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.
Pain that is infrequent and non severe can be managed either by muscle relaxants to minimize spasmic episodes or pain relievers obtained from the chemist. These may include acetaminophen, aspirin, and ibuprofen among others. Children below eighteen years of age are advised against the use of aspirin as these cause further complications. For those with severe symptoms, drugs prescribed by a doctor should be used.
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 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.
Pain that is infrequent and non severe can be managed either by muscle relaxants to minimize spasmic episodes or pain relievers obtained from the chemist. These may include acetaminophen, aspirin, and ibuprofen among others. Children below eighteen years of age are advised against the use of aspirin as these cause further complications. For those with severe symptoms, drugs prescribed by a doctor should be used.
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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