Sciatica is discomfort radiating from your lower back, your legs, and even your foot. It occurs when anything in your body compresses your sciatic nerve, such as a herniated disk or a bone spur. Some patients feel severe, searing pain, while others have tingling, weakness, and numbness in their legs. Roswell sciatica commonly only affects one leg at a time. Conversely, it can impact both legs. It all comes down to where the nerve is pinched along the spinal column.

Common sciatica treatments

Although sciatica causes pain and agony, there are several effective therapies available. Most persons with sciatica do not require surgery, and around half recover within six weeks with simply rest and medicine.

1.Physical therapy: Pain from sciatica might make it challenging to be active. However, bed rest is not indicated as primary therapy. Certain positions and activities may be more pleasant than others for managing fresh sciatica pain. If your indications are not severe but last for more than a few weeks, your doctor may suggest physical therapy. The right workouts can help relieve sciatic discomfort. They can also offer conditioning to assist prevent the pain from returning. The exercises advised will be determined by the cause of sciatica. It is vital to deal with a physician with expertise in treating sciatica patients. Also, it is critical to perform the exercises exactly as instructed.

2.Medicines: Over-the-counter pain medicines should be your first line of defense. Acetaminophen and NSAIDs (nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory medicines) such as aspirin, ibuprofen, and naproxen are highly beneficial but should not be utilized for lengthy periods without consulting your doctor. If over-the-counter medications do not relieve your symptoms, your clinician may prescribe stronger muscle relaxants or anti-inflammatories. Tricyclic antidepressants like amitriptyline (Elavil) and seizure medicines can also help. Furthermore, direct steroid injections into the inflamed nerve might give temporary relief.

3.Surgery: When all else fails, surgery therapy is the last choice for roughly 5% to 10% of sciatica patients. If you have milder sciatica and are still in pain after three months of resting, stretching, and taking medication, you and your doctor will most likely need to discuss surgery. In rare situations, sciatica can result in cauda equina syndrome, which causes you to lose control of your bowels and bladder. That is a no-brainer for surgery. Discectomy and laminectomy are the two primary surgical procedures for sciatica.

· Discectomy: A minimally invasive treatment to remove herniated disk pieces pushing on a nerve.

· Laminectomy: The lamina (part of the vertebral bone; the roof of the spinal canal) that is putting strain on the sciatic nerve is removed during this treatment.

4.Alternative treatments: Alternative therapies are becoming increasingly popular for treating and managing many types of pain. Alternative treatments for sciatica include spinal manipulation by a qualified chiropractor, yoga, and acupuncture. Massage may assist with muscular spasms, which are common with sciatica. Biofeedback can aid with pain management and stress reduction.

Sciatica is a frequent ailment. Back discomfort is the third most typical reason individuals seek medical attention. If sciatica symptoms become severe or worsen over time, you should immediately consult a professional. Call Polaris Spine & Neurosurgery Center or book an appointment online to determine which sciatica therapy is ideal for you.