The term sciatica describes a range of symptoms affecting the lower back, traveling down along the buttock to the lower back of the leg. Common presenting complaints include pain, tingling, weakness and numbness. This condition is not a disease in itself but rather represents of an underlying medical condition such as degenerative spine disease. This forms an important background for sciatica treatment Marina Del Rey inhabitants may find useful.
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.
There are other methods such as acupuncture which can be employed. These methods do not however have scientific approval and should therefore be used with caution. While acupuncture use needle punctures to restore normalcy within the whole body, biofeedback uses a special machine instead.
The prognosis of patients with sciatica varies from excellent to experiencing symptoms for a long period of time. This mainly depends on the underlying condition and duration of sciatica. It may be prevented by avoiding certain risk factors such as injury to the lower region of the back.
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.
There are other methods such as acupuncture which can be employed. These methods do not however have scientific approval and should therefore be used with caution. While acupuncture use needle punctures to restore normalcy within the whole body, biofeedback uses a special machine instead.
The prognosis of patients with sciatica varies from excellent to experiencing symptoms for a long period of time. This mainly depends on the underlying condition and duration of sciatica. It may be prevented by avoiding certain risk factors such as injury to the lower region of the back.
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.
About the Author:
If you're desperate for sciatica treatment Marina Del Rey chiropractor is your best source of contact. Make an appointment online and discuss your diagnosis with this doctor at http://www.chiroasis.com.
No comments:
Post a Comment