You have sciatica in Shrewsbury if you experience sharp, shooting pain that radiates through your buttocks and down your leg. It happens when your low back’s nerve roots become compressed, inflamed, or irritated, usually because of a herniated disc. Because of the irritation or compression, the sciatic nerve is activated, causing pain and other symptoms on the path of the areas affected. You may also experience muscle weakness and numbness if you have sciatica. Often, the pain due to sciatica extends down past your knee.
Symptoms and Causes
Your sciatic nerve runs from your lower back down to your feet. It helps control your legs. When this nerve is injured, damaged, or pressured, you can suffer from sciatica. Usually, this condition gets worse with activity even when you just sit or stand. But, you can experience relief from pain when you walk or lie down.
In addition, sciatica can result from different spine and disc-related conditions or injuries. A herniated disc, degenerative disc disease, isthmic spondylolisthesis, and spinal stenosis are the main cause of sciatica.
When is it Serious?
Some symptoms of sciatica may indicate a severe medical condition like infection, spinal tumors, and cauda equina syndrome. Such symptoms may include bowel and bladder dysfunction, symptoms in both legs, sexual dysfunction, and progressive neurological symptoms like leg weakness. If you experience any of these symptoms, seek medical attention right away. Sciatica that develops following trauma or an accident or along with other symptoms such as appetite loss or fever will require prompt medical evaluation.
Nonsurgical Treatments for Sciatica
The majority of patients who have sciatica symptoms improve over time with non-surgical treatments like exercise, medication, physical therapy, and special sciatica stretches. Also, chiropractic care can help relieve symptoms. Often, the condition gets better in four to six weeks.
If sciatica is not treated with standard treatments, a nerve root block or epidural steroid injection may be necessary. Your doctor may also let you take NSAIDs to minimize swelling and sciatic pain.
Is Surgery Necessary?
Patients who have symptoms of sciatica respond well to nonsurgical treatments. If you remain to have a good quality of life and can still work and do some activities despite having sciatica, you don’t have to undergo a surgical procedure. But, if you can barely sit down and need assistance when doing chores, surgery may be the right option for you. You should consider surgery if you have incapacitating pain and progressive neurological weakness that does not improve.
