disc herniation or stenosis that may need surgical consideration
• You want a clear plan that can include therapy, injections, and, when appropriate, surgery from one local team

Call 911 or go to the nearest emergency department right away if you have new loss of bowel or bladder control, numbness in the groin or inner thighs, or sudden severe leg weakness.

How I approach sciatica

Care is individualized and usually starts non-operatively when that is safe:

• Focused history, exam, and review of MRI or other imaging when it will change the plan
• Physical therapy and activity guidance
• Coordination with pain management for spine injections when appropriate
• Surgical options such as discectomy, laminectomy, or fusion when symptoms persist or neurology worsens, including minimally invasive and endoscopic techniques when they fit. They may not be right for every patient or every diagnosis.

I also treat the cervical and lumbar conditions that commonly cause nerve pain: herniated discs, spinal stenosis, degenerative disease, deformity, and trauma.

The aim is an accurate diagnosis and a plan that matches your symptoms and goals.

For referring providers

Referring physicians and APPs in east Mississippi can send patients with lumbar radiculopathy / sciatica for orthopaedic spine evaluation with me at Meridian Orthopaedic Specialists.

FAQ

Care close to home

Sciatica evaluation, X-rays, therapy, injections, and surgery when needed are available through Meridian Orthopaedic Specialists. Call 601.385.9111.

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