SCIATICA TREATMENT

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SCIATICA TREATMENT
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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Sciatica Is Caused by Nerve Compression Sciatica
is generally caused by sciatic nerve compression.
Disorders known to cause sciatic nerve pain
include lumbar spine subluxations (misaligned
vertebral body/ies), herniated or bulging discs
(slipped discs), pregnancy and childbirth,
tumors, and non-spinal disorders such as
diabetes, constipation, or sitting on one's back
pocket wallet. One common cause of sciatica is
piriformis syndrome. Piriformis syndrome is named
after the piriformis muscle. Sciatic nerve
compression may result in the loss of feeling
(sensory loss), paralysis of a single limb or
group of muscles (monoplegia), and insomnia. The
cause of your pain determines your treatment
options to relieve sciatica.
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DRUGS, MEDICATIONS
Epidural Steroid Injections Steroids, which
reduce in?ammation, can help ease your sciatic
pain. With an epidural steroid injection, you get
a corticosteroid medicine injected near the
spinal nerve roots. Over-the-counter NSAIDs
(non-steroidal anti-in?ammatory drugs) These
will help reduce swelling while relieving your
pain. If an over-the-counter NSAID is an option
for you, you and your doctor have plenty to
choose from. Prescription Medications If you
have chronic sciatica, you may need a muscle
relaxant to help ease muscle spasms. As
surprising as it may seem, anti-depressants can
be effective drugs for treating pain because they
may help block pain messages on their way to the
brain. They can also help increase your body's
production of endorphins, a natural pain killer.
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PHYSICAL THERAPY
Research in recent years has suggested that bed
rest alone will not offer relief for those
suffering from nerve pain such as
sciatica. Staying active may be more beneficial
for those who suffer from back pain. Activity
means being up and mobile for periods of time
that are not enough to cause further pain and
aggravation to your back. Some physicians may
prescribe specific exercises, or some may simply
suggest walking. Physical therapy includes both
passive and active treatments. Passive treatments
help to relax you and your body. They also
prepare your body for therapeutic exercise, which
is the active part of physical therapy.
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ALTERNATIVE TREATMENTS
ACUPUNCTURE
ACUPRESSURE
Acupuncture work to restore a healthy, energetic
?ow of Chi. Acupuncturists insert very ?ne
needles (sterilized and disposable) into precise
points on the body. The points are called
meridians. During an acupuncture treatment, the
practitioner may gently twirl or heat some or all
the needles. You want to pursue acupuncture
treatment, look for a licensed practitioner who
uses sterile equipment.
Acupressure is a non-invasive, safe, and gentle
therapy. The acupressure practitioner uses his or
her thumbs, ?ngers, and elbows to place a precise
amount of pressure to speci?c body points.
Acupressure therapy includes the application of
consistent pressure to one or more points and
briskly rubbing the acupressure point to
stimulate it. Acupressure points and acupuncture
points are identical.
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CHIROPRACTIC TREATMENT
The purpose of chiropractic treatment is to help
the body's potential to heal itself. It is
based on the scienti?c principle that restricted
spinal movement leads to pain and reduced
function and performance. Chiropractic care is
non-invasive (non-surgical) and drug-free. The
type of chiropractic therapy provided depends on
the cause of the patient's sciatica.

• Ice/Cold therapy reduces in?ammation and helps to
  control sciatic pain.
• Ultrasound is gentle heat created by sound waves
  that penetrates deep into tissues. Ultrasound
  increases circulation and helps to reduce muscle
  spasms, cramping, swelling, stiffness, and pain.
• TENS unit (transcutaneous electrical nerve
  stimulation) is a small box-like,
  battery-powered, portable muscle stimulating
  machine. Variable intensities of electrical
  current control acute pain and reduce muscle
  spasms. Larger versions of the home-use TENS
  units are used by chiropractors, physical
  therapists and other rehab professionals.
• Adjustments (Spinal Manipulation) At the core of
  chiropractic care are spinal adjustments.
  Manipulation frees restricted movement of the
  spine and helps to restore misaligned vertebral
  bodies to their proper position in the spinal
  column. Spinal adjustment helps to reduce nerve
  irritability responsible for causing in?ammation,
  muscle spasm, pain, and other symptoms related to
  sciatica. Adjust- ments should not be painful.
  Spinal manipulation is proven to be safe and
  effective.

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SURGICAL TREATMENT
There are several types of surgical procedures
used in spine surgery, and your spine surgeon
will recommend the best procedure sciatica
treatment. Two common spinal surgeries for
sciatica are Discectomy or Microdiscectomy In
both of these procedures, the surgeon removes all
or part of a herniated disc that's pushing on
your sciatic nerve and causing your sciatica
symptoms. The difference between the procedures
is that a microdiscectomy is a minimally invasive
surgery. The surgeon uses microscopic
magni?cation to work through a very small
incision using very small instruments.
Laminectomy or Laminotomy These procedures both
involve a part of the spine called the laminaa
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. WILL
SPINE SURGERY RELIEVE SCIATICA? The best answer
here is that is the goal of spine surgery. The
surgeon will work to provide you with, in
general, pain relief and better mobility. By
removing whatever is pressing on your sciatic
nerve the end goal is to decompress that nerve,
which should relieve your sciatic pain.