The first type of surgery is primarily performed in older patients who suffer from conditions causing nerve irritation or nerve damage.

Additional treatment for sciatica depends on what is causing the nerve irritation.

"If left untreated, prolonged nerve irritation and damage can lead to permanent disabilities," says Sinett.

He was placed on the disabled list on June 26 with nerve irritation in his neck/back.

Cal Ripken, his teammate, who had never been on the disabled list, is there with nerve irritation in his lower back.

In severe cases, pain and numbness can occur in the arms from nerve irritation or damage.

Carpenter was inactive for that World Series because of a nerve irritation in his upper arm.

This nerve irritation causes referred pain in a well described tri-branched pattern.

"It's a nerve irritation in my lower back, but we don't know what's causing it," Kittle said.

Treatment depends on what is causing the nerve irritation.