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Everything You Need to Know About Sciatica — And How to Beat It

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Sciatica is a very painful condition which occurs when the sciatic nerve, which runs from your hips to your feet, gets irritated. It usually clears up after four to six weeks — or even longer. You can usually feel a tingling, stabbing, burning, shooting, numb or weak pain in your bottom, back of legs, or feet and toes. 

It is often recommended that you continue doing your daily activities as much as possible, making sure you do regular back stretches and gentle exercises, take pharmacist recommended pain-killers, and use heat-packs (not hot-water bottles as you could scald the skin if you’re experiencing numbness) to ease the pain. Sitting and lying down for long periods can often worsen sciatica pain, so it’s important to stay active. If symptoms are worsening and aren’t getting any better after a few weeks then you should see your GP. 

Call 911 if:

  • You’re experiencing sciatica on both sides
  • Have weakness or numbness in both legs
  • Have numbness around the genitals and anus
  • Find it hard to urinate or have difficulties controlling bowel movements

Sciatica Diagnosis: What Happens After

Speaking to consultant spinal surgeon Colin Natali, MBBS FRCS FRCS, the process of being diagnosed and treated for sciatica can be very different depending on your condition. “Sciatica is severe pain that runs down the leg. It is commonly caused by a prolapsed disc in the lower back that squashes the nerve at the point where it goes into to the leg. While some cases can be mild, others can be extremely severe. 

“As a surgeon treating patients with this condition, I meet patients who are unable to get out of bed, crying with pain and desperate for something to be done as quickly as possible.

“In severe cases, patients may have pain, numbness, and weakness in one leg. In extreme cases, where the pain and weakness are in both legs, or if there is numbness around the groin, this constitutes a red flag and needs urgent surgery.

“The discs, called the intervertebral discs, are a beautiful piece of engineering. The outer wall is tough, yet flexible, and surrounds a substance that looks and feels like crab meat that we call the nucleus pulposus. As we get older, the wall may become weaker and break. The nucleus material then pops out and squashes the nerve.

“The good news is that the majority of patients get better with pain killers and exercise. Physical therapy from a physiotherapist, osteopath or chiropractor will help, as might acupuncture and massage. Within a few days or weeks, the pain usually improves and patients can get on with their lives.

“However, a small group of patients don’t get better and come to see people like me who can arrange for MRI scans to understand the extent of the problem. When the scans are completed, we talk to the patients to decide whether their sciatica is enough of a problem to warrant injections or surgery.

“Although people are obviously worried about surgery, when the other treatments have failed, surgery is a really effective way to relieve pain.

“Patients faced with the option of surgery can, understandably, find it hard to make decisions. That’s why at Schoen Clinic London we discuss options with them first as well as directing them to online resources, such as the patient information leaflets on the British Association Of Spine Surgeons website. Our role is to arm patients with everything they need to make an informed decision that’s right for them.

“It is important that patients are able to make the correct decisions in their own time and without pressure. Any surgeon who says a patient will soon be paralyzed if an operation is not conducted should responsibly prompt a patient to seek a second opinion before proceeding with the surgery. 

“For patients who opt for surgery, the majority are admitted to hospital for one to two days. Within a few hours post-surgery, they can move enough to write. Returning to work is dependent on the type and length of commute and the nature of the patient’s job, but in general this is a simple operation with good results.

“Although we consider this operation to be safe, it is important to consider that the complication rate is one to four percent, meaning one to four patients in every 100 experience a complication. As is the case with any medical procedure, patients need to weigh up their pain with the risks. If the pain is severe, the risks are worth taking, but if it is mild, I would caution against it.”

Exercises to Help Sciatica Pain:

Piriformis Stretch: Known as a lower glute stretch or piriformis stretch, this can be performed laying down or sat on a chair. This move can really stretch out the bottom muscles on both sides if the shooting pain is located in your behind. 

Cat to Camel: The child’s pose will help flex the lower spine and increase the size of passageways that help to reduce pain and irritation. It will also help align the spine, improve circulation and relieve fatigue. 

Knee Rolling: Knee rolling is great if you tend to feel most tension and pain in the lower back as it helps to relax the lower back muscles, helping to ease the pain.  

Massages to Help Sciatica Pain:

Treating yourself to a massage is a great way of relieving pain. Some studies have even found that they could be just as affective as anti-inflammatory drugs. Massages help to soothe the tense muscles which put pressure on the nerves. Relaxing these muscles and reducing how tense they are can relieve the pressure that is placed on the nerves. 

Therapy for Sciatica: What to Ask For

A Deep-Tissue Massage: This is an aggressive form of massage, targeted at the muscles and connective tissues that could be causing you pain. 

Swedish Massage: This is ideal if you find the deep-tissue massage a little too painful or intense and still works to reduce tension and increase blood-flow. 

Neuromuscular Massage: This is a more advanced massage method that attempts to reduce any pressure on the nerves. 

Myofascial Release: “Myofascial” refers to the hard membranes that support the muscles and is great if you’re feeling stiff. 

Hot Stone Massage: Hot stones are placed on specific areas to ease muscle tension and pain with a Swedish style massage included. 

Causes of Sciatica

Sciatica is caused by irritation at the root of the lower lumbar and lumbo-sacral spine. The main causes of this can be lumbar spinal stenosis, degenerative disc disease, spondyloisthesis, pregnancy, and muscle spasms. 

It’s also very important to exercise regularly to stay healthy and maintain a healthy weight. Wearing high heels can also cause these problems as well as a poor quality or old mattress so it’s important to invest in supportive shoes and a decent mattress and pillows. 

Nonsurgical Treatment for Sciatica Pain 

Heat and Ice: Using heat and ice packs on the affected area for around 20 minutes at a time every two hours can help alleviate initial pain. It’s best to alternative between both ice and then heat using a towel between your skin and the heat or ice pack to protect yourself from burning. 

Medication: Stronger painkillers such as ibuprofen or naproxen can be far more affective than paracetamol. Ask your GP about what the best kind of medication would be best for you to be prescribed. 

Steroid Injections: If the pain becomes severe, epidural steroid injections can be administered to reduce inflammation. These are far more effective at targeting the direct area. 

Chiropractic: Professional chiropractors can help to align the spine which can help to address a number of problems associated with nerve problems. 

Acupuncture: Don’t be afraid of the idea of needles. They’re as thin as hairs and promote the open flow of energy around the area of pain and have been proven to help pain caused by sciatica. 

Cognitive Behavior Therapy: Sessions with a therapist can be extremely beneficial to taking control of your health and changing your behaviors to pain, making it more manageable.  

This article originally appeared on our sister site, Yours

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