How to Treat Sciatica
Sciatica or sciatica pain is a condition where the individual could experience weakness, a tingling sensation or numbness starting from the lower back and progressing to the back of the leg where the sciatic nerve is located. The pain is a result of compression or irritation of any of the five spinal nerve roots that make up the sciatic nerve.
Pain or any of the above sensations are felt in the buttocks, lower back, various portions of the leg, and the foot. Some could experience a mere tingling or pricking sensation while others could even find it difficult to move the leg. The symptoms are generally restricted to one part of the body and so it’s rare for the individual to feel these symptoms on both legs. Cold weather could also exacerbate the sciatica pain.
What Causes Sciatica?
The causes for sciatica could be spinal issues such as spinal stenosis or spinal disc herniation, or even piriformis syndrome. Treatment for sciatica pain therefore depends on the particular condition causing it. The probability for contracting sciatica is normally greater for middle aged individuals while it’s particularly rare in individuals below 20. Normally, sciatic nerve pain doesn’t result from acute trauma but more commonly develops progressively over time.
Does Treatment for Sciatica Involve Surgery?
Often sciatica does not require surgery, and most people begin to experience relief within weeks or a few months of non-surgical treatment. There are cases when the pain could seriously affect movement. Progressive weakness in the leg or other neurological conditions resulting in distress to internal organs can cause bladder or bowel dysfunction demand more serious treatment. For this, immediate medical attention and surgical intervention could be needed.
Kinds of Non-surgical Treatment
Non-surgical sciatica treatment consists of regular exercise as well as application of ice and heat packs in the case of acute pain. Sciatic pain relief medication consists of prescription drugs as well as over-the-counter medication and may include oral steroids and anti-inflammatory non-steroidal drugs. These drugs help in reducing inflammation that is one of the contributors to sciatica pain.
Epidural Injection
More invasive treatment for sciatica consists of an epidural injection where steroids are injected into the area experiencing pain around the sciatic nerve. This sciatica pain relief could last from a week to a year, depending on the particular condition of the individual. Epidural injection is really effective for acute pain. Depending on the underlying cause, other treatment options for sciatica include massage therapy, chiropractic treatment and acupuncture.
A reliable healthcare and physical therapy facility can offer the best choice of sciatica treatment cost-effectively. The experts here know how to treat sciatica in the most effective manner.
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