Sciatica pain can occur because of irritation or compression of the lower back nerves that go through to the legs. The treatment often will focus on the cause of the compression, which is usually an underlying spinal problem. Tracing the cause and the associated symptoms helps to understand the condition and your pain better. Here are three types of treatment for sciatica:
Understanding Sciatica
Sciatica is a condition linked to the sciatic nerve that cuts across the lower back to the feet. The pain mostly strikes one side of the body, and its extent may vary from mild to severe anywhere with a nerve attached to the sciatic tissue. There are two types of sciatica: true sciatica and sciatica-like problems. The distinction between these types depends on how the healthcare specialist evaluates how to conduct treatment. Other symptoms include lack of sensation or weakness in the legs, lightning pain, and itchiness in the affected leg.
Sciatica pain often results from a torn disc, which occurs when the gel from the central vertebral disc drips and irritates the nerve. The pain also occurs due to a deteriorated disc condition, where the discs in your back wear out rapidly. This causes sciatic nerve inflammation and lightning pain. Injury from an accident that causes spinal trauma may lead to the contraction of sciatic nerves and discomfort.
Physical Therapy Treatment
Your healthcare specialist can recommend physical therapy as a primary management option. These specialists address severe pain before initiating physical therapy. Physical therapy should help to reinforce the muscles and minimize irritation, enhancing body recovery and increasing mobility. Your therapist customizes stretching movements and workout conditioning programs depending on your condition. They will recommend exercises that don’t elevate the sciatica pain but improve core strength. These routines boost the spinal, buttocks, hips, and abdominal muscles. Light workout programs help in enhancing circulation and fluid transfer in your muscles. Some physical exercises include walking, swimming, joint mobility, and hydrotherapy.
Platelet-Rich Plasma Therapy (PRP)
A health specialist may inject PRP therapy to alleviate sciatica symptoms and treat the disc condition. The injection helps to restore the degenerated spinal discs and promote their repair. This regenerative treatment is slower but impacts other growth elements to enhance healing. A professional may only recommend this treatment if your pain is severe.
Surgical Treatment
Your health specialist usually recommends non-surgical treatment options for a mild condition. The doctor proceeds to surgery when conditions such as bilateral sciatica and extensive injuries occur. Bilateral sciatica occurs when it causes pain in both legs and originates from a spinal compression or a torn disc. The condition shows that you have severely deteriorated spinal problems that require surgery. Extensive injuries in the pelvic spine can lead to sciatica symptoms, which require surgery for correction.
Seek Personalized Sciatica Treatment
Appropriate and timely treatment helps prevent further structural conditions on the lower parts of the body. Specialized treatments are administered after the medical specialist checks your muscle agility and reflexes, such as squatting and lifting the legs. To get appropriate treatment for a sciatica condition, consult a competent healthcare professional and schedule an appointment.