Sunday, May 25, 2014

Options For Sciatica Pain Treatment Conroe Residents Should Be Aware Of

By Marci Glover


The painful condition known as sciatica involves the inflammation of the sciatic nerve which originates in the buttocks or lower back and extends down the length of the leg. There are several methods of sciatica pain treatment Conroe patients who continue to struggle with this troubling disorder can consider for relief. The most suitable approach depends on the severity and exact cause of the sciatica.

The primary issue leading to sciatic pain is compressed nerve roots, many patients will experience an improvement if they diligently perform a particular set of exercises and combine these with some simple, at-home pain control measures. Applying ice and heat alternately to the affected leg for about 20 minutes each, and then repeating this after two hours helps relieve some patient's discomfort.

The use of analgesic medications such as oral steroids and non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs like ibuprofen can also help make the pain subside at least for several hours. This can make it easier for the patient to go about his or her normal routine or to perform specific exercises that have been prescribed. Severe, acute pain may instead be treated with an epidural steroid injection.

Chiropractic care is a holistic healthcare approach which can provide relief from sciatica for some patients. The objective is to isolate the source of the problem and correct it, usually by applying a technique known as "adjustment" which involve delivering a direct force to the affected vertebra to restore alignment and relieve nerve compression.

Other alternative healthcare modalities that have been proven helpful include acupuncture and massage therapy. The former involves the use of fine needles being inserted into the skin which are understood to restore balance to the body's energy flow, thus relieving pain. The latter is beneficial as it increases blood circulation, muscle relaxation, and stimulates the release of endorphins, which naturally ease discomfort.

In some cases, a sciatica patient will experience a full recovery within six to twelve weeks time, and this will happen faster if they undergo physical therapy that involves certain sets of strengthening, stretching, and aerobic exercises intended to promote healing and prevent a recurrence of the pain. Inactivity will actually slow down the patient's recovery, which is why exercise is encouraged.

Pain that lasts longer than twelve weeks, may be best addressed through a surgical approach. The type of operation performed by the surgeon depends on the cause of the disorder, the most common procedures are microdiscectomy and lumbar laminectomy. The former is used to repair a herniated disc and it involves removing the part responsible for the sciatica. While the latter consists of removing the section of bone or disc that is pinching the nerve and is also called an "open decompression".

Surgery to treat sciatic pain is normally done on an elective basis, which means that it is the patient's decision to have it. The doctor will generally consent to refer the patient for surgery if he or she is experiencing notable limitations from persistent discomfort and has not achieved significant relief from non-surgical measures, they must also be in generally good health to be eligible for surgery.




About the Author:



No comments:

Post a Comment

Related Posts Plugin for WordPress, Blogger...