Sciatica and Back Pain

How to Relieve Discomfort

Sciatica and Back Pain – How to Relieve Discomfort

Patients with sciatica often experience back pain, numbness, tingling, and muscle weakness that travel through the hips, buttocks, legs, and feet. These symptoms arise when the sciatic nerve, which is responsible for controlling the muscles in the lower legs and the backs of the knees and for providing sensation to the soles of the feet, backs of the thighs, and part of the lower legs, becomes compressed. In order to thoroughly understand how to find relief from the symptoms of sciatica, patients may benefit from learning about the many causes of the condition.

Causes of Sciatica

The sciatic nerve – the body’s largest nerve – is located in the lower back, and can become compressed for a number of reasons. Congenital disorders and tumors can cause a narrowing of the spinal canal in the lower back, which may lead to compression of the sciatic nerve. Degenerative spine conditions, which occur as a result of the natural aging process, after enduring years of wear and tear from supporting the majority of the body’s weight, can also cause the sciatic nerve to become compressed.

Causes of Sciatica

• Some examples of degenerative spine conditions include:– Herniated discs – Intervertebral discs provide cushioning to the

vertebrae, the bony structures that protect the spinal cord and lend the neck and back their flexibility. The aging process can cause the intervertebral discs to lose water content, which may lead to a rupture in the annulus fibrosus, the disc’s cartilaginous exterior. If the nucleus pulposus, the disc’s jellylike interior, seeps through the rupture and enters into the spinal canal, sciatica can occur if the inner disc material comes into contact with the sciatic nerve.

– Osteophytes – Also called bone spurs, osteophytes are extra growths of bone on the body’s natural bone structures. The body creates bone spurs in an effort to repair the body after it has been exposed to continued stress, pressure, or rubbing. They can occur on any bone in the body, including the vertebrae. When present in the lower back, these protrusions can apply pressure to the sciatic nerve, causing patients to experience sciatica.

Other causes of sciatica include trauma from events such as car accidents and athletic injuries, diabetes, and bleeding in the pelvis, among others.

Conservative Treatments for Sciatica

Treatment for sciatica typically focuses on relieving the patient’s discomfort. Once a doctor or spine specialist has diagnosed a patient with sciatica by performing a physical exam and reviewing diagnostic tests such as X-rays, CT scans, or MRIs, treatment will typically begin with conservative, noninvasive techniques. This may include one or more of the following:– The use of medication – Over-the-counter anti-

inflammatory drugs are usually recommended as an initial course of treatment. If patients find little to no relief from the use of these medications, or if their pain and discomfort are debilitating, a doctor may prescribe pain relievers or muscle relaxants.

– Hot/cold therapy – Heat helps to reduce inflammation, while cold compresses can help to numb pain. Alternating heat and ice can help some patients find relief.

– Physical therapy – Strengthening the muscles in the back can help to relieve pressure on the sciatic nerve by providing better support to the spine. A physical therapist can help patients develop a safe exercise plan that focuses on strengthening specific muscle groups.

Conservative Treatments for Sciatica

While some of these treatment methods can be pursued in the comfort of a patient’s home, it is important to consult a doctor or pharmacist before beginning a drug or exercise regimen. Serious complications, such as drug interactions and further injury, can occur and a medical professional can help to ensure patients are receiving safe, effective, and individualized treatment.Conservative treatment may also focus on more invasive techniques, such as corticosteroid spine injections, Transcutaneous Electrical Nerve Stimulation (TENS), and other methods that are usually administered in a doctor’s office.

Alternative Therapies

Some patients may choose to pursue alternative therapies for easing their sciatica symptoms, especially back pain. Before engaging in this form of treatment, it is important for patients to understand that the medical community has not come to a consensus about the efficacy of alternative therapies. With that being said, many patients have attributed this type of treatment with relieving their sciatica symptoms.

Alternative Therapies

Popular alternative therapies for sciatica include:– Acupuncture – This treatment involves the insertion of thin

needles into specific parts of the body. This is said to increase the body’s production of endorphins (natural pain killers) and may help to scramble nerve signals.

– The use of herbs and dietary supplements – Some holistic drugs are thought to contain healing properties and may even help to relieve pain or inflammation. Patients should use caution to prevent allergic reactions and interactions with other medications.

– Restorative yoga – Using slow, concentrated movements, this type of exercise focuses on strengthening the core muscles in the abdomen and back. Yoga also helps to increase flexibility, which is helpful for patients whose sciatic nerves are being compressed by tense muscles.

– And others

Many of these therapies can be used in conjunction with doctor-prescribed, conservative treatments. Doctors should be informed if patients undergo any form of alternative therapy to ensure no treatment methods interfere.

Surgical Treatment for Sciatica

In some cases, patients may not find sufficient relief after several weeks or months of conservative or alternative treatment and surgery may be recommended. As a general rule, patients can choose between two types of procedures:– Open spine surgery – Depending on the exact cause of the

patient’s sciatica, open spine surgery may entail removing an entire intervertebral disc and fusing the adjacent vertebrae together. This often requires stabilizing hardware and bone grafts and leads to limited mobility in that segment of the spine. Patients who undergo open spine surgery are at risk for developing Failed Back Surgery Syndrome (FBSS), a condition that refers to worsening or continuing symptoms following an operation. In addition to continued sciatica symptoms and back pain, repercussions of FBSS can include depression, anxiety, and insomnia.

– Minimally invasive, endoscopic procedures – Endoscopic procedures typically involve the removal of only the portion of the vertebra or intervertebral disc that is compressing the sciatic nerve, allowing the rest of the anatomy to remain intact. As a result, there is no need for bone grafts or the installation of stabilizing hardware, offering patients a reduced risk for FBSS. These procedures are usually performed on an outpatient basis and, unlike with open spine surgery, a lengthy or arduous rehabilitation is not typically required.

Surgical Treatment for Sciatica

Each type of surgery comes with its own unique advantages and disadvantages. Patients who are considering surgery for the treatment of their sciatica should discuss all surgical options with their doctors.