A Comprehensive Guide on Different Sciatica Treatments

1. A Comprehensive Guide on Different Sciatica Treatments

2. What is Sciatica? Sciatica is one of the types of back pain that can be easily treated if diagnosed early and proper medication is taken. In this, sciatica nerve that goes from the lower back to the hips and from the buttocks to the back of each leg is affected. This can happen due to old age or an injury.

3. Symptoms Of Sciatica When the pain persists not more than 4 or 8 weeks and goes away without any medication or treatment, it is called acute sciatica. When the pain is unbearable or gets worse it’s always recommended to go for a doctor. There are different sciatica treatments and they are mentioned below:

4. Medications: — Not all the sciatica patients’ needs to go for surgery. Some of the cases are treated by medications. There are allopathic as well as ayurvedic medications. Over the counter pain killers like acetaminophen and NSAIDS like ibuprofen, aspirin turns out to be helpful for a certain period and for acute sciatica but it is not recommended for a longer period. Doctors mostly prescribe muscle relaxants or anti-inflammatories or they give steroid injections over the affected area. Ayurvedic medicines too are good option as they are 100% natural with no side effects. Internal herbal pills, herbal decoctions, external oil applications and hot massages are some of the ways of treating sciatica in Ayurveda.

5. Hot or cold packs: — Hot or cold compression packs reduce pain. One can find them though online stores or at offline stores; use it on the affected area for few minutes. Starting with cold pack (or ice packs) for few days and then with the hot packs; will give good results in overcoming the pain.

6. Physiotherapy and Exercise:— Physiotherapy is a common treatment for sciatica. However as discussed earlier sciatica is not any leg pain but specifically, related to the pain that travels down the line of sciatic nerve. Exercises are practiced accordingly to ease the pain by improving the strength and flexibility of the muscles. It is recommended to perform exercise or undergo physical therapy under the presence of the therapist.

7. Acupuncture: — Acupuncture is inserting small needles at specific points in the body. The inserting of needles triggers the nervous system to respond by releasing natural painkillers like endorphins and encephalin. Thus it relaxes the muscles around and one gets relieved from pain. It has no side effects on the body.

8. Surgery: — If none of the therapies are responded back by the body positively, the final option is the surgery for excruciating pain or chronic sciatica. Lumbar laminectomy and Discectomy are methods of surgery for sciatica. Under lumbar laminectomy the spinal canal is enlarged by removing lamina. A lamina is a bony part that exists on the spinal vertebrae and acts as a roof for the spinal cord. However bony overgrowths makes the passages narrow thus increases the pressure causing pain, weakness or numbness.

9. This surgery mostly done when treatments such as physical therapies, medications and injections fail to relieve pain. Under micro discectomy, herniated disc is removed partially or entirely. Pain which is caused by lumbar disc herniation that pinches the nerves is removed. If nonsurgical methods do not relieve the pain, a small open surgery is performed by magnification. In most of the patients this surgery helps in overcoming the sciatica problem.

10. This surgery mostly done when treatments such as physical therapies, medications and injections fail to relieve pain. Under micro discectomy, herniated disc is removed partially or entirely. Pain which is caused by lumbar disc herniation that pinches the nerves is removed. If nonsurgical methods do not relieve the pain, a small open surgery is performed by magnification. In most of the patients this surgery helps in overcoming the sciatica problem. Phone 033 7120 5050 6290 967 376 (9am to 8pm) Mail info@advancespinesurgery.com Website: advancespinesurgery.com