Sciatica pain can feel like an all-consuming problem. The pain cuts right through the middle of you, making it hard to ignore. Despite the pain it causes, sciatica is a symptom of a deeper issue in your spine. Sciatica is a term used to describe nerve pain in the leg that is caused by irritation and/or compression of a sciatic nerve root. It originates in the lower back, radiates deep into the buttock, and travels down the leg. The pain may be accompanied by numbness and/or weakness.
Since sciatica occurs when something pinches or compresses the sciatic nerve, sciatica treatment often focuses on what causes that problem. In many instances, another spinal condition is the root cause of sciatica. Understanding the anatomical pathways and associated symptoms can help in identifying the underlying issue more effectively.
By addressing the root causes, such as herniated discs or spinal stenosis, treatments can be more targeted and effective. This holistic approach not only alleviates the immediate pain but also prevents future occurrences, providing a comprehensive solution for those suffering from this debilitating condition.
With some exceptions, doctors initially pursue non-surgical treatments for most sciatica cases. Whenever possible, avoiding surgery minimizes risks and shortens recovery times. The specific therapies doctors recommend depend on your pain level and condition. Here are a few possible treatments your doctor may recommend to help with your sciatica pain.
Doctors often prescribe physical therapy to sciatica patients as an initial measure. If significant pain is present, they will address that before prescribing physical therapy. Physical therapy for sciatica can strengthen your muscles and reduce inflammation. In doing so, it helps relieve pain and helps your body recover from sciatica over time.
Physical therapy consists of strength and aerobic conditioning and stretching exercises. Physical therapists tailor the exercise and conditioning programs to each patient’s fitness level and medical condition. Your routine should avoid aggravating your sciatica pain while working specific muscles to help you overcome it.
For sciatica, physical therapy routines generally focus on:
Physical therapy may involve walking, swimming, pool therapy, resistance training and range-of-motion exercise.
Alternating hot and cold therapy can promote healing and relieve pain. As you alternate with heat and ice, the ice decreases inflammation, and the heat increases circulation. The reduced inflammation relieves pain, while the increased circulation encourages healing.
Besides reducing inflammation, cold therapy can also relieve pain by:
You can apply cold therapy with ice packs for 15 to 20 minutes at a time. Avoid using ice any longer, as you could experience nerve damage through frostbite.
Heat therapy has an inverse effect on sciatica pain. Heat therapy benefits apply more to healing than pain relief. So you should use heat therapy after cold therapy relieves your pain. Heat therapy promotes healing by:
You can apply heat therapy through hot water bottles, hot packs, hot towels, or electric heating pads. You should also avoid using hot pads on your skin for too long to prevent skin damage.
Staying physically active can ease inflammation and promote healthy circulation. The amount of physical activity and exercise you can perform depends on your condition and pain level. Still, you should strive to stay as active as your body and sciatic pain allow. Even if your routine consists of light stretching or simple yoga practices, your body can still benefit. Whether you practice daily five-mile runs and resistance training or settle for short walks and light stretching, do as much as your body allows.
Physiotherapists recommend individuals with sciatica perform exercises that focus on:
While some resistance and mild discomfort is normal, stop exercising or stretching if your sciatica pain worsens.
To treat sciatic pain, your doctor may prescribe pain relief medication as a first-order treatment. After the pain subsides, they can explore restorative options with you. They may also prescribe pain relief medication for lingering soreness after physical therapy sessions or other sciatic nerve treatments. Pain relief medications are short-term solutions for immediate pain. As such, they are not viable as an ongoing pain management solution.
Some common medications that doctors prescribe for sciatica pain include:
Epidural steroid injections (ESIs) involve an injection of local anesthetics and corticosteroids into the epidural space of your spine. The epidural space separates your spinal cord’s protective dura mater layer from your vertebrae. Within the epidural space are blood vessels, connective tissue, fat and spinal nerve roots. The purpose of ESIs is to relieve inflamed and irritated spinal nerve roots. ESIs help sciatica through the following mechanisms:
Corticosteroids interrupt the subsequential production of inflammatory enzymes, known as the inflammatory cascade. To put it plainly, they limit inflammation in an irritated sciatic nerve.
Pain relief with ESIs minimizes your need for NSAIDs or opioid pain relief medications. Opioid medications can become addictive if you rely upon them too much.
As ESIs provide long-lasting pain relief, they let you continue physical therapy without relying too much on pain relievers. Exercise and physical therapy strengthen the muscles around your sciatic nerve and increase blood flow to the area to help it heal.
Like ESIs, Nerve root blocks are injections that contain a steroid and local anesthetic. They work differently from ESIs because nerve root blocks target a specific nerve root, rather than the epidural space.
With a nerve root block injection for sciatica pain treatment, your doctor injects the steroid-anesthetic combination localized around the specific nerve root which connects to the sciatic nerve.
An ESI can numb sciatic pain and reduce inflammation. Local anesthesia interrupts the nerve signals between your brain and the irritated nerve. In comparison, corticosteroids help to block or slow the inflammation process that can increase the pain patients perceive. The combination of local anesthetic and corticosteroid has the following therapeutic effect:
Doctors usually explore non-invasive options before surgery. Still, some sciatica cases need surgery first. Other sciatica cases need surgery after conservative interventions fail to solve the problem.
Your doctor may pursue surgery as an initial treatment if any of the following conditions or injuries cause your sciatica pain:
If you experience sciatica pain in both legs, it is known as bilateral sciatica. Common causes of bilateral sciatica include disc herniations or spinal stenosis. Doctors may prefer surgery for bilateral sciatica because it often indicates advanced degenerative structural issues in the spine.
Though it’s rare, If cauda equina syndrome develops, it is a surgical emergency. Cauda equina syndrome occurs when an injury or condition compresses the bundle of nerve roots in your lower lumbar spine known as the cauda equina, which includes your sciatic nerve. When sciatica occurs with cauda equina syndrome, it is usually bilateral sciatica. Without prompt treatment, cauda equina syndrome can cause paralysis of your lower extremities, impaired bladder or bowel control, and difficulty walking.
Tumors in the spine can cause sciatica-like symptoms. If you are experiencing sciatica from a spinal tumor, your doctor will want to act quickly to remove the tumor. If it is malignant, they will want to surgically remove the tumor to prevent its spread to other parts of the body. Although a benign tumor will not cause cancer, it can cause severe neurological issues. So prompt surgical removal of a benign spinal tumor remains necessary.
A vertebral compression fracture in your lumbar spine can cause sciatica symptoms. If the fracture is severe enough, it will need surgery for proper healing.
Below are some common surgical treatments for sciatica.
Your doctor may recommend a microdiscectomy if a lumbar disc herniation (LDH) causes your sciatic pain. Since a microdiscectomy involves a small surgical incision, it is minimally invasive. A microdiscectomy takes approximately one to two hours. Before the procedure begins, an anesthesiologist or surgeon will give you either anesthesia so you feel no pain during the procedure.
A microdiscectomy occurs in the following steps:
Since a microdiscectomy is usually an outpatient procedure, patients often go home on the day of their surgery. After having a microdiscectomy, your surgeon will give you aftercare instructions to care for the wound and recover from the surgery.
Your doctor may encourage you to wear a back brace as you recover. Most patients resume driving and light activity approximately two weeks after the surgery. Your doctor will ask you to limit bending, twisting and lifting for six weeks after the procedure. After six weeks, most patients resume regular activity.
Depending on your condition and activity level, you can expect a full recovery from a microdiscectomy anywhere from 12 weeks to one year.
If your sciatica pain occurs from spinal stenosis or bone spurs, your doctor may suggest a laminectomy. Spinal stenosis occurs when the area around the spinal cord narrows due to various causes, including bone spurs or overgrowths. As that space narrows, it puts pressure on your spinal cord and nerves.
With a laminectomy, the surgeon removes the lamina section of vertebral bones. The lamina in each vertebra forms the roof above your spinal canal. A laminectomy provides space for your spinal nerves to move freely by removing part or all of the lamina. An anesthesiologist will give you general anesthesia before the surgeon begins the procedure. You will be asleep for the duration of a laminectomy, which is typically one to three hours long.
Surgeons generally perform laminectomies in the following steps:
Because this is an open surgery, patients stay in the hospital after a lumbar laminectomy for one to three nights. Most patients can drive within two weeks and resume light work after four weeks. The estimated recovery time for a lumbar laminectomy is four months to one year. Minimally invasive options for laminectomy procedures significantly reduce patient recovery times.
Transforaminal endoscopic lumbar decompression (TFELD) is ultra minimally invasive treatment for chronic sciatica pain or spinal stenosis when conservative approaches provide limited relief. This surgery focuses on freeing the nerves inside your foramen, which is the hollow boney tunnel your spinal cord exits out to your legs. A TFELD procedure widens this space to relieve pressure on your nerves. It can also be ideal for patients who have had failed back surgery.
As an endoscopic surgery, this outpatient procedure requires local anesthesia and mild sedation.
To perform a TFELD, surgeons follow these general steps:
After a TFELD procedure, most patients return to work within one to two weeks.
To diagnose sciatica, your doctor or spine specialist will ask you various questions about your pain and symptoms. Some of these questions may include:
Depending on your answers, they may also run some tests after a physical and neurological exam. During the physical exam, they will evaluate your:
For the neurological exam, your doctor will assess your reflexes, muscle strength and nerve function by gently holding your legs and knees in different positions. If they think testing is necessary, some standard diagnostic tests for sciatica include:
When dealing with sciatica, or any other spine-related issue, it is helpful to know all you can about the best treatments for sciatica. At DISC, our skilled spine specialists have expert knowledge and ability in diagnosing and treating sciatica. Whether you want more information about your treatment options or want to schedule an appointment for sciatica treatment with our spine specialists, we can help. Contact us today!
