Sciatica is a term used to describe a number of related symptoms that originate from the lower part of the back to the distal posterior region of the leg. The patient often complains of pain, tingling, numbness or weakness anywhere along the mentioned regions of the body. These characteristics are typical of underlying conditions including spinal stenosis and degenerative spine disease. This forms special background information for sciatica treatment Marina Del Rey people need to know.
The characteristics of sciatic pain may vary from patient to patient. Some may complain of pain when sitting down or walking while some may be completely impaired due to constant discomfort. Even though the condition can be crippling to the patient, it hardly causes irreversible nerve destruction. Moreover, it commonly affects only one limb at a time.
The mainstay of managing sciatic pain is either through surgery or drugs depending on duration, severity of symptoms and the underlying medical condition. One of the most common situations in which surgery is mandatory is lumbar disc herniation. This simply indicates that one of the vertebra anchors in the lower region of the back is no in its normal position and instead it is compressing adjacent nerves causing pain.
Pain relievers can be used as supportive management and in cases where the pain is not severe. This include over the counter drugs such as aspirin, acetaminophen, ibuprofen among others. Aspirin is however contraindicated in children below eighteen years of age as it may cause complications. Muscle relaxants may be used to reduce spasms. Medications prescribed by a physician can be used if the pain is debilitating.
Physical therapy when done properly can be very effective in managing this condition. While the pain itself may discourage one from movement, bed rest is not recommended. Adjusting to certain positions regularly may actually minimize the pain or even eradicate it. One should preferably work with a physiotherapist to get the right directions with regard to movement.
An alternative to the mainstay treatment include acupuncture. This has however not been scientifically proven to be effective. Acupuncture involves applying pressure on certain areas of the body using a number of small needle punctures with the intention of creating appropriate balance in the whole body. A complementary method engages the use of a machine connected to the human body to obtain information that can be used to recondition the body into working properly.
Based on causation and duration of complaints, the outlook on the condition may vary from poor to excellent. Avoidable risk factors such as trauma to the lower back should be considered as preventive measures. Otherwise, with poor prognosis one may have to live with the pain and manage chronically. In such cases, a group of drugs known as antidepressants may be utilized. Amitriptyline, a tricyclic antidepressant is a medication that is commonly used.
In a nutshell, approach to treatment of sciatica is diverse depending on various factors as already discussed. Also, it is only through knowing the symptomatology that effective management can be engaged. Therefore it is important to involve a medical practitioner to know the underlying cause and the outlook and tailored treatment since some medication can pose serious side effects when used inappropriately.
The characteristics of sciatic pain may vary from patient to patient. Some may complain of pain when sitting down or walking while some may be completely impaired due to constant discomfort. Even though the condition can be crippling to the patient, it hardly causes irreversible nerve destruction. Moreover, it commonly affects only one limb at a time.
The mainstay of managing sciatic pain is either through surgery or drugs depending on duration, severity of symptoms and the underlying medical condition. One of the most common situations in which surgery is mandatory is lumbar disc herniation. This simply indicates that one of the vertebra anchors in the lower region of the back is no in its normal position and instead it is compressing adjacent nerves causing pain.
Pain relievers can be used as supportive management and in cases where the pain is not severe. This include over the counter drugs such as aspirin, acetaminophen, ibuprofen among others. Aspirin is however contraindicated in children below eighteen years of age as it may cause complications. Muscle relaxants may be used to reduce spasms. Medications prescribed by a physician can be used if the pain is debilitating.
Physical therapy when done properly can be very effective in managing this condition. While the pain itself may discourage one from movement, bed rest is not recommended. Adjusting to certain positions regularly may actually minimize the pain or even eradicate it. One should preferably work with a physiotherapist to get the right directions with regard to movement.
An alternative to the mainstay treatment include acupuncture. This has however not been scientifically proven to be effective. Acupuncture involves applying pressure on certain areas of the body using a number of small needle punctures with the intention of creating appropriate balance in the whole body. A complementary method engages the use of a machine connected to the human body to obtain information that can be used to recondition the body into working properly.
Based on causation and duration of complaints, the outlook on the condition may vary from poor to excellent. Avoidable risk factors such as trauma to the lower back should be considered as preventive measures. Otherwise, with poor prognosis one may have to live with the pain and manage chronically. In such cases, a group of drugs known as antidepressants may be utilized. Amitriptyline, a tricyclic antidepressant is a medication that is commonly used.
In a nutshell, approach to treatment of sciatica is diverse depending on various factors as already discussed. Also, it is only through knowing the symptomatology that effective management can be engaged. Therefore it is important to involve a medical practitioner to know the underlying cause and the outlook and tailored treatment since some medication can pose serious side effects when used inappropriately.
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