Sciatica Treatment
Restored from the Empower Network archive (2011–2017), lightly edited to meet our current advertising standards. Views are the original author’s.
Sciatica is normally a pain affecting the lower part of the body extending from the buttock to the lower leg. At times it can be very painful and requires immediate medical attention.
What are the symptoms of sciatica?
Common symptoms of sciatica include:
Pain in the buttock or leg that is worse when sitting
Burning or tingling down the leg
Weakness, numbness, or difficulty moving the leg or foot
A constant pain on one side of the buttock
A shooting pain that makes it difficult to stand up
Sciatica is a pain that usually affects only one side of the lower body. Often, the pain extends from the lower back all the way through the back of the thigh and down through the leg. Depending on where the sciatic nerve is affected, the pain may also extend to the foot or toes.
At times the pain from sciatica can be severe and debilitating. In addition the pain from sciatica might be infrequent and irritating, but has the potential to get worse.
If the symptoms persist you must seek immediate medical attention.
What causes sciatica?
Sciatica is caused by irritation of the sciatic nerve. As an example a slipped disc is the most common cause of sciatica.
Other common causes of sciatica include:
Lumbar spinal stenosis (narrowing of the spinal canal in the lower back)
Degenerative disc disease (breakdown of discs, which act as cushions between the vertebrae)
Spondylolisthesis (a condition in which one vertebra slips forward over another one)
Pregnancy
Other things that may make your back pain worse include being overweight, not exercising regularly, wearing high heels, or sleeping on a mattress that is too soft.
sciatica diagnosis
During the diagnosis of sciatica, a doctor will take your medical history and perform an examination of the back, hips, and legs in order to test for strength, flexibility, sensation, and reflexes.
Other tests are:
X-rays
MRI scans
CT scans
Nerve conduction studies to determine the health or disease of a nerve
Sciatica treatment
To treat sciatica there is the need on relieving pressure and inflammation. Typical sciatica treatments include:
Medical treatments. Anti-inflammatory drugs such as nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) like ibuprofen, or oral steroids, to relieve inflammation.
Epidural steroid injections. Steroids, with their strong anti-inflammatory effects, are delivered at the origin of the inflamed sciatic nerve roots.
Physiotherapy. This treatment helps to prevent further episodes of sciatica.
Surgery. Surgery may be warranted if the sciatic nerve pain is severe and has not been relieved with appropriate manual or medical treatments.
Sciatica outlook
Sciatica can be very painful, but,it is rare for the disorder to cause permanent nerve damage. Most sciatica pain syndromes result from inflammation and will usually get better within a few weeks.