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Sciatica is characterised by pain in the lower back and gluteal region. This pain can radiate down one or both legs into the thigh, calf, ankle, and foot. Genuine sciatica occurs when pain travels below the knee.
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SCIATICATREATMENT Sciaticaischaracterisedbypaininthelowerbackandglutealregion.Thispaincanradiatedownoneorbothlegsintothethigh,calf,ankle,andfoot.Genuinesciaticaoccurswhenpaintravelsbelowtheknee.
SciaticaIsCausedbyNerveCompression Sciaticaisgenerallycausedbysciaticnervecompression.Disordersknowntocausesciaticnervepainincludelumbarspinesubluxations(misalignedvertebralbody/ies),herniatedorbulgingdiscs(slippeddiscs),pregnancyandchildbirth,tumors,andnon-spinaldisorderssuchasdiabetes,constipation,orsittingonone'sbackpocketwallet. Onecommoncauseofsciaticaispiriformissyndrome.Piriformissyndromeisnamedafterthepiriformismuscle. Sciaticnervecompressionmayresultinthelossoffeeling(sensoryloss),paralysisofasinglelimborgroupofmuscles(monoplegia),andinsomnia. Thecauseofyourpaindeterminesyourtreatmentoptionstorelievesciatica.
DRUGS,MEDICATIONS EpiduralSteroidInjections:Steroids, which reduce inflammation, can help ease your sciatic pain. With an epidural steroid injection, yougetacorticosteroidmedicineinjectednearthespinalnerveroots. Over-the-counter NSAIDs (non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs): Thesewillhelpreduceswellingwhilerelievingyourpain.Ifanover-the-counterNSAIDisanoptionforyou,youandyourdoctorhaveplentytochoosefrom. PrescriptionMedications:Ifyouhavechronicsciatica,youmayneedamusclerelaxanttohelpeasemusclespasms.Assurprisingasitmayseem,anti-depressantscanbeeffectivedrugsfortreatingpainbecausetheymayhelpblockpainmessagesontheirwaytothebrain.Theycanalsohelpincreaseyourbody'sproductionofendorphins,anaturalpainkiller.
PHYSICALTHERAPY Researchinrecentyearshassuggestedthatbedrestalonewillnotofferreliefforthosesufferingfromnervepainsuchassciatica. Stayingactivemaybemorebeneficialforthosewhosufferfrombackpain.Activitymeansbeingupandmobileforperiodsoftimethatarenotenoughtocausefurtherpainandaggravationtoyourback.Somephysiciansmayprescribespecificexercises,orsomemaysimplysuggestwalking. Physicaltherapyincludesbothpassiveandactivetreatments.Passivetreatmentshelptorelaxyouandyourbody.Theyalsoprepareyourbodyfortherapeuticexercise,whichistheactivepartofphysicaltherapy.
ALTERNATIVETREATMENTS ACUPUNCTURE ACUPRESSURE Acupuncturework to restore a healthy, energetic flow of Chi. Acupuncturists insert very fine needles (sterilized and disposable) into precise points on the body. The points are called meridians. Duringanacupuncturetreatment,thepractitionermaygentlytwirlorheatsomeoralltheneedles. Youwanttopursueacupuncturetreatment,lookforalicensedpractitionerwhousessterileequipment. Acupressureisanon-invasive,safe,andgentletherapy.Theacupressurepractitioneruseshisor her thumbs, fingers, and elbows to place a precise amount of pressure to specific body points. Acupressuretherapyincludestheapplicationofconsistentpressuretooneormorepointsandbrisklyrubbingtheacupressurepointtostimulateit. Acupressurepointsandacupuncturepointsareidentical.
CHIROPRACTICTREATMENT The purpose of chiropractic treatment is to help the body's potential to heal itself. It is based on the scientific principle that restricted spinalmovementleadstopainandreducedfunctionandperformance.Chiropracticcareisnon-invasive(non-surgical)anddrug-free. Thetypeofchiropractictherapyprovideddependsonthecauseofthepatient'ssciatica. Ice/Coldtherapyreduces inflammation and helps to control sciatic pain. • Ultrasoundisgentleheatcreatedbysoundwavesthatpenetratesdeepintotissues.Ultrasoundincreasescirculationandhelpstoreducemusclespasms,cramping,swelling,stiffness,andpain. • TENSunit(transcutaneouselectricalnervestimulation)isasmallbox-like,battery-powered,portablemusclestimulatingmachine.Variableintensitiesofelectricalcurrentcontrolacutepainandreducemusclespasms.Largerversionsofthehome-useTENSunitsareusedbychiropractors,physicaltherapistsandotherrehabprofessionals. • Adjustments (Spinal Manipulation) Atthecoreofchiropracticcarearespinaladjustments.Manipulationfreesrestrictedmovementofthespineandhelpstorestoremisalignedvertebralbodiestotheirproperpositioninthespinalcolumn.Spinaladjustmenthelpstoreduce nerve irritability responsible for causing inflammation, muscle spasm, pain, and other symptoms related to sciatica. Adjust-mentsshouldnotbepainful.Spinalmanipulationisproventobesafeandeffective.
SURGICALTREATMENT Thereareseveraltypesofsurgicalproceduresusedinspinesurgery,andyourspinesurgeonwillrecommendthebestproceduresciatica treatment. Two common spinal surgeries for sciatica are: DiscectomyorMicrodiscectomy:Inbothoftheseprocedures,thesurgeonremovesallorpartofaherniateddiscthat'spushingonyoursciaticnerveandcausingyoursciaticasymptoms.Thedifferencebetweentheproceduresisthatamicrodiscectomyisaminimallyinvasive surgery. The surgeon uses microscopic magnification to work through a very small incision using very small instruments. LaminectomyorLaminotomy: These procedures both involve a part of the spine called the lamina—a bony plate that protects the spinal canal and spinal cord. A laminectomy is the removal of the entire lamina; a laminotomy removes only a part of the lamina. These procedures can create more space for the nerves, reducing the likelihood of the nerves being compressed or pinched. WILLSPINESURGERYRELIEVESCIATICA? Thebestanswerhereis:thatisthegoalofspinesurgery.Thesurgeonwillworktoprovideyouwith,ingeneral,painreliefandbettermobility. By removing whatever is pressing on your sciatic nervetheendgoalistodecompressthatnerve,whichshouldrelieveyoursciaticpain.