Diagnosis and Treatment for Sciatica

1. Diagnosis and Treatment for Sciatica

2. Sciatica refers to the pain that radiates from the sciatica nerve. Sciatica pain can be mild to severe. The sciatica nerve is the thickest and longest nerve in the body. It is composed of three to five nerve roots that start from the lower back region (lumbar spine) and the final section of the spine (sacrum). The five nerve roots come together to form the sciatica nerve. The sciatica nerve extends through the buttocks and ends down the lower limb. • Sciatica usually occurs when a herniated disk, bone spur of the spine, or the narrowing of the spine also called spinal stenosis compresses part of the sciatica nerve. This causes swelling, pain, and numbness in the leg. • Sciatica pain can be mild and severe. The pain usually resolves with non-operative treatment methods in some weeks. In severe cases, people with sciatica may need surgery.

3. Symptoms • Symptoms for sciatica can differ. Some people experience sharp, shooting, or jolts of pain, while others experience burning, electric, or stabbing pain.The pain can be constant or can be recurring. The pain in the leg is usually more intense when compared to the pain in the lower back. Symptoms can worsen with sudden and forced movements like coughing and sneezing. The pain associated with sciatica is usually on one side of the body. Some people experience tingling, numbness, and muscle weakness in the affected leg or foot. You may feel numbness in some part of your leg and pain in the leg. Severe sciatica can make walking very difficult. Numbness and pain relief can be experienced by changing positions. • You should book a neurologist in Pune if self-care measures are not effective or your pain lasts longer than a week or if the pain worsens. You may need immediate medical attention if you are experiencing sudden pain with numbness or muscle weakness. The pain is after a serious injury. You are not able to control your bladder or bowel.

4. Causes • There can be several causes of sciatica including:- • A herniated or Slip disc can cause pressure on the nerve root. Slip disc is the most common reason for sciatica. The herniated disc can press the sciatic nerve.   • Degenerative disk disease is natural wearing down of the disk between different vertebrae of the spine. • Spinal stenosis is the unusual contraction of the spinal canal. • Spondylolisthesis is the slippage of one vertebra narrowing the opening where the nerves leave. • Osteoarthritis can cause bone spurs can compress the nerves. • Trauma injury • Tumors • Cauda equine syndrome is very rare

5. Diagnosis • The best neurologist in Pune will conduct a comprehensive physical examination. During the examination, the doctor will check your muscle strength and reflexes. They may ask you to perform some physical activities to assess pain levels. They may order imaging tests such as x-rays, MRI, CT Scan, EMG. • Treatment • The best neurologist in Pune may suggest the following treatment to treat sciatica. They may prescribe any of the following medication anti-inflammatory, muscle relaxants, narcotics, tricyclic depressants, or anti-seizure medication. In some cases, they may inject steroids in the affected nerve area. • They may recommend you visit a physiotherapist in Pune. The physiotherapist will teach you exercises to correct your posture, strengthen your muscles, and improve flexibility.   • The surgical option is reserved for when you are experiencing a lack of control in bowel or bladder control. Surgery can remove bone spurs or the portion of the herniated disk.