SCIATICA PAIN----
Sciatic nerve is a large nerve that runs from the lower back down the back of
each leg. When something injures or puts pressure on the sciatic nerve,
it can cause pain in the lower back that spreads to the hip, buttocks,
and leg. Up to 90% of people recover from sciatica without surgery.
Symptoms-
The most common symptom of sciatica is lower back pain that extends through the hip and buttock and down one leg. The pain may get worse when you sit, cough, or sneeze. The leg may also feel numb, weak, or tingly at times. The symptoms of sciatica tend to appear suddenly and can last for days or weeks. Unlike other back pain, sciatic pain radiates down the leg and into the foot. It may feel like a bad leg cramp that lasts for days.
Causes-
Mostly pregnant women suffer from sciatic pain, due to the pressure of the developing uterus on the nerve. At times, a herniated disc or degenerative arthritis may also be the cause.
Natural wear and tear of the vertebrae can lead to a narrowing of the spinal canal. This narrowing, called spinal stenosis, may put pressure on the roots of the sciatic nerve. Spinal stenosis is more common in adults over age 60.
In rare cases, sciatica may result from tumors growing inside or along the spinal cord or sciatic nerve. As a tumor grows, it may put pressure on the nerves that branch off from the spinal cord.
The muscle which connects the lower spine to the upper thighbone, runs directly over the sciatic nerve. That muscle is called piriformis, when this muscle goes into a spasm, it can put pressure on the sciatic nerve, causing sciatica. Piriformis syndrome is more common in women.
Men keeping a fat wallet in their back pocket, can have piriformis syndrome, as it puts chronic pressure on the piriformis muscle. A better place to keep the wallet will be in the front pocket or in the jacket's pocket.
Any injury / infection/ inflammation which irritates or compresses the sciatic nerve can trigger sciatic pain, at times, there may not be any particular reason.
Diagnosis-
the order may ask the patient to squat, walk on heels, lifting the leg without bending the knees etc to judge or may ask for imaging tests like- MRI can show the alignment of vertebral disks, ligaments, and muscles. A CT scan using contrast dye can also provide a useful picture of the spinal cord and nerves. Determining the cause of sciatica can help guide the course of treatment. X-rays can help identify bony abnormalities but can't detect nerve problems.
Complications-
By chance one develops a loss of bladder or bowel control, then this can be medical emergency, so one should contact the doctor at once. But most cases of sciatica will go away after a few days, complications are rare.
Treatment-
Heating pad or ice-pack, application for about 20 minutes can give relief. Try to find which helps- ice pack or heating pad helps or try to alternate with both of them.
Over the counter medications may help. At times, the doctor may give a steroid injection to give you relief from the inflammation.
Exercise- being active, keep moving as much as you can. Stretching slowly the hamstring muscle and lower back will also help.Yoga and tai-chi can help to strengthen the lower back. It is always best to consult your doctor or physical therapist as to what exercise you can do or you ought to avoid.
If the sciatic pain is due to herniated disc which doesn't subside even after few weeks, then after tests, the surgeon may suggest surgery to remove the herniated disc which puts pressure on the sciatic nerve. most patients get relief from this surgery.
After surgery, the patient is taught exercises to strengthen their lower back muscles. This will help patients to get back to their normal routine work.
Prevention
Normally, when one has sciatica, it keeps recurring. But if one follows certain regimen, then they can overcome- like regular exercise, maintaining proper posture, always bend at knees to life heavy objects or to bend down to pick something.
this is only for your information, kindly take the advice of your doctor for medicines, exercises and so on.
Symptoms-
The most common symptom of sciatica is lower back pain that extends through the hip and buttock and down one leg. The pain may get worse when you sit, cough, or sneeze. The leg may also feel numb, weak, or tingly at times. The symptoms of sciatica tend to appear suddenly and can last for days or weeks. Unlike other back pain, sciatic pain radiates down the leg and into the foot. It may feel like a bad leg cramp that lasts for days.
Causes-
Mostly pregnant women suffer from sciatic pain, due to the pressure of the developing uterus on the nerve. At times, a herniated disc or degenerative arthritis may also be the cause.
Natural wear and tear of the vertebrae can lead to a narrowing of the spinal canal. This narrowing, called spinal stenosis, may put pressure on the roots of the sciatic nerve. Spinal stenosis is more common in adults over age 60.
In rare cases, sciatica may result from tumors growing inside or along the spinal cord or sciatic nerve. As a tumor grows, it may put pressure on the nerves that branch off from the spinal cord.
The muscle which connects the lower spine to the upper thighbone, runs directly over the sciatic nerve. That muscle is called piriformis, when this muscle goes into a spasm, it can put pressure on the sciatic nerve, causing sciatica. Piriformis syndrome is more common in women.
Men keeping a fat wallet in their back pocket, can have piriformis syndrome, as it puts chronic pressure on the piriformis muscle. A better place to keep the wallet will be in the front pocket or in the jacket's pocket.
Any injury / infection/ inflammation which irritates or compresses the sciatic nerve can trigger sciatic pain, at times, there may not be any particular reason.
Diagnosis-
the order may ask the patient to squat, walk on heels, lifting the leg without bending the knees etc to judge or may ask for imaging tests like- MRI can show the alignment of vertebral disks, ligaments, and muscles. A CT scan using contrast dye can also provide a useful picture of the spinal cord and nerves. Determining the cause of sciatica can help guide the course of treatment. X-rays can help identify bony abnormalities but can't detect nerve problems.
Complications-
By chance one develops a loss of bladder or bowel control, then this can be medical emergency, so one should contact the doctor at once. But most cases of sciatica will go away after a few days, complications are rare.
Treatment-
Heating pad or ice-pack, application for about 20 minutes can give relief. Try to find which helps- ice pack or heating pad helps or try to alternate with both of them.
Over the counter medications may help. At times, the doctor may give a steroid injection to give you relief from the inflammation.
Exercise- being active, keep moving as much as you can. Stretching slowly the hamstring muscle and lower back will also help.Yoga and tai-chi can help to strengthen the lower back. It is always best to consult your doctor or physical therapist as to what exercise you can do or you ought to avoid.
If the sciatic pain is due to herniated disc which doesn't subside even after few weeks, then after tests, the surgeon may suggest surgery to remove the herniated disc which puts pressure on the sciatic nerve. most patients get relief from this surgery.
After surgery, the patient is taught exercises to strengthen their lower back muscles. This will help patients to get back to their normal routine work.
Prevention
Normally, when one has sciatica, it keeps recurring. But if one follows certain regimen, then they can overcome- like regular exercise, maintaining proper posture, always bend at knees to life heavy objects or to bend down to pick something.
this is only for your information, kindly take the advice of your doctor for medicines, exercises and so on.
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https://kneereplacement-Labels: CT scan, herniated disc, inflammation, MRI, Piriformis Syndrome, sciatic nerve, sciatica pain, surgery
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