How to Treat Sciatica
Sciatica is a type of pinched nerve that occurs in the sciatic nerve. The sciatic nerve is actually the largest nerve in the human body. It runs from the base of the spinal cord, branching from the lower back through the hips and buttocks and down through each leg to the feet. Sciatica typically occurs from a herniated disk in the spine or by a bone spur (overgrowth of bone) in the vertebrae of the spine. There are times, however, when sciatica can occur due to a nerve compression from a tumor or when damaged by diabetes or other disease. Sciatica can cause pain that can radiate along the path of the sciatic nerve, and often this pain is caused by the inflammation that can occur from sciatica. Sciatica generally affects only one side of the body or the other. At times, inflammation or pain can be accompanied by numbness or tingling in limbs on the affected side. Spinal surgeons recommend treatment of sciatica that can include conservative care, medications, physical therapy, corticosteroid injections, or in severe cases, a surgical procedure.
Medications
Pain medications such as NSAIDs (non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs) are effective in many cases for reducing the pain and inflammation that can be caused by sciatica. NSAIDs include such over-the-counter pain medications as ibuprofen (brand names Motrin, Advil, and others). Sometimes muscle relaxants are recommended in order to relieve pressure and pain from sciatica. In cases where over-the-counter pain medications are not sufficient to alleviate associated pain, narcotics or even antidepressants or anti-seizure medications may be prescribed.
Physical therapy
When acute pain of sciatica begins to subside, rehabilitation is often necessary. In this case, a conservative course of treatment of physical therapy is recommended for sciatica. During a course of physical therapy treatment, a physical therapist will develop a list of exercises designed to strengthen muscles that support the back and correct posture, as well as to relieve pain and other symptoms associated with sciatica. As a patient progresses through the first level of physical therapy exercises, the physical therapist will make modifications to the list of exercises in order to progress treatment and further relieve pain and symptoms.
Corticosteroid injections
For patients whose pain is not relieved by this point, an injection of corticosteroid medication into the area surrounding the nerve root may be necessary. Corticosteroids are effective because they reduce pain as well as associated inflammation. The effects of this medication typically wear off in a few months, and so a number of injections may be necessary in order to further relieve pain. However, because steroid injections can have side effects, the number of injections permitted is limited.
Surgery
In some patients, the compressed nerve causes significant weakness or even bowel or bladder incontinence. Additionally, severe pain may not relent with more conservative measures, and in these cases surgery may be necessary to relieve symptoms that interfere with a patient's ability to live a normal life. In less frequent cases where conservative treatments do not alleviate pain and other associated symptoms, a spinal surgeon may recommend surgery for the pinched sciatic nerve. If sciatic pain lasts for a period of weeks, months, or even longer, surgery to remove bone spurs or other surgical procedure may be recommended. However, it's important to note that surgical procedures generally are only used in cases where more conservative methods of treatment have been tried and have failed. Most spinal surgeons in Milburn use surgery as a last resort for patients whose pain does not relent with pain medications, physical therapy, or even steroid injections.
Sciatica affects millions of Americans, and tens of thousands more each year are diagnosed with it. The pain and other symptoms that can accompany sciatica can disrupt your normal activities, but it doesn't have to be that way. According to the website of the Mayo Clinic, most people who suffer from sciatica can experience relief in as little as a few weeks if they employ some of the conservative measures discussed above. However, if you've tried conservative treatments and you're still experiencing pain or other associated sciatica symptoms, it may be time to contact a spinal surgeon in Milburn to schedule a consultation to be diagnosed and potentially treated in order to alleviate symptoms of sciatica.
Medications
Pain medications such as NSAIDs (non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs) are effective in many cases for reducing the pain and inflammation that can be caused by sciatica. NSAIDs include such over-the-counter pain medications as ibuprofen (brand names Motrin, Advil, and others). Sometimes muscle relaxants are recommended in order to relieve pressure and pain from sciatica. In cases where over-the-counter pain medications are not sufficient to alleviate associated pain, narcotics or even antidepressants or anti-seizure medications may be prescribed.
Physical therapy
When acute pain of sciatica begins to subside, rehabilitation is often necessary. In this case, a conservative course of treatment of physical therapy is recommended for sciatica. During a course of physical therapy treatment, a physical therapist will develop a list of exercises designed to strengthen muscles that support the back and correct posture, as well as to relieve pain and other symptoms associated with sciatica. As a patient progresses through the first level of physical therapy exercises, the physical therapist will make modifications to the list of exercises in order to progress treatment and further relieve pain and symptoms.
Corticosteroid injections
For patients whose pain is not relieved by this point, an injection of corticosteroid medication into the area surrounding the nerve root may be necessary. Corticosteroids are effective because they reduce pain as well as associated inflammation. The effects of this medication typically wear off in a few months, and so a number of injections may be necessary in order to further relieve pain. However, because steroid injections can have side effects, the number of injections permitted is limited.
Surgery
In some patients, the compressed nerve causes significant weakness or even bowel or bladder incontinence. Additionally, severe pain may not relent with more conservative measures, and in these cases surgery may be necessary to relieve symptoms that interfere with a patient's ability to live a normal life. In less frequent cases where conservative treatments do not alleviate pain and other associated symptoms, a spinal surgeon may recommend surgery for the pinched sciatic nerve. If sciatic pain lasts for a period of weeks, months, or even longer, surgery to remove bone spurs or other surgical procedure may be recommended. However, it's important to note that surgical procedures generally are only used in cases where more conservative methods of treatment have been tried and have failed. Most spinal surgeons in Milburn use surgery as a last resort for patients whose pain does not relent with pain medications, physical therapy, or even steroid injections.
Sciatica affects millions of Americans, and tens of thousands more each year are diagnosed with it. The pain and other symptoms that can accompany sciatica can disrupt your normal activities, but it doesn't have to be that way. According to the website of the Mayo Clinic, most people who suffer from sciatica can experience relief in as little as a few weeks if they employ some of the conservative measures discussed above. However, if you've tried conservative treatments and you're still experiencing pain or other associated sciatica symptoms, it may be time to contact a spinal surgeon in Milburn to schedule a consultation to be diagnosed and potentially treated in order to alleviate symptoms of sciatica.