If you’ve ever experienced sharp pain that radiates down your back, hips, buttocks, and through one leg, you may be suffering from sciatica. You’re not alone- this debilitating condition is experienced by millions of people in the United States. When you go to the doctor to get a diagnosis, they will typically give you a physical exam and an imaging test, like an MRI, X-ray, or CT scan before offering a formal diagnosis and prescribing treatment to relieve the pain. Sadly, there isn’t a permanent “cure” for sciatica that keeps it from coming back, but there are steps you can take to lower the risk of recurrent pain. Read on to learn more about how to manage sciatica and reduce your risk of sciatica returning.
What Is Sciatica?
Sciatica is a condition that generally begins when a herniated disc or a bone spur on the spine compresses part of the sciatic nerve, triggering inflammation, pain, and potential tingling or numbness on one leg that radiates all the way down to the calf. Sciatica generally only affects one side of the body. How severe symptoms are varies widely, and can range from excruciating pain and burning sensations to manageable dull aches. For some unlucky people, pain can suddenly strike with no pre-emption whatsoever. No matter what your symptoms are, they typically get worse when you sneeze, laugh, sit for long periods of time, or cough.
Relieving Sciatica Symptoms
For some people, symptoms of sciatica may go away on their own within a few weeks without needing invasive treatment. Some common treatments your provider may recommend depending on how severe your symptoms are include:
- Rest, heat, and ice therapy
- Oral medications, like muscle relaxants, anti-inflammatories, or tricyclic antidepressants
- Steroid injections
- Physical therapy
- Stretching exercises
Surgery may also be a great choice if other types of treatments don’t help. Surgery may be recommended by your medical provider if ongoing issues result from a compressed nerve, such as as:
- Loss of bladder or bowel control
- Ongoing, severe symptoms
- Major weakness
Surgery for sciatica generally involves taking out a portion of the bone spur or herniated disc that’s causing issues.
Preventing Sciatica
Unfortunately, sciatica may still occur regardless of what you do. For example, pregnancy-related back strain, degenerative disc disease, or falling and injuring yourself are not necessarily preventable conditions. However, while sciatica isn’t always preventable, there are certain steps you can take to reduce the risk of a recurrence.
- Quitting smoking, which can exacerbate disc degeneration
- Exercise routinely to maintain strong back and abdominal muscles
- Avoid sitting for long periods of time without stretching or moving around.
Contact Us Today
Sciatica is a common condition that affects thousands of Americans. Although it’s not entirely preventable, it can usually be managed with the right treatment plan. ACME Spine & Orthopedics is a top orthopedic and interventional pain management clinic offering sciatica treatment procedures. If you suffer from Sciatica and trying to find out the best interventional pain management specialist in Florida, then now stop searching you’re coming to the right place. ACME Spine & Orthopedics may be able to help. Call us to schedule a consultation today.