Inflammation of the sciatic nerve is neuralgia caused by irritation of the sciatic nerve and can occur on the right or left side.
The discomfort is felt in the lower back, in the back of the thigh and hips, on the calf and under the sole of the foot up to the toes.
Contents
Anatomical knowledge
The sciatic nerve is formed by nerve fibers that originate in the nerves of the sacral plexus (L4, L5, S1, S2, S3).
The nerve has the following course: it runs behind the piriformis into the gluteal muscle, at the back of the leg and calf, under the heel to the toes.
Causes of sciatic nerve inflammation
Damage or pressure on the sciatic nerve are the two main causes of sciatica.
Other causes of sciatica include:
- A herniated disc (disc hernia) in the lumbar region (lumbar) causes compression on the nerves emerging from the spine.
- poor posture and sedentary lifestyle;
- tumor near the sciatica, for example, a neurinoma;
- pregnancy, pregnancy and excess weight cause strong pressure on the spine;
- lumbar canal stenosis with narrowing of the spinal canal;
- Piriformis syndrome. The piriformis is a small hip muscle that rotates the leg. The sciatic nerve runs above or below this muscle. Irritation of this structure can lead to pain and sciatica.;
- Trauma, if the blow is violent, it can damage the nerves. Also, fragments of a fractured vertebra can press on nerves and cause pain.
- Spondylolisthesis – Spondylolisthesis is a degenerative disease of the intervertebral disc and occurs when one vertebra slides slightly forward over another. The bone can squeeze the nerve.
Factors that overload the spine include:
- Overweight
- wearing high heels for long periods of time,
- the incorrect lifting and carrying of heavy objects.
Sciatica nerve pain in pregnancy
Sciatic nerve inflammation can occur during pregnancy when the nerve is squeezed through the uterus, which enlarges as the child grows.
Weight gain during pregnancy is the main cause of sciatica.
Nerve pain is different from cramps or low back pain.
Sciatica is common and occurs no earlier than 12 weeks after conception.
Symptoms of sciatic nerve inflammation
Symptoms of nerve compression include:
- Steady pressure on the sciatic nerve can cause back pain – it is acute pain that starts in the lower back and pulls down to the legs.
- cause other problems such as muscle weakness in the lower limbs.
- tingling on the feet;
- loss of sensitivity;
- loss of strength;
- disappearance of self-reflexes (for example, the patellar tendon reflex);
- Burn;
- Restriction of movement, the patient may feel a blockage, especially when bending forward or to the side (both healthy and sick).
The most common symptoms are lumbalgia (back pain) and pain in the leg along the nerve course.
The localization of pain does not always correspond to the course of the nerve, so some people feel the pain only in the buttocks and on the outside of the calf.
The pain can be intermittent, but in more severe cases it is constant.
If the nerve is severely damaged, the back pain is severe and debilitating.
Rarely, the sciatic nerve is permanently damaged.
Most often, the pain in the leg gets worse when the patient is in a sitting or standing position for at least 10 minutes.
The symptoms improve when walking and lying down.
In severe cases, urinary or fecal incontinence may occur in addition to the discomfort in the legs.
In these cases, the neurosurgeon might recommend surgery.
Some patients think that sciatica causes fever, but this is not true.
Diagnosis of sciatic nerve inflammation
The medical history and the interpretation of the symptoms are the first steps to diagnosis.
In certain cases, some apparatus tests may be carried out:
- Radiogram
- Magnetic resonance tomography
- Electromyography
What to do? Treatment of sciatic nerve inflammation
Treatment depends on the cause of the disease.
Light aerobic exercises such as walking, swimming, horseback riding and cycling promote healing.
However, it should be noted that physical inactivity weakens the muscles.
The abdominal and lumbar muscles support and protect the joints of the spine.
Strengthening exercises are useful for recovery and prevention.
The postures in yoga train the muscles and expand the space between the vertebral bodies.
Surgery should always be the last choice.
Non-surgical treatment
Nonsurgical treatment options include:
- Restraining
- heat compresses,
- Painkiller
- Physiotherapy.
Old home remedies, such as a hot water bottle, can help relieve pain.
Medication
To obtain immediate relief in acute sciatica, the doctor recommends the following drugs:
- Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatories, for example, ketoprofen (Gabrilen) or diclofenac (Voltaren),
- Corticosteroids, for example betamethasone (Betnesol),
- Muscle relaxants, for example, methocarbamol (Ortoton).
Often the doctor prescribes the injection of an anti-inflammatory and muscle relaxant together, for example, Ortoton and Voltaren.
If these agents do not help reduce pain, the doctor may perform cortisone infiltration.
This treatment provides temporary relief, but does not eliminate the cause of the problem. If sciatica is caused by a disc hernia, protrusion or lumbar canal stenosis, recurrences may occur again and again.
Physical therapy reduces nerve pain. Experts consider physical therapy and physical therapy to be the best treatment options for this condition.
Regular physical activity and exercises help strengthen the muscles of the back and abdomen and correct a person’s posture.
Physical therapy and re-education for postural defects are key to managing pain caused by compression of the sciatic nerve.
At the beginning, you should only perform light exercises for the back.
First of all, the following exercises are recommended for relief from sciatica pain:
- Muscular strengthening
- Slow walking
- Low-intensity aerobic exercise
Before starting physical therapy, one should consult the family doctor or a medical service.
Surgery
Surgery should be the last resort and one should only undergo it if all other treatment options did not bring pain relief and did not prevent recurrence. Surgery for herniated disc or lumbar canal stenosis is indicated if there is intestinal or bladder incontinence with muscle weakness in the legs.
Natural remedies for sciatic nerve inflammation
Chiropractic
An experienced chiropractor can treat recurrent sciatic nerve pain by manipulating the spinal joints.
Osteopathy Osteopathy
is a very useful manual therapy because it reduces nerve tension.
The sciatica can be constrained as follows:
- in the spine,
- through some ligaments in the area of the pelvis,
- from the piriformis muscle,
- behind the biceps of the thigh,
- in the hollow of the knee on the side of the fibula head (this branch is also called the common fibular nerve).
The osteopath loosens the joints and relaxes the muscles that tense or compress the nerve.
Massages to relieve sciatica pain
The massage reduces the tension of the back muscles and improves blood circulation.
Eat
plenty of vitamin B Natural sources of vitamin B include:
- Peas
- Spinach
- Beans
- Nuts
- Soybeans
- Salads
- Garlic
- Parsley
- green leafy vegetables,
- fresh vegetables.
Acupuncture
Acupuncture is a very effective method of treatment. In acupuncture, small metal needles are inserted into the skin at certain points to relieve the pain.
Gymnastics for the treatment of sciatica
To relieve pain caused by sciatica, exercises in extension of the spine are recommended. To reduce symptoms, the muscles of the shoulders and back must be strengthened.
Stiffness of the body and lack of exercise aggravate the symptoms.
Extension in prone position
You start in the prone position and position your arms in front of your shoulders; the legs remain stretched on the ground.
The body is lifted by using only the force of the arms and forming an arch.
Hold this position for 1 second; Repeat 10 times.
Relaxation in extension on the fitness ball
This exercise stretches the spine.
The person sits on the fitness ball and slides down until the back is supported by the ball.
The arms are gently raised above the head and try to reach the ground.
Hold this position for 2 minutes.
Curve
your back backwards The exercise begins in kneeling; the ankles are grasped with the hands and the back is arched backwards. The person in question bends his head back and looks up.
The Bridge
The exercise begins in the supine position with bent knees and feet firmly on the ground.
Lift the buttocks from the floor.
Hold the position for one minute and repeat 3 to 4 times at intervals of two minutes.
Stretching for women in pregnancy or cat hump exercise
This exercise is known as the “cat hump”.
The exercise begins in the quadruped position, with hands and knees on the floor. The thigh and lower leg form an angle of 90°.
Make sure that the back and loins are horizontal.
Inhale and lower the abdomen, bring the head upwards. Slowly exhale and move the stomach upwards, the head tilts to the floor.
Abdominal muscle training on the fitness ball
This exercise is useful for sciatica, it also allows a strengthening of the muscles of the loin, abdomen, arms, calves and the muscles of the back of the thigh (flexors).
You have to hold the position with your shins supported on the fitness ball, with your palms on the floor, it’s like being in the prone position, but supported on your hands and legs.
Repeat this exercise 2 times, hold the position for 30 seconds.
Stretching the piriformis
The exercise begins in a sitting position on the floor, the healthy leg stretched out in front of the body.
Grasp the ankle of the sick leg and pull as far as possible to the chest.
Hold this position for 5 seconds. Repeat the exercise 2 times
Avoid:
Stretching
Some bodybuilding exercises must be avoided, especially squats and leg press.
Is cold or heat better?
You should never put ice on your back.
How long does sciatic nerve inflammation last? Recovery times
The healing times depend on the severity of the disease.
In some cases, patients improve almost completely after 2-3 days, because the acute inflammation passes.
Usually, the recovery time under proper therapy is 3-4 weeks.
For a full recovery after surgical intervention, it takes about two months, but usually a lot of time passes before the patient decides to have surgery.
