Sciatica refers to pain that radiates along the path of the sciatic nerve, which branches from your lower back through your hips and buttocks and down each leg.
Sciatica most commonly occurs when a herniated disk, bone spur on the spine or narrowing of the spine compresses part of the nerve. This causes inflammation, pain and often some numbness in the affected leg.
Common symptoms of sciatica include:
- numbness in the leg along the nerve
- Tingling sensation (pins and needles) in the feet and toes this pain can range in severity and may be aggravated by sitting for long periods.
Causes of sciatica:
Sciatica occurs when the sciatic nerve becomes pinched, usually by a herniated disk in your spine or by an overgrowth of bone (bone spur) on your vertebrae. More rarely, the nerve can be compressed by a tumour or damaged by a disease such as diabetes.
Risk factors
Risk factors for sciatica include:
- Age-related changes in the spine, such as herniated disks and bone spurs, are the most common causes of sciatica.
- Obesity: By increasing the stress on your spine, excess body weight can contribute to the spinal changes that trigger sciatica.
- Occupation: A job that requires you to twist your back, carry heavy loads or drive a motor vehicle for long periods might play a role in sciatica, but there’s no conclusive evidence of this link.
- Prolonged sitting: People who sit for prolonged periods or have a sedentary lifestyle are more likely to develop sciatica than active people are.
- Diabetes: This condition, which affects the way your body uses blood sugar, increases your risk of nerve damage.
Treatments:
- Fluoroscopic-guided spinal root block therapy
- physical therapy, Exercises and stretches
- cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT) – helps manage chronic pain by training people to react differently to their pain
- Lumbar / Cervical / Caudal /Transformational Decompressive Neuroplasty with Epidural Adhesiolysis.
- Balloon Neuroplasty, Selective Nerve Root Blocks & PRF of DRG
- Facet(Cervical / Thoracic / Lumbar) RF Denervation, Facet Joint Blocks
- Ozonucleolysis (Cervical / Thoracic / Lumbar)
- Stellate Ganglion Sympathectomy (RF/Chemical)
- Celiac Plexus / Splanchnic / Superior Hypogastric / Impar Blocks (RF/Chemical)
- Anti-inflammatories
- Anti-inflammatories
Surgery :
This option is usually reserved for when the compressed nerve causes significant weakness, loss of bowel or bladder control, or when you have pain that progressively worsens or doesn’t improve with other therapies. Surgeons can remove the bone spur or the portion of the herniated disk that’s pressing on the pinched nerve
- Minimal Access Spine Technologies
- Dynamic Stabilization
- Navigation guided surgeries
- Endoscopic discectomy
If you are interested in finding more information to help your condition please find below the link to book an appointment.
