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Sciatica Treatment
in Chennai
The sciatic nerve is the longest and most significant nerve in the body which runs from the lower back to the hips , buttocks and down the legs Sciatica, also known as lumbar radiculopathy is a type of pain that extends down each leg along the sciatic nerve route,. It usually affects only one side of the body. Although the pain associated with sciatica can be extreme, most cases recover within a few weeks with non-surgical therapy.
What Causes Sciatica?
Any irritation or inflammation of a nerve resulting from disc herniation is called a radiculopathy. In addition to disc herniation, the sciatic nerve may become irritated by adjacent structures as well. This can be caused by any of following conditions:
- Lumbar spinal stenosis .
- Degenerative disc disease.
- Lumbar disc herniation (slipped discs)
- Bone spurs.
- Traumatic injuries.
- Tumours.
- Pregnancy.
- Diabetes.
- Occupation: Sciatica may be caused due to jobs that demand twisting the back, moving large objects, or driving a vehicle for lengthy periods.
- Sitting for long hours.
What are the Symptoms of Sciatica?
This may vary from person to person, but most people experience symptoms in only one leg at a time. Other signs and symptoms to look out for are:
- Characteristic symptom: Pain that follows the pathway from the lower back to the back of the thigh or calf and can range from dull discomfort to a sharp and shearing sensation, which can sometimes seem like a jolt or an electric shock. Coughing or sneezing can worsen, and sitting for long periods might exacerbate symptoms.
- Along the sciatic nerve pathway, one may experience numbness, burning, or weakness in the legs or feet, which can progress to a loss of feeling or movement in extreme situations.
- Tingling sensation in toes or foot
- Although uncommon, incontinence or the inability to control the bladder or intestines can be present.
What is the Diagnosis for Sciatica?
Physical examination is carried out to test muscle strength and reflexes.
Your doctor may test your muscle strength and reflexes during the physical examination. For example, the patient might be requested to walk on the toes or heels, rise from a crouching position, and lift the legs one at a time while lying on the back. Sciatica pain will frequently worsen as a result of these activities.
Tests of imaging include;
- X-Ray
- MRI
- CT Scan
- Electromyography
What are the Complications of Sciatica?
Despite the fact that most people recover completely from sciatica without therapy, sciatica can cause chronic nerve damage, which includes,
- Loss of sensation in the affected leg
- Insufficiency in the affected leg
- Deficiency in bowel or bladder function
What is the Treatment for Sciatica?
Oftenly, the pain will resolve itself in a matter of weeks or months. This is one reason why our physician recommends a conservative approach, especially during the initial stages.
Medications
- Anti-inflammatory medicines
- Muscle relaxants
- Antineuropathics
Physical therapy
This usually consists of activities to improve the flexibility while correcting the posture and strengthening the muscles that support the back.
Surgery
Surgery is considered when a compressed nerve produces substantial weakness, bowel or bladder control loss, or pain that does not improve with conventional treatments.
Non-surgical pain management
Interventional treatments for sciatica pain management can be a faster and more effective source of pain relief. These procedures are beneficial when conservative medical care and drugs have failed to relieve severe pain.
- Lumbar epidural injection– Using fluoroscopy , Your doctor will insert a small needle into the epidural area and inject a small dose of a mixture of anti-inflammatory medication and anesthetic. This will reduce inflammation, letting the pressure off of pain-generating spinal nerves & giving a good pain relief.
- Transforaminal Epidural Steroid Injection – This procedure is similar to the one above, but instead of injecting the medication directly into the epidural area, the drug is focused directly onto the nerve fibres that make up the sciatic nerve, resulting in delivery of more medication in the affected area.
- Spinal cord stimulations– It is a wonderful and effective therapeutic option that can relieve pain without surgery when the inflammation in and around the afflicted nerves is too high for an epidural injection
- Microdiscectomy – If there is severe inflammation in and around the affected nerves due to the large slipped disc & conservative measures have failed to provide relief , another alternative is microdiscectomy. Some of the injured disc material surrounding the nerve(s) is removed during microdiscectomy.
The pain physicians at EPIONE are uniquely specialised in this modern, minimally-invasive interventions for effective pain management, providing you with comfort and tender care. If you suffering from nerve pain & looking solutions for you or your loved one, please contact us .