Sciatica and Back Pain Treatment Without Surgery
Montville MedSpa & Pain Center treats sciatica and back pain without surgery. Dr. Donna D’Alessio, MD, board-certified in Physical Medicine & Rehabilitation, sees patients at 624 Main Rd, Towaco (Montville Township), NJ 07082, on Route 202 in Morris County. She examines first, explains what is causing the pain, and then offers non-surgical options such as trigger point injections, PRP injections and ultrasound-guided nerve blocks. No referral is needed. Call (973) 794-3958.
Sciatica or Back Pain: Which Is It?
Sciatica is pain that travels from the lower back or buttock down the back of one leg, often with numbness or tingling, because a nerve root is irritated — most often by a herniated disc. The leg pain is usually worse than the back pain. Read more on our sciatica and herniated disc page.
Back pain stays mainly in the back: aching, stiffness or spasm along the spine, usually from muscle strain, inflammation or wear. Read more on our back pain page.
Many people have both, and the same examination sorts out which is driving the pain.
Non-Surgical Treatment Options
The right treatment depends on the cause, so nothing is chosen before the examination. The options offered at the practice include:
Trigger Point Injections
Sciatica and back pain often come with tight, painful muscle knots in the lower back and buttock. Trigger point injections into those knots may relieve the muscle pain and spasm.
PRP Injections
Platelet-rich plasma (PRP) injections use a concentrate of your own platelets to support healing. PRP can be used for spine, hip, knee, shoulder, ankle and elbow pain.
Ultrasound-Guided Nerve Blocks and Steroid Injections
Ultrasound-guided nerve blocks aim to interrupt pain signals from an irritated nerve, and steroid injections reduce inflammation. Whether either suits your pain depends on where the problem is, and Dr. D’Alessio will tell you if it does not.
Therapeutic Massage
Deep tissue massage may ease tight back, hip and buttock muscles that add to the pain. See also Can I get a massage if I have sciatica?
Supervised Physical Therapy and Exercise
Injections are paired with a plan to restore movement. Dr. D’Alessio guides and oversees exercises that strengthen the core and back, improve flexibility and correct posture, so the relief lasts. See all our joint and spine pain treatments.
Your Pain Management Physician
Dr. Donna D’Alessio, MD, is board-certified in Physical Medicine & Rehabilitation, the medical specialty built around restoring movement and function for people with spine, muscle and nerve conditions. She completed her residency in Physical Medicine & Rehabilitation at Mount Sinai Hospital in New York City, where she served as Chief Resident in her final year, after an internship in Internal Medicine at SUNY Downstate Medical Center at Long Island College Hospital in Brooklyn. This is a non-surgical practice: if an examination points to a problem that needs a surgeon, you will be told and referred.
Meet Dr. D’Alessio · All pain management
Frequently Asked Questions
When should I see a pain doctor instead of physical therapy or a chiropractor?
Physical therapy is a good first step for many back problems. See a physician when the pain has lasted more than a few weeks, keeps coming back, travels down your leg, comes with numbness, tingling or weakness, or has not improved with therapy or adjustments. A physician can examine you, make a diagnosis, and offer treatments such as injections and nerve blocks that a therapist or chiropractor cannot, and Dr. D’Alessio can guide your exercise program alongside them.
When is sciatica or back pain an emergency?
Call 911 or go to the emergency room if you lose bladder or bowel control, have numbness in the groin or inner thighs, develop weakness that is getting worse, have symptoms in both legs, or have back pain after a serious fall or accident.
Do you take my insurance? What does out-of-network mean?
Montville MedSpa & Pain Center is an out-of-network provider for pain management. Many plans include out-of-network benefits, and PPO and POS plans carry them more often than HMOs and EPOs. Call (973) 794-3958 with your insurance card: the team checks your out-of-network benefits and tells you what to expect before anything is scheduled, and files the claim with your insurance on your behalf. Read how billing works for out-of-network patients.
Do I need a referral?
No. You can book directly with Dr. D’Alessio.
What happens at the first visit?
The first visit is an examination and an explanation of what is causing the pain. Dr. D’Alessio asks where the pain starts and where it travels, when it began, what makes it better or worse, and whether you have numbness, weakness or any bladder or bowel changes. She then examines your back, hips and legs, checking how you move and the strength and feeling in your legs and feet, and explains the options. If she needs more information before recommending treatment, she will tell you what and why.
Will I need surgery?
Many people with sciatica or back pain get lasting relief without surgery. This is a non-surgical practice; if the examination points to a problem that needs a surgeon, Dr. D’Alessio will tell you and refer you.
Sciatica and Back Pain Care Near You
The office is at 624 Main Rd in Towaco, in Montville Township, a short drive from I-287 and convenient for patients from Parsippany, Denville and Lincoln Park. Call (973) 794-3958 or book a consultation.