The sciatic nerve is the longest nerve in your body. It starts at your lower back to your buttocks, going down each of your legs. Sciatica is any damage or irritation to your sciatic nerve. A herniated disc, narrowing of your spinal canal, and injuries are the leading causes of Holmdel sciatica. Depending on the cause, sciatica pain can present as sharp, stabbing, or burning. Sciatica pain can be excruciating, hindering you from performing daily duties. Being overweight, having a job that involves lifting heavy objects, smoking, and having osteoarthritis can increase your risk of developing sciatica. In most cases, sciatica improves with self-care treatments.
Symptoms of Sciatica
Pain
Sciatica pain can present as constant burning or shooting pain in your lower back and buttock. The pain can radiate down your thigh and leg or feet.
Numbness
Sciatica can cause numbness in the back of your leg. It can be accompanied by tingling or weakness.
One-sided Symptoms
Sciatica often affects one of your legs. You may feel heaviness in the affected leg. In rare cases, sciatica can affect both legs.
Posture Induced Symptoms
Your sciatic symptoms may worsen while sitting, trying to stand up, bending your spine forward, twisting your spine, or sudden movements like coughing.
Treatments for Sciatica
Medications
Over-the-counter medicines like aspirin and naproxen can help minimize pain and swelling.
Your doctor can prescribe muscle relaxants to ease discomfort if you have muscle spasms. Antidepressants and anti-seizure medications can relieve pain.
Physical Therapy
Your physician can create an exercise program for you to improve sciatica by reducing pressure on the affected nerves. These exercises include swimming, walking, and water aerobics. Stretching exercises can help improve muscle strength in your back, abdomen, or legs.
Spinal Injections
Your healthcare provider can suggest spinal injections if medications are ineffective. These injections contain a corticosteroid and a numbing substance, which help relieve pain and swelling around the irritated nerves. Spinal injections provide relief for a short period, usually three months.
Alternative Therapies
Alternative therapies manage acute and chronic pain. Chiropractor manipulation, yoga, and acupuncture are effective therapies that help reduce sciatica pain. Massage can help ease muscle spasms. Doctors can use biofeedback in patients with chronic pain to relieve stress and alleviate discomfort.
Surgery
Sciatica surgery is necessary if your symptoms do not improve with other treatments. Your doctor can also suggest Surgery if your pain worsens, you have severe muscle weakness in the lower extremities, or you lose bladder or bowel control. Surgery helps you regain mobility and resume your regular activities. Several surgical methods can improve sciatica, including:
Microdiscectomy
Microdiscectomy is a minimally invasive technique. Surgeons use it if you have a herniated disc to remove fragments pressing on your nerve.
Laminectomy
A laminectomy removes the part of your vertebral bone, causing pressure on your sciatica nerve. This Surgery may take one to two hours. Sciatica is an irritation, injury, or damage of your sciatic nerve.
Pain in your back and buttocks, running down to your feet, and numbness or tingling in your legs are common sciatica symptoms. Medications, spinal injections, physical therapy, and surgery can help treat sciatica. Schedule an appointment at Gramercy Pain Center for sciatica treatment to improve your quality of life.
