What are the Symptoms and Best Ways to Treat Sciatica Nerve Pain?

Sciatica nerve pain is varied and it may commence immediately following an injury or manifest inexplicably months later. It may be acute or chronic. OTC painkillers help sciatica pain, but only powerful drugs and surgery can fix others. Back pain can be hard to pinpoint, but sometimes it's easy. Sciatica is simple to spot. 

Symptoms of Sciatica Nerve Pain

Sciatica pain may manifest as tingling, a dull ache, or a burning sensation. In severe cases, the pain prevents movement. Pain usually affects one side. Certain individuals experience acute pain in the legs or hips accompanied by numbness in other areas. The back of the calf or foot may also experience pain or numbness. Affected legs may be weak. When walking, your foot may catch the ground. Pain may start slowly. 

It may worsen in following conditions:

• Nighttime pain, for instance.

• Sneezing, coughing, or laughing, especially with a herniated disc

• Avoid bending backward or walking farther, particularly if you have spinal stenosis.

• During a bowel movement, you should avoid straining or holding your breath.

How Sciatica Works?

Herniated lumbar discs cause sciatica. Flat, flexible, round connective tissue discs cushion and separate your vertebrae. When a disc wears down from injury or use, its soft center can push out from the hard outer ring. A herniated disc may press on nearby nerves. When the sciatic nerve is involved, this can be painful.

The longest nerve in the body is the sciatic. The sciatic nerve originates from your lower back and travels through your hips, buttocks, legs, and feet on both sides. Lower back bone spurs and spinal stenosis can also press on the sciatic nerve. When that happens, nerve problems can spread down. Sciatica is characterized by lower back pain that radiates to the back, side, or legs. It can hurt mildly or severely. Leg and foot numbness, tingling, and weakness can occur.

Treatments for Sciatica Nerve Pain

Sciatica is a symptom of a medical condition, the cause should be treated by the best way such as physical therapy for sciatica. Sometimes recovery occurs naturally without the need for treatment. Conservative (non-surgical) treatment is often best. Dallas pain clinic may suggest these steps to reduce inflammation and symptoms:

• Use over-the-counter painkillers for sciatica nerve pain like ibuprofen (Advil, Motrin IB) or acetaminophen.

• Ice or heat the painful area. Start with ice for 48–72 hours, then heat.

• Back care at home may include:

• Back exercises should start early to strengthen it, it is one of the best treatments for sciatica.

• Return to exercise after 2–3 weeks. Improve spine flexibility and abdominal strength with core exercises. Slow down for a few days. Then resume your routine slowly.

• Heavy lifting and back twisting should be avoided for 6 weeks after the pain starts.

• Best doctor for sciatica nerve pain may recommend physical therapy. The cause of sciatica determines additional treatments.

• Medications to reduce nerve swelling may be prescribed by the sciatica specialist near me if these measures fail. Nerve irritation can cause stabbing pains. Other medications may help.

• Treating nerve pain can be challenging. If you have chronic pain, you may want to see a physiatrist or sciatica doctor near me to get the most treatment options.

• Surgery is the sciatica nerve pain relief that helps in last resort for spinal nerve compression.

Sciatica Surgery Options

Surgery may be best for severe sciatica. Unless nerve damage symptoms are present, pain management in Dallas rarely recommends surgery. If you experience severe pain that hinders your ability to work or engage in your regular activities, or if your symptoms do not improve after six to eight weeks of conservative treatment, your pain physicians in Dallas may advise surgical intervention. Sciatica surgery options include:

• Discectomy: Herniated disc fragments pressing on a nerve are removed in this surgery.

• Laminectomy. Laminae are the back sections of vertebrae. Laminectomy exercises the lamina that compresses spinal nerves.

When to Call a Doctor 

If you have any questions, contact a sciatica doctor in Dallas immediately.

• Unexplained back pain and fever

• A significant impact or descent results in back pain

• Back or spine inflammation

• Leg pain below the knee

• The buttocks, thigh, leg, or pelvic region may experience weakness or numbness

• Urine burning or blood in urine

• Pain that worsens at night or when lying down, preventing comfort

• Stool or urine incontinence

Also, contact your provider if:

• Your weight loss is unintentional.

• You take steroids or IV drugs.

• Backache has been present for more than 4 weeks