Blog Details

Sciatica treatment can be noninvasive or surgical. Nonsurgical techniques are used for sciatic pain relief and recommended if the etiology is severe and/or neurological abnormalities like leg weakness worsen. Sitting, standing, coughing, sneezing, twisting, lifting, and straining can worsen pain. Sciatic pain treatment includes hot and cold packs, medicines, exercises, and other therapies.

What is Sciatica? 

The longest nerve in the body, the sciatic nerve, runs from the lower back to both legs. Sciatica covers any pain or neurological problems involving this long nerve. The most common cause of sciatica is a bulging lumbar disc. Spongy discs support the spine between vertebrae. If injured, this disc may shift and push on the sciatic nerve. The disc's strong covering may disintegrate, allowing the jelly-like interior to leak through tears and pressure the sciatic nerve. 

Sciatica is characterized by buttock discomfort, although it can also cause the following symptoms: 

• Numbness 

• Tingling

• Itching and burning 

Sciatica pain starts in the lower back and travels down one leg's thigh to the foot and leg. Most patients describe scorching, acute, or electrical discomfort. When standing or sitting, the pain gets worse; lying or walking relieves the pain. 

Sciatica Pain Treatments

Several drugs can treat sciatica.  Medicines that are used orally: acetaminophen, aspirin, and NSAIDs like ibuprofen, ketoprofen, and naproxen are over-the-counter painkillers.  Due to Reye's syndrome risk, do not administer aspirin to children under 18. Steroids are sometimes administered around the spinal nerve. When a herniated disc causes irritation, these injections may help slightly, according to research. 

Surgery for sciatica 

Surgery is the only option for 5–10% of sciatica patients. Sciatica pain patients who have not responded to conservative treatments for three months should undergo a discectomy or laminectomy. 

1. A discectomy by pain management dr near me removes the sciatic nerve-pressing spinal disc, or bone spur. The idea is to cut away only the pushing bone or disc, but surgeons may have to remove the entire disc. Many patients return home the same day after this treatment. 

2. Laminectomy is the removal of the spinal canal lamina. This lamina removal works as a sciatic nerve pain reliever and to help treat neurological problems. New surgical techniques with microscopic incisions and low-invasive procedures may reduce some of the hazards of surgery. This permits you to walk within 24 hours, but recovery may take 2–4 weeks. 

Sciatica treatment usually reduces pain and improves mobility. Those with chronic or severe sciatica have numerous therapy choices. Surgery may be an option for chronic pain management if other therapies fail or are harsh. 

Movement

Moving is perhaps the best sciatic pain relief strategy. Sciatica sufferers often rest in bed or recline in a comfortable chair to recuperate. The first two days after sciatica symptoms start, resting is fine, but staying in bed does not help. Moving alleviates pain in numerous ways.

• It strengthens muscles, supporting the spine. 

• Flexibility and range of motion can improve. 

• It increases blood flow to all body parts, especially wounded ones, speeding healing. 

• Pain perception decreases. 

• Sciatica sufferers should move as quickly as possible. 

If movement worsens the discomfort, consult a pain doctor in Dallas to discuss it. To prevent sciatica from returning, keep active. Long-term sitting is bad for everyone. Long-term sitting might worsen sciatica and increase its risk. 

Therapeutic Lumbar Injections

Sciatica Lumbar therapeutic injections may relieve sciatic nerve discomfort. Injections relieve discomfort, so patients can fully participate in physical therapy. Injections can also identify target nerves and diagnose discomfort. Popular sciatic pain injections include epidural steroid injections, which may treat sciatica from spinal stenosis, disc herniation, or degenerative disc degeneration.

This therapy's main goals are: 

• Manage sciatic nerve inflammation from chemical and mechanical factors such as herniated or degenerative discs. 

• Reduce immune system activity to reduce inflammatory cell formation. 

• The anti-inflammatory impact of epidural steroids dissipates into nerve terminals and other tissues, affecting pain-transmitting structures. 

Nerve Root Injections 

This injection is given near the spinal nerve as it leaves the intervertebral foramen. Anti-inflammatory medicine numbs nerve discomfort. Sciatica pain can be treated by selective nerve root blocks from L4 to S3. Results vary widely with most therapeutic injections. Some patients get instant and continuous pain relief, others for a few weeks or months, and some have no pain relief.  Consult a pain specialist near me for sciatica treatment. Surgery is usually recommended if nonsurgical approaches fail after 6–8 weeks or if neurologic impairments like leg weakness worsen. 

Self-care Treatments

Self-treatment usually helps with minor sciatica, depending on the reason. Moderate to severe pain, numbness, tingling, and muscle weakness require interventional pain management treatment. Do not self-treat them. Self-care treatments include: 

• Ice: In the first few days after sciatica pain begins, cold or ice packs might relieve discomfort and swelling. Use an ice pack (wrap ice cubes in a towel to avoid cold-related skin damage). Apply 20-minute cold treatments many times a day. 

• Heat: Instead of cold or ice, use a heating pad or warm compress after several days. Apply heat for 20 minutes. Changing between hot and cold packs will help ease pain if necessary. 

• Over-the-Counter Medicines: NSAIDs are frequently first-line treatments. Reduce pain, swelling, and inflammation.

• Stretching and Moving: Instructors with low back pain experience can help teach correct stretching. They may also assist you in progressing to general strengthening, core muscle strengthening, and aerobic workouts. After a few weeks, see a pain specialist in Dallas if self-care doesn't work. 

Conclusion