What Does sciatica Mean
The concept of sciatica or sciatica , derived from the late Latin sciatĭcus , can be used in different ways. As an adjective , it refers to what is linked to the hip (the protruding parts that are formed by the bones that are on the pelvis). The notion can also refer to the sciatic nerve : the thickest and longest in the body, distributed in muscles of the foot, thigh and leg.
Beyond these definitions, the most common use of the idea of sciatica refers to a neuralgia of this nerve . Sciatica, therefore, causes pain in the hip area.
Sciatica may be due to irritation or compression of this nerve or of the lumbar and sacral nerves. The ailment can be experienced in areas of the feet and legs, in the buttocks or in the entire lumbar region. Along with the pain may appear a sensation of numbness and tingling .
Specifically, the most common symptoms of sciatica are the following:
-Pain in the lower back area.
-Pains that are relieved when the patient lies down or lies down.
-Constant pain in only one of the legs.
-Tingling sensation and weakness in one leg.
-Pain of the foot or toes.
-Stabbing pain that arises, especially, when walking.
Due to sciatica, a person may have trouble controlling or moving the leg. That is why it is a discomfort that causes great discomfort and that can force you to remain at rest until it is reversed.
It is important to bear in mind that sciatica can be generated for various reasons. For this reason, its cause must be determined in order to follow the corresponding treatment .
The spinal stenosis and herniated spinal disc , for example, can cause sciatica. Pregnant women can also suffer from this neuralgia due to the vertebral compression generated by the weight of the fetus and due to the pressure that the uterus exerts on the sciatic nerve.
To minimize the pain caused by sciatica, it is possible to resort to analgesic and anti-inflammatory drugs, stretching exercises and massages .
In the same way, it must be
borne in mind that other fundamental aspects of sciatica treatment are the following: -Rest.
-Application of heat or cold, which can significantly help reduce existing pain.
-Epidural corticosteroid injections that are very useful to reduce inflammation and also to relieve pain.
-In some cases, the treatment based on the keys already mentioned or on the drugs does not achieve relief of any kind. In that situation, it will be necessary to resort to what is surgery. Specifically, this can be of two types: lumbar laminectomy or open decompression and microdiscectomy, which is a minor class surgery. The latter is carried out when the cause of sciatica is a herniated disc, which is the one that is pinching the disc nerve. On the other hand, the first surgery will consist of removing the part of the bone or disc that is responsible for the aforementioned impingement and it usually has an effectiveness that is between 70% and 80%.