Sciatica is a complex of symptoms that accompanies an inflammation of the sciatic nerve - the largest nerve in the human body responsible for the sensitivity of the skin of the buttocks and legs, as well as motor activity. As a rule, sciatica is manifested by burning and drawing pains in the back, giving to the buttock and leg, tingling in the muscles, partial numbness.
People suffering from sciatica, first of all, are wondering how to remove the pain, which, of course, reduces the work capacity and quality of life in general. However, one should realize that pain is a sign of a serious malfunction in the body, and it is possible to cure sciatica only after the underlying disease has been eliminated. Let's try to figure out how to properly and effectively treat sciatica.
Diagnosis and treatment of sciatica
Like many diseases, sciatica is treated in a conservative and surgical way. Of course, before you resort to surgery, you should try all possible ways of non-surgical treatment. But before this, it is necessary to find out the cause of the sciatic nerve lesion and the onset of pain syndrome. For this, a thorough diagnosis is carried out, which may include:
- radiography;
- computed tomography;
- magnetic resonance study;
- radioisotope scanning of the spine and other methods.
The cause of sciatica, most often, are diseases of the spine (osteochondrosis, intervertebral hernia, etc.), in which the roots are infringed with the development of neuralgia of the sciatic nerve. However, one should know that the sciatic nerve is the most important element of the sacral nerve plexus, which ensures the functioning of the pelvic organs. Therefore, the cause of sciatica may be infectious and inflammatory diseases of the internal organs surrounding it. Also, the basis for the appearance of sciatica can be a tumor, trauma, a thrombus, etc. Therefore, it is important to conduct a complete examination of the body when treating sciatica.
Medical treatment of sciatica
To relieve pain and reduce inflammation in ischias, ointments, injections, medications are prescribed.
Among the medicines the most widespread are:
- non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs: cebebex, ketoprofen, proprofen, indomethacin, orthophene, etc .;
- steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs: dipisane, hydrocortisone, prednisolone, metipred, kenalog, dexamethasone, etc.
It is important to understand that such medications have contraindications and side effects, so they can only be taken under the supervision of a doctor who will determine the exact dosage and duration of intake.
In addition to oral administration, drugs can be injected. For example, to effectively remove the pain syndrome, injections of steroid drugs into the spinal canal, which are carried out by lumbar puncture, are used.
As a tonic and increasing metabolic processes in the nervous system, the agents use injections of vitamins B1 and B12.
In the waist, buttocks and other painful areas rub ointments with anti-inflammatory effect: diclofenac, forprofen, etc.
Methods of treatment of sciatica
In combination with the medical treatment of sciatica, the following methods are effectively used.
Physiotherapeutic methods of treatment
- electrophoresis;
- UHF-therapy;
- magnetotherapy ;
- ultraviolet irradiation, etc.
In addition, massage, manual therapy, water procedures, therapeutic gymnastics are applied.
Alternative therapies
There are also many other techniques,
- hirudotherapy (treatment with leeches);
- apitherapy (treatment with bees);
- acupuncture (acupuncture).
Surgical methods of treatment
In some cases, it is simply impossible to do without surgery. The most commonly used surgical methods for treating sciatica are:
- microdiscectomy ( with a herniated disc );
- lumbar laminectomy (with spinal stenosis).