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Sciatica

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Successful & Effective Sciatica Treatment in Humble, Texas

Why do you have it and how can it be healed without medication by visiting your local chiropractor

Facts about sciatica

Sciatica is a nerve pain that arises due to an irritation of the sciatic nerve. The sciatic nerve is known to be the body’s largest nerve.

The sciatic nerve originates from nerve roots in the spinal cord located in the lower part of the back and runs through the buttock region down to the lower limb.

Sciatica pain is usually felt in the back region. The pain coursed through the thigh to the area below the knee.

Treatment for this condition depends on the severity of the pain and the underlying cause.

 

What is sciatica?

Sciatica is defined as the pain felt in the lower extremities due to an irritation of the sciatic nerve. Sciatica pain is usually felt from the lumbar area (the region below the back), down to the region behind the thigh and in some cases radiates to the region below the knee. The sciatic nerve is the body’s largest nerve and originates from nerve roots in the lumbar spinal cord, extending through the buttock area to send nerve endings down the hind limb. Sciatica is also known clinically as sciatic nerve pain.

 

Causes of sciatica

The most common cause of sciatica is lumbar disc herniation pressing directly on the nerve. Sciatica can also be caused by inflammation or irritation of the sciatic nerve. Nerve irritation caused by an abnormal intervertebral disc is known clinically as radiculopathy. Other than a pinched nerve from a disc, other causes of sciatica may be internal bleeding, tumors, muscle, lumbar spinal infections, irritation of the nerve from adjacent bone, and injury. Sometimes, pregnancy can cause an irritation of the sciatic nerve, thus leading to sciatica.

Spinal stenosis is another cause of sciatica. Spinal stenosis simply refers to a narrowing of the spinal canal. When the canal narrows, much pressure is laid on the spinal cord and the sciatic nerve roots.

Piriformis syndrome also contributes to sciatica. Piriformis syndrome is a rare disorder of the neuromuscular system. It is characterized by a contraction or tightening of the piriformis muscle. The piriformis muscle is that which links the thighbones to the lower part of the spine. When the piriformis muscle tightens, it mounts pressure on the sciatic nerve, leading to sciatica. Sitting or standing for a long period of time can worsen the piriformis syndrome. If you fall or hit hard on a surface, the condition can also get worse.

Spondylolisthesis is associated with degenerative disc disorder. Extension of a spinal bone over another can cause a pinching of the sciatic nerve by the extended bone.

 

Risk factors and symptoms of sciatica

Factors that can raise the risk of having sciatica include degenerative arthritis of the lumbar spine, a slipped disc, lumbar spinal injury, trauma and lumbar disc disease.

Sciatica causes a sensation of a burning pain, numb feeling, tingling sensation originating from the lower back and upper buttock and radiating to the back of the leg. The outcome of this is that pain in the lumbar region, pains in the legs and hips, and buttock pain. In some instances, the pain can spread through the buttock or hip giving a semblance of hip pain. Usually, sciatica is associated with lower back pain known clinically as lumbago. However, it can also occur without low back pain (lumbago). When sciatica gets severe, it can make walking very difficult. In most cases, walking or waist bending can aggravate the symptoms of sciatica. The pain can be relieved when one lies down. Changing your position could relieve the pain either partially or completely.

Other factors that can raise your risk of developing sciatica include:

  • Ageing. As you age, more parts of your body break down or wear off.
  • The kind of career you have could also play a role. Work that places a lot of strain on your back or one that involves lifting heavy objects such as bricklaying, prolonged sitting or twisting movements can trigger sciatica.
  • Diabetes can raise your risk of a nerve damage.
  • Excessive smoking causes a breakdown of the external layer of your spinal disks.

 

Diagnosing sciatica

Sciatica varies from person to person. This variation depends on the cause. Diagnosing sciatica first requires a physical examination and medical history. Medical history involves finding out whether or not you’ve had any recent injuries, where the pain is felt, and how it feels. Things that cause relief of the pain and what aggravates it will also be required. Your doctor may also want to know when and how it started.

After getting your medical history, your doctor may wish to conduct a physical examination. Physical exam involves testing the strength and reflexes of the muscle. You may also be required to do some stretch and motion exercises. The aim of this is to find out which activities aggravates the pain.

The next phase of diagnosis is mainly for those who have a condition alongside sciatica, such as those with cancer. People who have suffered from sciatica for more than a month can also undergo this phase of diagnosis. The doctor will carry out nerve tests in order to study the conduction of nerve impulses by the sciatic nerve. This will also help in detecting any abnormalities. Imaging tests can also be conducted to help study the spine and possibly determine the cause of sciatica.

Common imaging tests employed in the diagnosis of sciatica include MRI, spinal X-rays, and Computed tomography scans (CT scans). If normal X-rays are used, the doctor will not be able to view the sciatic nerve damage.  A magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) on the other hand will make use of radio waves and magnets to create a comprehensive and very detailed image of your body. Another test conducted might be a CT myelogram. Here, a dye will be injected into your spine to help create clearer images of your nerves and spinal cord.

 

Conventional treatment of sciatica

After diagnosing your sciatica pain, your doctor will let you in on how it will be treated. Try as much as you cannot to stop your daily activities. Avoiding activity or lying in bed can worsen the symptoms. Home-treatments commonly suggested include:

  • Cold: Here, you apply ice packs or frozen vegetables on the affected area(s) for no less than 20 minutes daily, several times each day. This can help in easing the pain and reducing the swelling.
  • Hot: Hot packs or heating pads can be used in the treatment. Do not apply heat first. During the first days that you experience the condition, apply ice packs. After two to three days, you can then switch to the heat. If the pain persists, try alternating between heat and cold.
  • Stretching: Gentle stretching of the lower back can also be helpful. A private yoga session can help.

Over-the-counter medications are used to ease the pain and help with the swelling and inflammation. Such medications used include ibuprofen and aspirin. Aspirin should be taken according to the right dosage. The reason for this is that excessive use of the medication can cause ulcers, bleeding in the stomach and other complications.

Regular exercises also help relieve the symptoms. When you exercise regularly, your body produces and releases endorphins. Endorphins are natural analgesics. You are advised to take part in non-strenuous activities at first. Such activities include stationary bicycling and swimming. With an improvement in your endurance and decrease in pain, you can then switch to an exercise regimen that features core stability, strength training, and aerobics. With this, your risk of getting back problems in the future can be decreased.

Surgery is also helpful. It is recommended in very severe situations where you’ve lost bowel control or you cannot control your bladder. It is also used in cases where you’ve developed weakness in some muscles in the lower extremity. Surgeries commonly used are discectomy or microdiscectomy. The former involves removal of a part of the disk pressurizing the sciatic nerve while the latter involves disc removal via a small cut- done with the aid of a microscope.

 

Prevention of sciatica

The following steps can aid the prevention of sciatica.

  • Frequent exercising
  • Minding your posture. Ensure you make use of chairs that properly support your back. Make use of the armrests alongside placing your feet on the floor.
  • When you want to lift heavy objects, do it the right way. Bend your knees and keep your back straight before lifting objects.

 

CHIROPRACTIC TREATMENT OF SCIATICA

Chiropractic treatment of sciatica is done by Doctors of Chiropractic Medicine. The aim of chiropractic treatment is to activate the body’s self-healing potential. The principle guiding the chiropractic treatment of sciatica is that restriction of spinal movement causes pain and reduced function and performance. The advantage of chiropractic care is that it is drug-free and non-invasive.

Chiropractic therapy depends on the cause of sciatica. Several therapies exist for the treatment of sciatica including ultrasound, ice/cold therapies, spinal manipulation or spinal adjustments, and TENS (transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation).

Spinal manipulation is the core of chiropractic care. Manipulation frees restricted spinal movement and restores vertebral bodies that may have been misaligned back to their right position in the spinal column. Spinal manipulation plays a role in the reduction of the nerve irritability which causes inflammation, pain, muscle spasm and other symptoms that are associated with sciatica. Spinal manipulations are not painful. They are safe and effective.

TENS units are also used by chiropractors. It is a small structure like a box and powered with a battery. It serves as a muscle stimulator. Acute pain is controlled by variable intensities of electrical current. It also helps reduce muscle spasms.  Chiropractors also use large versions of this device.

Ice and cold therapy have been discussed above. It involves the application of ice packs or frozen vegetables on the affected area(s) for no less than 20 minutes daily, several times each day. This can help in easing the pain and reducing the swelling.

Ultrasound features heat created by sound waves. The heat penetrates deep into the tissues. It increases circulation and aids reduction of muscle spasms, pain, cramping, stiffness, and swelling.

Chiropractic doctors learn different adjustment techniques that allow them to treat various disorders and subluxations. Techniques used range from a high swift velocity thrust to one involving a combination of mild pressure and gentle force. Great precision and skill are needed to master these techniques. Chiropractic care and other forms of medical treatment are differentiated mainly by spinal manipulation.

 

References

Baker, RM (2009, July 17). Epidural Steroid Injections. KnowYourBack.org. retrieved July 22, 2012, from knowyourback.org/Pages/treatments/InjectionTreatments/ES_Injections.aspx

NINDS Piriformis Syndrome Information page. National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke. Retrieved July 21, 2012, from ninds.nih.gov/disorders/piriformis_syndrome/piriformis_syndrome.htm

Sciatica. (2010, April 22.) Mayo Clinic. Retrieved July 5, 2012, from mayoclinic.com/health/sciatica/DS00516/DSECTION=causes