Sciatic nerve diseases are diagnosed quite often. They arise both when a damaging factor (infection, cooling) affects the nerve directly, and when the nerve is involved in the inflammatory process in case of pathologies of surrounding organs and tissues.
The sciatic nerve is the longest in the human nervous system. It starts at the sacrum area and runs through the buttock down the leg to the foot. Therefore, if the sciatic nerve is entrapped, the pain spreads from the lumbar area along the back of the thigh, then to the shin, heel and toes. Entrapment of the sciatic nerve means its compression that causes nerve tissue irritation. Most often, the compression occurs in the area of the piriform muscle or spinal discs.
The spinal diseases during which nerve roots are compressed with prolapsed disks and bone spurs emerging in case of osteochondrosis may cause the entrapment. Compression often is the result of severe curvatures of the spine and the lumbar vertebrae dislocation.
Sciatica (pain along the sciatic nerve) can be caused by a soft tissue trauma in the area of the nerve passage, a tumor of the spine or surrounding soft tissues, inflammatory processes, general or local hypothermia, physical activities. Women sometimes have sciatica late in pregnancy.
Blockade of the sciatic nerve is performed when the standard treatment regimen is ineffective. Drugs (solutions of novocaine, lidocaine, diclofenac and others) the doctor injects directly into the affected area.
Physiotherapy in case of sciatica helps to reduce the inflammatory process, to relieve pain and muscle spasm.
How to treat sciatica, when the acute period is behind? During the recovery period, manual therapy sessions are recommended. Massage of the sciatic nerve area in the acute period is recommended only for the healthy side, and as the patient’s condition improves, the amount and intensity of procedures should be increased gradually. Manual therapy and massage are aimed at preventing sciatica recurrence.
Exercises in case of sciatic nerve entrapment help restore normal functioning of the lower limb. The patient also learns the correct gait. The exercise should be done on a regular basis for prevention purposes. Learn more about the exercise therapy for sciatica prevention on our website.
Prevention of sciatic nerve inflammation includes timely treatment on the initial stages of the disease. All the measures after a past sciatica are aimed at the prevention of recurrences. Patients are advised to avoid hypothermia: not to sit on a cold surface, not to swim in cold water, and wear warm underwear in winter. It is advisable to gradually condition the body, regularly perform an exercise therapy complex.
The patients prone to frequent respiratory diseases should not stay out of bed during these periods. You should also avoid strenuous physical activities whenever possible. In case of sciatica based on congenital changes in the spine or its acquired curvature, it is recommended to wear a retentive support.
Doctors also advise maintaining a healthy weight, since obesity is a common cause of sciatic nerve entrapment. You should monitor your posture, lift heavy objects correctly, that is, keeping your back straight and squatting to the load, and not bending over to it. It is advisable to sleep on firm mattresses.
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