Hope for Relieving Sciatic Pain

Sciatic pain can be caused from a variety of reasons, nevertheless there is hope that people can receive helpful treatment for relieving sciatic pain. Sciatica is the word used to describe symptoms of pain in a leg, numbness or weakness and possibly tingling. It originates in the lower back, traveling through the buttock into the large sciatic nerve, through the back of a leg. For some people the pain may result in a severe and debilitating condition. However, the majority of people with back pain do not require surgery and usually get better in time.

Symptoms

Sciatica symptoms can be characterized by burning or tingling in the leg, pain directed at one side of the rear or sometimes in a leg that's made worse when sitting. Other people have numbness or experience weakness moving a foot or leg. The causes of sciatica are usually brought on by problems in the lower back resulting in back pain. This results in irritation or compression of a nerve root that is connected to a sciatic nerve. Several causes can create sciatica problems and diagnosing the exact problem can be difficult.

Diagnosis

Before any type of therapy, drugs or surgery are even considered, a doctor will obtain a medical history and a full examination of your legs, hips and back. Tests are used to check reflexes, sensations, flexibility and strength. Several types of tests may be used including X-rays, CT scans, MRI scans and studies on the nerve to determine the health or disease factors. There are many types of treatment for relieving sciatic pain. Treatment is centered around relieving the pressure and the inflammation affecting the nerve root. In more severe cases sciatic surgery may be required, that may involve removing a portion of a disc that is probably causing irritation to the nerve root.

Treatment

It's generally accepted that whenever possible non-surgical methods of treatment for sciatica are preferred. Non-surgical methods may include alternative treatments of the non-medical variety and or medical treatments. Usually some form of stretching or back exercises are recommended to help relieve the back pain. The ideal goal in performing sciatica exercises would be to provide relief from the pain and prevent future problems.

Anti-inflammatory drugs, which are non-prescription are often used to treat the inflammation and the back pain. Doctors may also use a powerful anti-inflammatory injection of corticosteroids to deliver a large dose of medication around the spinal nerves. In other types of cases doctors may prescribe muscle relaxants and or codeine preparations for relieving sciatic pain.