Symptoms and Complications
The main symptom of sciatica is pain that radiates through the buttock and down the back of the thigh and leg. The pain may stop below the knee or continue right down to the foot. Pain from sciatica can change: it can be shooting or burning, sharp or dull, non-stop or intermittent. Pain is usually only felt on one side of the body. Some people complain of intense and acute pain. Others experience a numb and weak feeling in the parts of their leg where it hurts. This may sometimes indicate more serious neurological problems. Sneezing, coughing, straining, bending, or lifting can make it worse.
In rare cases, people suffering sciatica as a result of a slipped disc are confined to bed for a few days. Another uncommon situation is disturbance of bowel and bladder control as a result of pressure on the nerves in the lower portion of the spine. Consult your doctor immediately if this occurs.
Making the Diagnosis
Symptoms will help a doctor make the diagnosis. Your doctor will check the spine for areas of tenderness. Tests for sensation, coordination, muscle strength, and reflexes may be performed, especially when a slipped disc is suspected. Your doctor may use the straight-leg-raise test - lifting the leg to a 90-degree angle without bending the knee - to help locate the point of pain. Other tests may include an X-ray, or scans like computed assisted tomography (CT or CAT) or magnetic resonance imaging (MRI).
Treatment and Prevention
Sciatica can be relieved by treating symptoms and any specific cause that exists, such as a slipped disc. Your doctor may prescribe muscle relaxants, nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), painkillers, or corticosteroids to reduce inflammation. Moderate exercise is recommended if pain is minimal. When the symptoms have lessened, therapy to strengthen abdominal muscles and back muscles is important to prevent a return of symptoms.
Here are some other things that may help. Many of them are similar to ways of dealing with other common lower back problems:
- Sleep on a firm mattress on your side or back with knees bent.
- During bad attacks, sleep with a pillow under or between your knees.
- Try not to sleep on your stomach.
- Adjust the height of chairs so your feet are flat on the floor and the knees are a little higher than the hips.
- Keep your feet flat on the floor and do not cross your legs when sitting.
- Sit in chairs that have firm back support and sit up straight against the back of the chair.
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