Neurological
Sciatica Treatment Specialists
Expert Sciatica Treatment in Phoenix, AZ — From a Dual Board-Certified Spine Surgeon & Neurosurgeon
Sciatica can send burning pain from your lower back all the way down your leg — but most cases resolve without surgery. At Desert Spine and Pain, Dr. David L. Greenwald, MD, FAANS, FACS, a dual board-certified spine surgeon and neurosurgeon, finds what's pinching your sciatic nerve and relieves it, least-invasive-first.
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Over 30 Years Experience in Orthopedic & Neuro Spine Surgeries.
Sciatica is pain that radiates along the sciatic nerve — from the lower back through the buttock and down the leg — usually because a herniated disc or narrowing is compressing a nerve root. It can be intense, but the large majority of sciatica resolves without surgery. At Desert Spine and Pain in Phoenix, a dual board-certified spine surgeon and neurosurgeon pinpoints the cause and relieves it.
Book a Consultation — (602) 566-9500Where Sciatica Starts
What Causes Sciatica?
Sciatica isn't a diagnosis on its own — it's a symptom. It describes pain that travels along the sciatic nerve, the large nerve running from your lower spine into each leg. The usual cause is a pinched nerve root in the lower back, most often from a herniated disc, but also from spinal stenosis, a bone spur, or spondylolisthesis.
Because sciatica is a symptom of an underlying compression, relief comes from finding and treating that specific cause — which is exactly what a specialist evaluation delivers. Most sciatica improves without surgery.
When to See a Specialist for Sciatica
See a specialist when leg pain lasts more than a few weeks, keeps returning, or comes with numbness or weakness in the leg or foot. Early, targeted treatment relieves pain faster and protects the nerve.
Go to an emergency room or call us immediately if you develop progressive leg or arm weakness, numbness around the groin, loss of bladder or bowel control, or symptoms following a significant accident or fall.
How We Treat Sciatica
Sciatica is treated least-invasive-first — most patients recover without surgery.
Conservative care & therapy
Activity changes and physical therapy through our on-site partner BackFit Health + Spine resolve the majority of sciatica over several weeks.
Epidural steroid injections
An epidural steroid injection reduces inflammation around the compressed nerve root and can relieve radiating leg pain for months.
Minimally invasive microdiscectomy
When a herniated disc is the cause and pain persists, a lumbar microdiscectomy or minimally invasive microdiscectomy removes the fragment — often fast relief of sciatica.
Decompression surgery
When narrowing is the cause, a laminectomy or foraminotomy reopens the space around the nerve.
Why Choose Our Sciatica Specialists in Phoenix
Choosing the right sciatica specialist in Phoenix matters. At Desert Spine and Pain, your care is led by Dr. David L. Greenwald, MD, FAANS, FACS — a physician who is both a board-certified spine surgeon and a neurosurgeon. That dual expertise is rare, and it means one expert can guide you across the full spectrum of care — from a simple injection to complex surgery — and recommend what is genuinely best for you, whether you need a sciatica doctor for conservative care or a surgeon when surgery is truly the answer.
A rare dual credential — so the specialist who treats you can also perform surgery if it's ever needed.
Most patients get better without surgery. We only advance when your condition truly requires it.
No referral needed. We make it straightforward to see a top spine specialist, even out-of-network.
24/7 concierge response and close coordination with personal-injury attorneys.
Life Beyond the Pain
What to Expect: Your Care Journey at Desert Spine and Pain
From your first visit, the goal is a clear diagnosis and a plan built around you — not a one-size-fits-all protocol.
Consultation
We listen to your history, examine you, and review any prior imaging — no referral required.
Diagnosis
If needed, we order or review MRI/X-ray imaging and may use diagnostic nerve testing or a diagnostic injection to confirm the exact source.
Personalized plan
Dr. Greenwald explains your options in plain language and starts with the least invasive treatment likely to work.
Treatment & follow-up
We deliver your care — therapy, a procedure, or surgery at an affiliated accredited facility — and follow you closely until you're back to living.
Insurance, Out-of-Network & Cost
Cost and coverage shouldn't stand between you and relief. Desert Spine and Pain welcomes out-of-network patients and will walk you through what your evaluation and treatment are likely to involve before anything is scheduled — so there are no surprises. We'll help you understand your benefits and options, whether you're using insurance, paying out-of-pocket, or being treated under a personal-injury claim.
Injured in an Accident?
If your pain started with a car accident, slip-and-fall, or work injury, we offer a dedicated pathway: prompt evaluation, thorough documentation and records for your case, and direct coordination with your personal-injury attorney. You focus on recovering; we handle the medical side.
Schedule Your ConsultationProudly Serving the Greater Phoenix, Arizona Area
Patients travel to Desert Spine and Pain from across Arizona for specialist spine care — because the right spine surgeon is worth the drive. We welcome patients from Phoenix and communities throughout the Valley and beyond:
…and surrounding Arizona communities. Out-of-network patients are welcome, and no referral is required — schedule a consultation.
Related Conditions We Treat
Not sure which applies? Start with the neurological spine conditions we treat.
Stop living with sciatica.
See a dual board-certified spine surgeon and neurosurgeon in Phoenix to find what's pinching your sciatic nerve — and relieve it, least-invasive-first.
Book a Consultation — (602) 566-9500Sciatica: Frequently Asked Questions
Will my sciatica go away on its own?
Often, yes. Most sciatica improves within weeks with conservative care and, when needed, an epidural injection. Surgery is reserved for persistent pain or significant weakness.
What's the fastest way to relieve sciatica?
It depends on the cause. An epidural steroid injection can relieve inflamed-nerve pain relatively quickly, and when a herniated disc is responsible, a minimally invasive microdiscectomy often brings fast relief.
Is sciatica the same as a herniated disc?
No. Sciatica is the radiating leg pain; a herniated disc is one of its common causes. Finding the specific cause is what makes treatment effective.
Do you take my insurance, and what if you're out-of-network?
We welcome out-of-network patients and explain your likely costs before anything is scheduled.
Do I need a referral to see a sciatica specialist in Phoenix?
No. You can schedule directly with our Phoenix spine specialists — no referral required.
Dr. David L. Greenwald, MD
Neuro-Spine Surgeon
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Schedule a Sciatica Consultation
If sciatica is limiting your comfort or movement, Dr. Greenwald and his caring team are ready to help you find relief. We’ll identify the source of your nerve irritation and guide you through a treatment plan tailored to your specific needs. Whether you’re seeking non-surgical solutions or advanced surgical care, we’ll be with you every step of the way. Schedule your consultation today and take the first step toward lasting relief and a healthier, more active life.
Voted Best Spine Doctor
Over 30 Years Experience in Orthopedic & Neuro Spine Surgeries.
Dr. David L. Greenwald, MD, FAANS, FACS
Neurosurgeon | Spine Surgeon | Regenerative Medicine
Dr. David L. Greenwald, MD, FAANS, FACS, is a board-certified spine surgeon and neurosurgeon with extensive experience diagnosing and treating sciatica, which can cause pain, numbness, or weakness. He uses advanced imaging to pinpoint the true source of your symptoms and builds a personalized, least-invasive-first plan — from conservative care and targeted injections to minimally invasive surgery only when it is truly needed. His skill and patient-centered approach help patients throughout the greater Phoenix, Arizona area experience meaningful pain relief, reduced recovery time, and restored mobility.
Book your Spine Care Consultation Today!
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