Sciatica or neuralgia is an inflammatory disease of the sciatic nerve.
Sciatica is not an independent disease, but a complex of symptoms caused by pathological processes in the lumbosacral spine. As a result of degenerative changes in the spine, the roots of the sciatic nerve exiting from the spinal column are squeezed.
The main function of the sciatic nerve is the innervation of the entire lower limb. Due to the infringement of the roots, the patient feels pain throughout the entire nerve: thigh, popliteal fossa, shin, foot.
But the localization of pain is on the buttock, at the exit point of the sciatic nerve, while the lumbosacral portion of the patient may not bother.
Causes of sciatica nerve( sciatica, sciatica).
- Intervertebral hernia. The gelatinous nucleus of the disc extends beyond the boundaries of the fibrous ring, compressing the nerve root. The main cause of herniation of the lumbar disc is degenerative and age-related changes in the body, or trauma and abrupt movement of the spine.
- Osteochondrosis, i.e.dystrophic change of intervertebral discs. As a result of these changes, the pulpous core dries out, the gap between the vertebrae decreases, compression and inflammation of the sciatic nerve occurs.
- Narrowing of the spinal canal. Spinal stenosis of the lumbar spine is a natural process of aging the body as a whole. There is a proliferation of soft tissues, weakening of the muscular corset and bulging of the intervertebral disc, as a result, the nerve roots are squeezed.
- Pregnancy. In a woman, as a result of a significant increase in weight, a shift in the center of gravity may occur, plus hormonal changes and, as a result, sciatica. The attack of sciatica is less affected by women engaged in special physical exercises. Excessive physical stress on the spine.
- Sharp and prolonged supercooling of the lumbar region.
- Displacement of intervertebral discs as a result of unsuccessful back turn, sudden movement or trauma. Even with a slight fracture of the vertebra, the body of one vertebra slides from the other, squeezing the nerve root.
- Spinal Cord Tumor
- Viral lesion of the sciatic nerve.
- Symptoms of neuralgia of the sciatic nerve
- The main symptom of sciatica is severe pain along the entire leg.
- Pain begins with a lumbago from the lumbar region to the heel itself. It arises sharply, sometimes quite suddenly.
- But more often the disease begins gradually with minor pain and discomfort in the lumbar region. Minor pain, heaviness in the legs, fatigue in the back - patients are often referred to as mere overwork.
- The duration of pain can be several days.
- The motor activity of a person is disturbed. Pain deprives a person to sit, stand, bend and even lie.
- Sometimes there is a loss of sensitivity in the lower limb.
- There are sharp stitching pains in different places of the foot.
- Limited movement when bending the knee or raising the foot.
- Pain is aggravated by movement and does not subside.
- There is a feeling of "crawling" on the skin.
- In bed, a patient tries to bend a painful leg in the knee and pull it towards him, which leads to some reduction in pain.
Diagnosis of Sciatic Nerve Inflammation
The disease is diagnosed by a physician by visual inspection and patient history. To confirm the diagnosis, computer tomography, fluoroscopy, magnetic resonance imaging are performed.
Sometimes patients do not rush for help to specialists, and themselves as a treatment begin to use ointments and painkillers. But local treatment( along the sciatic nerve) or does not bring relief, or provides temporary relief.
Treatment of sciatica is directed to
- Released strangulated nerve endings
- Elimination of pain
- Elimination of muscle spasms
- Improvement of trophism of muscle and nerve tissues and metabolic processes
- Cleansing of cells of toxins and toxins
- Recovery of the entire spine, lower limbs and pelvic organs
Selection of treatment methods is strictly individual. To achieve a stable remission, the duration of the course of treatment can be from 6 to 12 weeks.
Sciatica - a comprehensive treatment of the disease.
Read the instruction of Movalis in tablets if pain requires medical attention. On choosing the best ointment for back pain and lower back here.
In the treatment of sciatica nerve inflammation, a combination of medication, physical exercises and exercises that can be performed at home is used. A few words more about how to treat sciatica:
- Patient needs to minimize all physical activities
- Use of painkillers. This is the first but not the main phase of treatment.
- The use of non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs removes inflammation of the affected area, reduces compression of the nerve root.
- Manual intervention is most often the decisive factor in treatment.
- Acupuncture
- Hand massage
- reflexotherapy
- course of therapeutic exercises
- Vacuum therapy
- Application warming ointments and drugs( for more details on ointments)
- Hirudotherapy
- Physiotherapy
- Phytotherapy with sedative broths
- Water aerobics
- Yoga
In acute attacks of neuralgia, it is justified to use successive alternations of heat and cold. Cold water bottle will remove acute inflammation, and heat will improve blood supply.
The surgical method of treatment is rarely performed, since conservative methods of treatment have a fairly effective effect.
Treatment of sciatica inflammation with folk remedies also gives its results.
- Warm baths with bromine, sage, chamomile, sporich.
- Raziranie sick sites badger or bear bacon.
- During the period of remission, you can visit the bath and bathe with a birch broom.
- Coat sore spots with melted beeswax and wrap with food film.
- Wipe the oil of St. John's wort, marjoram or lavender.
- Drink tea from birch leaves, juniper, black elderberry.
- For the removal of salts used infusion of parsley and dogrose, which have a diuretic property. After applying the present edema decreases, the inflammation of the nerve roots decreases.
When patient's pain subsides, the patient needs to do exercise therapy. Active movements are very important for restoring blood circulation in the lower extremities.
In physical education, attention should be paid to strengthening the abdominal muscles and back. A strong muscular corset will further support the vertebrae in the correct position.
Exercises for stretching the muscles of the hamstrings and intervertebral ligaments will help to avoid stiffness and improve the flexibility of the whole body.
You need to lie on your back, bend your knees, press them to your chest. In this position, it is necessary to lie for several minutes. This position well relieves tension in the lumbar region of the back.
Swimming exercises unload the spine, strengthen the muscles of the whole body, return good health.
Prophylaxis of sciatica nerve inflammation
- Correction of posture disorders in childhood.
- Elimination of asymmetry of the body by manual therapy.
- Reasonable exercise and strengthening of the muscular corset.
- Eating foods rich in calcium, magnesium and a full set of vitamins.
- Strengthen your arms and stretch your spine, hanging on the bar.
- Lift weights by the weightlifters method: transfer the load to the legs without attracting the spine.
- Simple deflections of the back, standing on all fours, improve the figure and strengthen the muscles of the back.
Sedentary lifestyle relaxes the back, muscles weakening them more and more difficult to keep their back in an upright position. The spinal column is overextended, and diseases develop. But problems can be avoided by doing stretching, swinging the press, doing sports and following up the posture.
