What is Sciatica? – The Causes, Diagnosis, Symptoms and Treatment

Sciatica

Sciatica refers to a medical condition characterized with pain radiating along the path of the sciatic nerve, which stems from lower back through hips and buttocks and extend further down to the leg.
More often, sciatica occurs in one part of the body. However, certain uncommon causes aggravates the pain to both sides. Sciatica refers more to symptoms and not a medical disease in itself.

CAUSES
There are usually severe pains associated with sciatica, but most cases are treated with pills and therapy in few weeks. However, prolonged and serious sciatica characterized with acute leg numbness/weakness and/or bowel/bladder changes are highly susceptible to surgical operation. The most common causes are:

Spinal disc herniation
This occurs when there is compression in the part of the nerve caused by herniated disk, bone spur on the spine or narrowing of the spine (spinal stenosis). This results in inflammation, pain and most commonly unresponsiveness in the leg.

Spinal stenosis
This is a condition in where the spaces in which spinal cord passes (the spinal canal) constricts and tightens the spinal cord, sciatic nerve roots or casual equina.

Piriformis syndrome
This occurs the muscle contracts or shudders due to strain or overstretch. This is largely believed to be caused by constriction of the nerve. this is also known as "wallet sciatica".

Pregnancy
Sciatica in pregnancy is caused by weight of the foetus inclining on the sciatic nerve while sitting or during leg numbness. It is recorded that more time than often, this does not affect the foetus but may have indirect effects on the legs, leading to imbalance and huge loss of stamina.

Other reasons
Presence of tumours on the spinal cord or the nerve roots can cause sciatica. Acute pains in the back spreading to the hip and foot, inability to control the bladder or bowel, or weakness of the muscle can cause cauda equina syndrome or spinal cord tumors. Trauma affecting the spine from aftermath of an accident can also result to sciatica.

DIAGNOSIS
The straight-leg-raising test is largely the first mode of diagnosing sciatica. The rule to determine the presence of sciatica is simply raising the patient’s leg while in sleeping position. The sciatica is presence if the pain in the distribution of the sciatic nerve is recurs within 30 (thirty) and 70 (seventy) degrees reflexive flexion of the leg. This test is effective in about 90% of cases, however about three-fourth of cases with positive outcome are free from sciatica. More often than not, MRI or any other medical imagery are not necessary when diagnosing Sciatica except when there is infection of the bladder/bowel or persistent weakness in the limbs.

SYMPTOMS
The symptoms of sciatica are always prevailing especially when there is presence of tumour in the patient. Some of the few common symptoms are:
Continuous pain in the back through the hips and buttock to the leg.  (rarely in both legs). Acute pains while sitting,
Severe pain in the leg often termed as burning, tickling, or shooting
Numbness in the leg, foot, and the toes
Difficulty in standing up caused by pain the back. Pains in the leg, foot and toes.

TREATMENT
sciatica caused by  can be resolved instinctively in short period.  Conservative treatment in the first 6–8 weeks. Bed rest and physical therapy (directed exercise) are usually recommended.
Medication
medicines are usually recommended to treat sciatica, effect of it is usually slow and in most cases, not sufficient.  This explains why muscle relaxants are popularly prescribed. sciatica caused by piriformis syndrome, pains and constrictions are reduced by injecting the patients with botulinum toxin.
Surgery
Discectomy becomes absolutely necessary in the case of unilateral sciatica. This involves removal of disc. This is effective in short run but with addition of conservative therapy and bed rest, the effects becomes more effective.
Alternative medicine
This is largely most efficient treatment. It involves manipulation of spines and it is considered very safe. For more details, contact.