Sciatic Nerve Pain Treatment

Sciatica is a common term for any pain arising from the sciatic nerve. It is generally caused by the compression and/or including irritation to the lower lumber and sacral nerve roots.

Symptoms of Sciatica  

The symptoms are generally located around the lower back, buttock(s), the lower limb (the legs and feet). Due to the compression of the nerve, there could be some neurological symptoms like numbness, poor reflex, tingling sensation, difficulty with movement and control, muscular weakness and pins & needles.

Cause of Sciatica 

There are different causes of sciatica and each particular cause has to be treated specifically. If you don’t treat it specifically you may cause further injury to yourself.

As we have discussed above, sciatica is basically compression of the lumbar and/or sacral nerves. When this compression occurs, inflammation around the area can happen and could cause other problems like changes within the vertebra.

Here are five possible ways that can cause sciatica:

1. Piriformis syndrome

The sciatic nerve starts from your spine and travels down to the buttock region that is covered under or over the sciatic nerve. In approximately 15% of people, the sciatic nerve travels through the piriformis muscle. When this pirifomis muscle gets tight or spasms because of repetitive activity or trauma, it can put pressure or compress the sciatic nerve. As a result, the nerve signals that travel down the sciatic nerve will be impeded and will cause pain and neuropathic symptoms. If there is no trauma or compression to the nerve root at the spine, piriformis syndrome may be the most likely cause.

2. Spinal Stenosis

Spinal stenosis is when your spinal canal (the place where your spinal cord runs) is small and narrow. It can become too narrow that it may compress your nerve roots, spinal cord or cauda equine. The narrowing could be caused by gradual deterioration of the spine due to arthritis, bone spurs, and inflammation, dislocation, herniated disc, etc that makes the spinal canal to narrow.

3. Spinal Disc Herniation

This could be one of the major causes of sciatica. This happens when the spinal disc moves out of place and/or the liquid center of the disc swells outwards which tears the external rings of fibers, comes into the spinal cord and therefore compressing the nerve root.

It usually happens then you bend to one side at an awkward angle or due to extreme trauma like a car accident which tears the disc. Furthermore, swelling will occur due to the inflammation and cause neuropathic symptoms because the swelling will compress the sciatic nerve root.

4. Trigger Points

Trigger points is a localized area of pain along the lower back and buttock muscles. A trigger point occurs when there is a lack of blood circulation around the area cause the muscle to become ischemic. The most common muscles that are affected are: gluteus minimus, medius, quadrates lumborum and the hip rotators. A trigger point doesn’t directly compresses the nerve and although they may have similar symptoms.

5. Pregnancy

This happens during pregnancy when the uterus pushes onto the sciatic nerve and/or from the muscular tension due to the excessive weight of the fetus. This affects the way the woman changes her posture and cause vertebra damage.

Sciatica Nerve Treatment

The primary cause of sciatica is due to the prolapsed or lumbar disc herniation. In most cases, disc prolapses will resolve by itself and there is no need for further intervention. However, if the pain is so severe, it is best to treat it by the following ways:

Narcotics – This should be used only when the pain is extreme and the other options don’t work. Narcotics can be addictive if taken regularly so take only when necessary.

Paracetamol – This can help but it may not work for most people.

Anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs – Non Steriodal Anti-Inflammatory Drugs) - These drugs would help reduce the amount of inflammation and therefore reduce swelling and heat.

Physical Therapy/Physiotherapy – A physical therapist will prescribe you stretching and strengthening exercises to perform at the clinic and at home. It is best to regularly adhere to the exercise as evidence show that exercise will improve chances of normality quickly.

Chiropractic – A chiropractor will align your back and reduce/remove any nerve impingement. There are specialist in spinal manipulation.

Non-surgical spinal decompression

Massage Therapy – A massage therapist will improve your blood circulation and release any toxins from your body. It will help your muscles to relax and therefore reduce pressure on the sciatic nerve.

Surgery – This should be performed as a last resort. It involves a long recovery period and the chance of the symptoms returning is around 50%.