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Sciatica Treatment in San Diego, CA | Dr. Sanjay Ghosh 

Relief for Leg Pain, Numbness, and Nerve Compression 

Sciatica can make sitting, walking, or even standing feel painful and unpredictable. When shooting leg pain keeps interrupting your day, expert evaluation can help you understand the cause and find long-lasting relief. 

Dr. Sanjay Ghosh, a board-certified neurosurgeon in San Diego, specializes in diagnosing and treating sciatica using advanced imaging and minimally invasive treatments tailored to your symptoms and lifestyle. 

Call (619) 810-1010 to schedule a sciatica evaluation. 

What Is Sciatica? 

Sciatica occurs when the sciatic nerve, the largest nerve in the body, is irritated or compressed. 
Pain usually starts in the lower back or buttocks and travels down the leg, sometimes reaching the foot. 

Sciatica is not a diagnosis by itself. It is a symptom of an underlying condition, such as: 

  • Herniated disc 
  • Lumbar spinal stenosis 
  • Degenerative disc disease 
  • Spondylolisthesis 
  • Piriformis syndrome 
  • Bone spurs 
  • Nerve compression from disc collapse or instability 

Dr. Ghosh identifies the exact cause, so treatment is precise and effective. 

Common Symptoms of Sciatica 

Sciatica typically affects one side of the body and may include: 

  • Sharp, burning, or shooting leg pain 
  • Pain worsens when sitting, bending, or twisting 
  • Numbness or tingling down the leg 
  • Weakness in the foot or ankle 
  • “Electric shock” sensations 
  • Difficulty standing or walking long distances 
  • Pain relief when lying down or changing position 

If symptoms are persistent or worsening, evaluation is recommended. 

How Dr. Ghosh Diagnoses Sciatica 

Your evaluation may include: 

  • Review of symptoms and medical history 
  • Neurological exam to assess strength and sensation 
  • MRI or CT scan to locate nerve compression 
  • Identification of the underlying cause (disc herniation, stenosis, etc.) 
  • Clear explanation of all treatment options 

Dr. Ghosh focuses on finding the source of the nerve irritation—not just treating the pain. 

Non-Surgical Treatment Options 

Many patients find relief without surgery. 
Dr. Ghosh may recommend: 

  • Targeted physical therapy 
  • Core strengthening and mobility exercises 
  • Posture and activity adjustments 
  • Image-guided epidural steroid injections 
  • Short-term anti-inflammatory medications 
  • Nerve gliding or stretching routines 

These treatments help reduce inflammation, improve movement, and relieve pressure on the sciatic nerve. 

When Sciatica Requires Surgical Care 

Surgery becomes an option when: 

  • Leg pain persists despite conservative care 
  • Weaknesses develop in the foot or leg 
  • Numbness is progressing 
  • Imaging shows significant nerve compression 
  • Pain limits daily activity, work, or sleep 

Dr. Ghosh explains each option clearly and only recommends surgery when it offers the best path to recovery. 

Surgical Treatments for Sciatica 

Microdiscectomy (Most Common) 

Removes a small piece of the herniated disc that is pressing on the sciatic nerve. 
Often provides rapid relief from leg pain. 

Laminectomy 

Removes bone and tissue causing lumbar stenosis, creating more space for compressed nerves. 

Lumbar Fusion (TLIF / ALIF / XLIF) 

Used when instability or spondylolisthesis is contributing to nerve compression. 

Minimally Invasive Techniques 

Smaller incisions, less muscle disruption, and quicker recovery when appropriate. 

Dr. Ghosh selects the safest and most effective option based on your anatomy and goals. 

Benefits of Sciatica Surgery 

  • Relief from radiating leg pain 
  • Improved strength and mobility 
  • Reduced numbness and nerve irritation 
  • Faster return to normal activities 
  • High success rates with minimally invasive approaches 

Many patients notice improvement shortly after nerve decompression. 

Why Patients Choose Dr. Ghosh 

  • Board-certified neurosurgeon 
  • 20+ years of experience treating lumbar nerve compression 
  • Expertise in minimally invasive spine surgery 
  • Skilled in both primary and revision procedures 
  • Detailed imaging review and honest guidance 
  • Surgeries performed at Scripps Memorial Hospital La Jolla and outpatient centers 

Patients appreciate his calm, grounded approach and clear explanations. 

Related Conditions 

Sciatica symptoms often overlap with other lumbar spine issues. Learn more about: 

  • Disc Herniation – One of the most common causes of sciatica 
  • Lumbar Spinal Stenosis – Narrowing that compresses nerves 
  • Spondylolisthesis – Slippage of vertebrae that irritates nerves 
  • Degenerative Disc Disease – Disc wear contributing to pain and instability 

Exploring these conditions can help you understand what may be causing your symptoms. 

Frequently Asked Questions

Is sciatica permanent?

Most cases improve with proper treatment. Persistent symptoms may signal nerve compression. 

MRI helps identify the exact cause and guide treatment. 

Episodes may last days to weeks, but ongoing pain requires evaluation. 

No. Surgery is recommended only when conservative treatments fail or weakness appears.

Yes. Severe compression can cause leg weakness or difficulty standing. 

Sometimes, but recurring or worsening symptoms should not be ignored. 

Serving Patients Across San Diego County 

Dr. Ghosh treats patients from Carlsbad, La Jolla, Encinitas, Mission Valley, Poway, Rancho Bernardo, Mira Mesa, Hillcrest / Bankers Hill, Clairemont, Chula Vista, Coronado, Del Mar, Scripps Ranch, University City / UTC, and surrounding communities throughout San Diego County. His Mission Valley clinic is easy to reach from all directions. 

Find Relief from Sciatica Pain 

If shooting leg pain, numbness, or weakness is impacting your mobility, expert evaluation can help you move confidently again. 

Call (619) 810-1010 or request your consultation online to meet with Dr. Sanjay Ghosh, a trusted neurosurgeon in San Diego. 

Real Lives Transformed

Patients who regained strength and independence through precise, compassionate care.

Thank you to a man who comes to this church, who’s one of the great surgeons. He did something that’s pretty much impossible. His name is Sanjay Ghosh.
 Everybody wants to know who did Donna’s surgery — I’m just going to tell you straight out: it’s him. You do what you want to do with that, but that’s true. And he’s amazing, and we’re so grateful. He was a gift of God to us at this particular time.

Dr. David Jeremiah
Shadow Mountain Community Church 
Dr. David Jeremiah
Shadow Mountain Community Church 

For the most of my life, I have trained and presented wildlife in public conservation education programs and the media. My work is often very physically demanding and I have used the Senta Clinic and Dr. Sanjay Ghosh to treat my spinal issues and keep me able to continue my work and manage my pain.

Joan Embery
Wildlife Expert, and TV Personality
Dr. David Jeremiah
Shadow Mountain Community Church 
The greatest thing about the Dr. Ghosh is his empathy and compassion along with being a great surgeon. His professionalism speaks for itself as soon as you walk in his office. Today I am pain free both walking and running 5 miles a day and it has been more than 2 years.
Dr. Alicia Gwynn
Dr. David Jeremiah
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If you’ve been diagnosed with an acoustic neuroma or are experiencing symptoms such as hearing loss or dizziness, contact Dr. Ghosh to discuss the best treatment options for you. Our team provides compassionate, evidence-based care tailored to each patient’s unique condition and lifestyle.

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Meet Elisha
Elisha G.
Practice Relations Liaison

Proudly partnering with Elisha Green – Practice Relations Liaison.

Meet Lauren
Lauren G.
Assistant Office Manager

Lauren was born and raised in San Diego, California. She attended San Diego State University, graduating with a Bachelor of Arts degree in Communication in 2013. She began her professional journey in the hospitality field where she discovered her passion for helping others and building relationships. This eventually inspired her to pursue a career in healthcare, joining Sharp Healthcare in 2016 where she found great fulfillment in learning and growing within the medical field. Lauren began working with Senta Neurosurgery in 2017 supporting Dr. Sanjay Ghosh.

When not at work, Lauren enjoys spending time with her family, being an Auntie, traveling, and being outdoors.

Dr. Ghosh, I just wanted to take a moment & thank you again for all you have done for my husband, Benton (Rick) Coulter. June 26th he was brought by ambulance to Grossmont Hospital. That was the beginning of the scariest days of our lives. When we were told he needed brain surgery we were stunned, confused & not sure what to do. We asked for a second opinion by you. Within 30 minutes you were at Rick’s bedside. You were friendly, caring & confident. After examining him you told us he would need two surgeries instead of one. You even called me at home to answer our many questions. Thank you for treating us with such respect. You were available & patient as we tried to make a decision. Once we decided you were the right Dr. we had continuous confirmations that we had chosen the right one. We will be forever grateful to you! You saved my husband’s life and his sight. God used you in a mighty way & He answered our prayers. Thank you for all the work it took to be a Brain Surgeon & to help others like us. You are not only skilled but you are also caring. We appreciate you so much.
Sincerely, Karen Coulter
So far I have been taken great care of by Dr. Ghosh and his staff. Dr. G has spent quality time with me reviewing my symptoms and MRI’s etc that are a result of a day at a water park turn into one of the worst injuries I have ever had. What I appreciated the most was our efforts as a team to exhaust all options of pain management and PT before coming to the decision that no relief is in sight without surgery. I had already been referred to Dr. G’s office by other friends and patients so I’m very comfortable moving forward with Dr. Ghosh and his team.
Former Patient
I was referred to Dr. Ghosh by my corporate physician. She had heard good things about Dr. Ghosh. I went to several other neurosurgeons. They were all excellent but I just liked Dr. Ghosh’s confidence and frank manner. My surgery was quick and the result was excellent. My recovery time was minimal. The incision, with a little more time will be minimal and not noticeable. The pain I have felt for a long time is gone. I’ve noticed that others feel that Dr. Ghosh and Amanda did not spend enough quality time with them. My time with them was brief. I don’t need alot of hugs and hand holding. I just needed them to provide me with the information I needed to make decisions, which they did to my satisfaction. They are seeing alot of patients. I don’t think it would be fair to others if Dr. Ghosh and Amanda had to spend several hours caring for my psychological needs when all they really needed to do is fix my neck. Amanda is truly capable. I had an issue late on a holiday night. I called. They transferred me to her even though she was at a social event. I explained to her my concerns. She told me what to expect and under what circumstances to come back to the office.For those who felt abandoned and that they didn’t get enough time, you might find other surgeons even more unavailable. Dr. Ghosh stated he was starting to take less patients to try and spend a little more time with each patient. I hope he doesn’t. It won’t be fair to the people who won’t benefit from his talents. A special thank you to Dr. Ghosh and his team.
Former Patient
Meet Edith
Edith Smith
Director of Operations

Edith was born in Budapest, Hungary and immigrated to Los Angeles, CA as a small child.  She later received a Bachelor of Arts degree in Economics from the University of California, San Diego in 1996. From 1997 to 2002, she worked as a Program Manager at Qualcomm, during which time she also obtained a Certificate in Project Management from the University of San Diego. Edith took some time off to start her family but remained active in her volunteer efforts supporting Rady Children’s Hospital Auxiliary, where she co-chaired nine large fundraising events and served on the Board of Directors for 5 years. During her time at Rady Children’s, Edith became passionate about healthcare and neurosurgery in particular when her daughter became a neurosurgical patient at Radys. Edith joined Senta Neurosurgery’s team supporting Dr. Sanjay Ghosh’s practice in 2019. Given her personal experiences, Edith knows that getting a referral to neurosurgery is a stressful, life altering event, so she truly appreciates being part of the patient care process for Dr. Ghosh’s patients.

When not at work, Edith enjoys spending time with her friends and family, traveling, cooking, and entertaining.

Meet Melissa
Melissa Padilla
Surgery Coordinator

Melissa has an Associate of Science Degree in Medical Office Administration. She has worked in healthcare for over 25 years. She started out working in a radiology department processing film and scheduling exams. Melissa joined Dr. Ghosh’s team in 2003 and uses her skills and experience to schedule Dr. Ghosh’s patients for surgery.  She is a fierce advocate for our patients throughout the entire prior authorization and scheduling process, and her goal is to make the scheduling of our patients’ surgeries organized and stress free so that our patients can focus on healing.

Meet Deborah
Deborah Updike
M.M.S, M.S., PA-C

Deborah is a California native. She attended American University in Washington, DC graduating with a Bachelor of Science in Marine Science and Environmental Studies. She was a college athlete, playing NCAA D1 volleyball all four years. She then attended California State University, Long Beach where she received a Masters of Marine Science in Shark Reproductive Physiology. During her first masters degree, she began transitioning into medicine and went on to receive her Master of Medical Science degree in Physician Assistant studies at Midwestern University in Downers Grove, IL. Deborah served as class Vice President. She graduated in 2017 and has been working at Senta Neurosurgery ever since. Deborah is a member of the American Academy of Physician Assistants.

Meet Edith
Edith Smith
Director of Operations

Edith was born in Budapest, Hungary and immigrated to Los Angeles, CA as a small child.  She later received a Bachelor of Arts degree in Economics from the University of California, San Diego in 1996. From 1997 to 2002, she worked as a Program Manager at Qualcomm, during which time she also obtained a Certificate in Project Management from the University of San Diego. Edith took some time off to start her family but remained active in her volunteer efforts supporting Rady Children’s Hospital Auxiliary, where she co-chaired nine large fundraising events and served on the Board of Directors for 5 years. During her time at Rady Children’s, Edith became passionate about healthcare and neurosurgery in particular when her daughter became a neurosurgical patient at Radys. Edith joined Senta Neurosurgery’s team supporting Dr. Sanjay Ghosh’s practice in 2019. Given her personal experiences, Edith knows that getting a referral to neurosurgery is a stressful, life altering event, so she truly appreciates being part of the patient care process for Dr. Ghosh’s patients.

When not at work, Edith enjoys spending time with her friends and family, traveling, cooking, and entertaining.

Meet Felix
Felix Regala
MPAP, PA-C

Felix was born and raised in Abilene, Texas where he graduated from Abilene High School in 2001. He was honored with the Chuck and Doris Moser Scholarship for his accomplishments as a varsity athlete in baseball and his excellence in academics and community service. He then attended Baylor University where he graduated in 2004 with a Bachelor of Science degree in biology. Felix then spent a couple of years working in the laboratory at the Salk Institute for Biological Studies and Johnson & Johnson. He then went on to the Keck School of Medicine at University of Southern California to obtain his Master of Physician Assistant Practice degree. Felix graduated from physician assistant school in 2010. While pursuing his PA degree at USC, Felix served as class president and spent time training in neurosurgery and orthopedic spine.  Felix has been a PA with Dr. Ghosh since May 2011.

Felix enjoys being active, including playing basketball, surfing, snowboarding, golfing, and exercising. Felix is also a member of the American Academy of Physician Assistants and the California Academy of Physician Assistants.

Meet Amanda
Amanda W. Gumbert
M.M.S, PA-C

Amanda received her Bachelor of Science degree in Kinesiology at San Diego State University in 2002. She worked as an Exercise Physiologist at the Cardiac Treatment Center at Scripps Memorial Hospital La Jolla before going to PA School. Amanda graduated from Midwestern University in Glendale, Arizona with a Master of Medical Science degree in Physician Assistant studies in 2005. She began working for Dr. Ghosh in January 2006 working as the senior Physician Assistant and manager of the PAs.   Amanda has spoken at the national level at the AAPA conference on various neurosurgical topics. She is highly committed to the future Physician Assistants and frequently has students shadow her and acts as a PA student preceptor. She is a member of the American Academy of Physician Assistants, Association of Neurosurgical Physician Assistants, and The San Diego Society of Physician Assistants.  Amanda is honored to be a finalist for San Diego Magazine’s Woman of the Year— 2025 Healthcare Pioneer.

When not working, Amanda enjoys hiking, mountain biking, stand up paddle boarding, snowboarding, playing with her dogs and spending time with her family.

San Diego Magazine’s Celebrating Women
2025 Healthcare Pioneer Finalist