Our backbone is made up of many vertebrae which are placed one over the other separated by intervertebral discs. The spinal cord is present in the backbone, and the brain sends signals through the nerves via the spine. The brain and spinal cord make the central nervous system that controls the whole body and systems.
Sciatica- It became essential to take care of the nervous system to keep all the systems working and healthy. But sometimes, due to some injury or any other reason, the vertebrae slip over each other causing disc bulge or slipped disc leading to unbearable pain. In few cases, the nerve compresses due to diminished space between vertebrae. The sciatica nerve compresses leading to pain in one or both legs. The radiating pain in the leg due to sciatica can be treated in various ways.
Diagnosis- The diagnosis includes CT scan, MRI, X-ray, or any nerve conduction velocity tests. The restricted movement of the spine reduces the function and the performance of the nervous system. The symptoms and physical examination of the patient form another basis for diagnosis.
Symptoms- The pain from slipped disc or sciatica is not localized. It radiates down the leg besides affecting the thighs, buttocks and lower back. In acute cases, it results in loss of sensation. In this situation, you may need immediate medical intervention.
Sciatica treatment- Sciatica is caused due to spondylolisthesis, spinal stenosis, and degenerative disc or herniated disc. The treatment depends on the underlying cause.
• Physiotherapy and exercises- The non-invasive treatment include physiotherapy and exercises with or without medicines. The doctors prescribe a few medication including painkillers and anti-inflammatory drugs and advice exercises for muscle strength.
• Chiropractic therapy- Another non-surgical treatment is chiropractic care involving spinal manipulation to release a compressed nerve. The chiropractic therapy also adds corrective exercises and diet changes.
• Hot fomentation/ice therapy- The affected part got swollen leading to less movement of the joint so to remove swelling hot fomentation works best, or alternative is ice therapy.
Chiropractic therapies- Spinal manipulation is the core of sciatica treatment by chiropractic therapy. This manual therapy ranges from high-pressure adjustment techniques to gentle pressure procedures. The treatment depends on solely the symptoms of the patient. The chiropractors also provide lifestyle advice along with therapy so that the symptoms may not reappear in future.
In lower back slipped disc, the sciatic nerve is often blocked causing tingling or numbness with radiating pain in the leg. The disc can also bulge in the upper back leading to neck pain or discomfort in that portion. The treatment for slipped disc includes rest and medication at first and leading an active life afterward. As the pain subsides, try to do exercise and gradually increase the intensity. Activity will slowly improve your condition and pain subsides with time.
In some chronic cases, you may require surgery while non-invasive therapies can solve others. The operation has many complications, and you must be very careful while selecting a surgeon. The experienced one will diagnose your problem and put surgery as the last option. The unconventional methods of treatment are gaining approval as they do not include medicines and free from side effects.
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