Sciatica is a low back pain that travels along the sciatic nerve to the posterior thigh, leg and sometimes to the foot. It is caused by sciatic nerve compression most commonly from a herniated disc.

Most common cause for back pain is age-related degenerative condition in intervertebral discs, which result in decrease discs amortization ability and compress the nerve. In big amount of cases pain is related to disc herniation. As many as 8 of 10 Americans will experience lower back problems in their lives. Those most often affected are young adults in their most productive years, between the ages of 17 and 45.

Sciatica Treatment

Nonpharmacologic treatment - weight loss, decrease or avoidance any weight-bearing work or exercises. Special exercises and stretchening while working.

Medical treatment: symptomatic use of non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAID) to provide anti-inflammatory and pain relief.

The surgery will be beneficial in as emergency tool for affected bladder or bowel control.

Physical therapy for Sciatica

The goals of physical therapy are to reduce the symptoms of acute pain, provide an anti-inflammatory effect and to prevent the future recurrence of sciatica.

Manual Therapy for Sciatica

  1. Icing
  2. Warm packing (after 48 hours)
  3. Massage (light massage in acute stage) and Spine mobilization
  4. Stretching exercises
  5. Relaxation exercises
  6. TENS
  7. Ultrasound
  8. Magnetic therapy
  9. Vibration therapy

Exercises for Sciatica

  1. Stretching exercises
  2. Relaxation exercises

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Sciatica Risk Factors

• Age. Most affected age is 30-40 years old
• Obesity. Diabetes
• Sitting or staying type of work (without movement)
• Weight-lifting work or exercises
• Congenital or acquired spine deformities
• Genetic factors

Sciatica Symptoms

The condition is characterized by low back pain which radiates to buttock, posterior thigh or leg. Pain may vary from mild ache and stiffness to burning or sharp excruciating pain. Pain aggravates by heavy lifting, prolong standing, walking or running. Pain also may become worse with coughing or sneezing. Usually, the lower back pain is less severe than the leg pain.

Additional symptoms such as tingling, weakness or numbness down the leg can also occur.

In severe cases condition may affect control of bowel or bladder.

Sciatica Disc Herniation

The peak incidence at the age 45-46 and usually occurs at the level L4-5 or L5-S1. It starts with sudden onset of pain precipitated by forced movement. The pain extremely severe with irradiation down the leg (some people describe like “electrical shock that shoots down the leg”). The pain exacerbating by coughing, sneezing or defecating. To avoid pain, people keeps the affected leg flexed (extension results in excruciating pain).

Sciatica Diagnosis

Clinical diagnosis is enough, but it has to be confirmed by plain X-ray or MRI (in case of disc herniation – MRI). This is performed to exclude severe pathology and to follow-up people (progression of the disease).

 

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