Sciatica And How To Treat It

Sciatica is a condition of the back that causes shooting pains throughout a person’s lower back and legs. This happens when the sciatic nerve becomes pressed or irritated by the bones located in the lower area of the spine.

Sciatica pain commonly becomes mixed with discomfort in the lower back either before or after it fully emerges. This pain is felt down through the legs and sometimes past the knees and into the feet. Another common sensation is that of numbness or weakness of the leg muscles.

Other factors can help doctors to realize whether a condition is sciatica or something more serious. Certain pointers include losing a large amount of weight, having or having had cancer, feeling unwell for a length of time or having back pain immediately after an injury. Medical attention in these cases is advised to check the diagnose back pain correctly.

The treatment for this condition is basic as it usually resolves itself fully within a matter of days or a few weeks. Treating the pain can easily be done with generic painkillers like paracetamol and ibuprofen. Although it might seem best to settle in bed until the pain is gone, this does not help with the condition itself and only helps with the pain. Staying active is a much better option as well as staying in work.

An epidural may be advised in extreme cases. A special liquid is injected into the spine to numb the nerves that are being irritated and causing the pain.

Surgery to stop the nerves from being pressed by the bones within back is sometimes required in the most extreme of cases. This is something doctors resort to very infrequently due to the high risks involved in back surgery.

To learn more about sciatica as well as possible treatment options, visit Dr. Dirk Kancilia’s site www.CaliforniaDiscInstitute