If you are dealing with the pain and other side effects of sciatica, you are probably wondering two things: how did I develop it, and how can I get relief? We have got the answers for you here.
Your spine is an amazing structure, with bony vertebrae stacked into a column interspersed with shock absorbing intervertebral discs and held together by facet joints that allow for an amazing range of movement. Inside the bony column is the spinal canal through which the spinal cord runs, branching off peripheral nerves between the vertebrae to head to the rest of the body.
Unfortunately, with so many parts, and with an adequate but not voluminous space to run delicate nerves, there is a lot that can go wrong. If the canal space narrows or a disc herniates, for example, the structures can impinge on nerve roots, causing pain and other uncomfortable symptoms. If this happens to the roots of the sciatic nerve between L1-2, L2-3, L3-4, L4-L5 or L5-S1, it causes a condition known as sciatica. Sciatica can also be caused by other pressure on the nerves once they leave the spine, such as in the pelvis, or between the muscles of the buttocks.
At Endoscopic & Minimally Invasive Spine Specialists, board-certified neurosurgeons Dr. Scott Glickman and Dr. Aaron Smith and our team understands how painful and limiting sciatica can be. That is why we offer numerous treatment options for our patients with sciatica. One question we get asked a lot, is if the problem will go away on its own. Here is a brief answer that we are happy to elaborate during your evaluation:
How sciatica develops
Sciatica is common, a condition that more than 40% of Americans experience at some point during their lives. It can result from any of a number of problems, all of which lead to a “pinched” nerve root.
Aging
As you get older, your entire body shows signs of wear-and-tear, including your spine. Two of the most common causes of sciatica become more prevalent as you get older. The first is herniated discs, where the intervertebral discs lose moisture, and their outer layers break. The inner gel squeezes out and can compress a nerve root.
The second is bone spurs, bony growths that develop from the pressure of one vertebra pushing or rubbing against another, with the extension entering the canal space and putting pressure on the nerve.
Carrying extra pounds
Excess weight stresses your entire body, and that includes your spine. A 2014 study found an association between being overweight and developing sciatica in both men and women. Adopting a healthy diet and a regular exercise regimen can help you lose weight and reduce your pain. And in the process, you also improve your cardiovascular and overall health, and reduce your risks of multiple medical problems, including spinal problems and pain.
Occupational hazards
Jobs that require sitting for long periods of time, say, a desk job or driving a truck, increase your chances of developing sciatica compared to people who are active throughout the day. That is especially true if you don’t have an ergonomically designed work setup and you don’t maintain good posture while sitting. Both put extra pressure on the spine and compromise the nerves.
Also, jobs that require you to routinely bend and twist or lift heavy objects increase your risk for developing sciatica, as you increase the load on your spine and subject it to constant wear-and-tear.
How can I get relief?
Sciatica generally responds well to conservative treatments, which is where we always start. Our goals are to relieve your pain and improve the underlying problem(s) contributing to your discomfort.
Oral medications, such as over-the-counter non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), relieve pain by decreasing inflammation. If they don’t work well enough, we can prescribe something stronger.
Steroid injections contain both a fast-acting anesthetic to immediately dull the pain and a longer-acting steroid to combat the inflammation. We inject it directly into the joint, muscle, or disc that’s causing the problem, which can eliminate your symptoms for several months at a time. That provides you with the opportunity to engage in the third treatment option — physical therapy.
Physical Therapy (PT) improves your flexibility while strengthening tissues in the lower back, pelvis, abdomen, buttocks, and thighs.
The goals of PT for sciatica treatment are to:
- Relieve nerve root compression
- Restore pain-free movement
- Reduce muscle spasms
- Restore lumbar spine function
- Improve lower body mobility
- Decrease inflammation
- Reduce perception of pain through neurological adaptation
- Prevent future pain flare-ups
Physical therapy can be combined with other pain-relieving treatments, including medication, injections, and/or a surgical procedure such as an artificial disc replacement or a spinal fusion to stabilize the damaged area. The more you practice the stretches and exercises you are given, the better you will feel.
If you are suffering from the pain and weakness of sciatica and need relief, the best thing you can do is to come to Endoscopic & Minimally Invasive Spine Specialists for an evaluation with Dr. Glickman or Dr. Smith. Call our office at 813-505-8485, or book an appointment on-line at www.EndoscopicSpineFL.com.
