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 treatment of sciatica depends on the presenting complaints, its severity and duration. It also depends on the underlying cause. Therefore further investigations such as imaging may not to be done. One of the common causes is herniation of a disc. This means that it has been moved away from its normal position thus causing nerve compression. In this case, surgery is imperative to return the disc to its rightful place.
Drugs appropriate for treating the condition include over the counter pain killers such as ibuprofen, acetaminophen, aspirin and so forth. Aspirin should however not be used in patients under the age of eighteen as this may cause Reyes syndrome. Alternatively, muscle relaxants can be used to control spasms. Prescription drugs can only be used if the pain is unbearable.
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.
Scientifically unproven methods may be explored though with great caution. Some of these alternatives include acupuncture and biofeedback. The latter is a more technical way of restoring balance of systems within the body compared to acupuncture which only uses small needles to apply appropriate pressure on certain surfaces of the body.
The outlook of sciatica patients can be good or bad depending on a number factors including how long the symptoms have lasted and the exact cause. Some causative factors such trauma to the lower back can easily be prevented through avoiding exposure to injury. The bad outlook means that one may have long term discomfort even with treatment. In such situations, antidepressants may be used to minimize the perception of pain in the brain. One example of this kind of drugs is amitriptyline, a tricyclic antidepressant.
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 treatment of sciatica depends on the presenting complaints, its severity and duration. It also depends on the underlying cause. Therefore further investigations such as imaging may not to be done. One of the common causes is herniation of a disc. This means that it has been moved away from its normal position thus causing nerve compression. In this case, surgery is imperative to return the disc to its rightful place.
Drugs appropriate for treating the condition include over the counter pain killers such as ibuprofen, acetaminophen, aspirin and so forth. Aspirin should however not be used in patients under the age of eighteen as this may cause Reyes syndrome. Alternatively, muscle relaxants can be used to control spasms. Prescription drugs can only be used if the pain is unbearable.
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.
Scientifically unproven methods may be explored though with great caution. Some of these alternatives include acupuncture and biofeedback. The latter is a more technical way of restoring balance of systems within the body compared to acupuncture which only uses small needles to apply appropriate pressure on certain surfaces of the body.
The outlook of sciatica patients can be good or bad depending on a number factors including how long the symptoms have lasted and the exact cause. Some causative factors such trauma to the lower back can easily be prevented through avoiding exposure to injury. The bad outlook means that one may have long term discomfort even with treatment. In such situations, antidepressants may be used to minimize the perception of pain in the brain. One example of this kind of drugs is amitriptyline, a tricyclic antidepressant.
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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