How is Sciatica treated?
Initial treatment usually focuses on medicines and exercises to relieve pain.
Additional treatment for sciatica depends on what is causing the nerve irritation. If your symptoms do not improve, your doctor may suggestĀ physical therapy, injections of medicines such as steroids, stronger medicines such as muscles relaxants, or even surgery for severe cases.
How is sciatica diagnosed?
Sciatica is diagnosed with a medical history and physical exam. Sometimes tests such asĀ magnetic resonance imaging (MRI)Ā are done to help find the cause of the sciatica.
What are the symptoms of Sciatica?
Symptoms of sciatica include pain that begins in your back or buttock and moves down your leg and may move into your foot. Weakness, tingling, or numbness in the leg may also occur.
- Sitting, standing for a long time, and movements that cause the spine to flex may make symptoms worse.
What causes sciatica?
The most common cause of sciatica is a bulging or ruptured disc (Ā herniated discĀ ) in the spine pressing against the nerve roots that lead to the sciatic nerve. But sciatica also can be a symptom of other conditions that affect the spine, such as narrowing of the spinal canal (Ā spinal stenosisĀ ), bone spurs (small, bony growths that form along joints) caused byĀ nerve root compression (Ā pinched nerveĀ ) caused by injury. In rare cases, sciatica can also be caused by conditions that do not involve the spine, such as tumors or pregnancy.
What is sciatica?
Sciatica is pain, tingling, or numbness produced by an irritation of the nerve roots that lead to theĀ sciatic nerveĀ . The sciatic nerve is formed by the nerve roots coming out of the spinal cord into the lower back. It goes down through the buttock, then its branches extend down the back of the leg to the ankle and foot.
Sciatica Specialist
Dr Mathew Tung, Sciatica Specialist
