Sciatica hypothermia treatment. Sciatica

There are no insignificant symptoms in medicine.

Even a little pain is already a signal for action for the doctor. At the same time, patients often ignore severe attacks of pain and self-medicate.

One such case is sciatica, an inflammation of the sciatic nerve. The disease affects patients over 30 years of age and requires mandatory professional examination and treatment.

A lot of questions: what is sciatica, how dangerous it is for a patient, how to treat inflammation of the sciatic nerve, and why it should not be done without consulting a specialist - all this should be known to everyone who experiences neurological pain at rest or in motion.

Inflammation of large nerves and their branches is called neuralgia. When it comes to the largest and most important nerve, the sciatic nerve, pain syndrome is also mentioned, called sciatica, or sciatica.

Signs of sciatica - first of all, pain of a certain nature and impaired mobility of the lower limbs.

NOTE! Sciatica is an inflammation of the sciatic nerve. Signs of inflammation are manifested by pain and neurological symptoms. Sciatica treatment must be entrusted to an experienced neurologist.

The human nervous system is unique. In it, the functions of consciousness and life support are divided between parts of the central nervous system - the brain and spinal cord.

The brain, protected from all sides by the cranium, is responsible for the higher functions and regulation of the body's life. And the spinal cord is responsible for maintaining life: movement, reflexes, automatism.

Sciatica: symptoms and treatment

With all the variety of symptoms of the disease, treatment for sciatica of the sciatic nerve consists in eliminating entrapment, relieving inflammation, restoring nervous tissue and normal innervation of muscles and organs.

Nerves extending from the spinal cord and leading to signals from muscles and organs are responsible for the person to stand, sit, breathe and be able to walk.

Injuries can result in loss of sensitivity and movement of body parts, depending on the location of the injury.

The sciatic nerve lies in the lower part of the body, therefore, most of the symptoms of its inflammation are associated with the legs and lower trunk:

• Pain with inflammation of the sciatic nerve is usually characterized by patients as acute, arising abruptly and intensely, sometimes - burning, shooting. The sensations are usually not symmetrical on the right and left; patients notice them in the gluteal region, on the back of the thigh. Severe sciatic nerve neuralgia can even manifest as pain in the popliteal fossa and lower leg and down to the toes. not always;

How to relieve pain? Try not to numb the pain with handfuls of pills. Be sure to tell your doctor what drugs and in what dosages you took without a prescription!

• Neurological disorders are universal manifestations of sciatica. The patient may suffer from a lack of sensitivity of the skin on the legs, take a forced posture for sleep or work. Sciatica can manifest as a lack of coordination when walking due to loss of mobility and sensitivity in the joints of the legs. Violation of reflexes and autonomic functions threatens even death if the disease lasts a long time;
• Deep implications. With prolonged restriction of the normal innervation of the muscles, they begin to atrophy - to decrease in size. Forced posture in the patient can lead to osteoporosis and curvature of the bones. It can also be due to paralysis. Over time, the skin of the legs loses its normal color, becomes thinner, and dries up. Even toenails can be malnourished.

Sciatica: what is it? Sciatica is a disease of older age. The disease has several names: sciatica, sciatica, sciatic nerve neuralgia, sciatica and sciatica.

In any case, we are talking about inflammation of the nerve tissue of the sciatic nerve and related symptoms in people over 30 years old.

A nerve is a bundle of filaments made up of different types of nerve cells. In addition to the nerve tissue itself, it needs a circulatory system that feeds it and a shock-absorbing sheath that protects it from external influences.

In fact, it takes a lot of effort to make the sciatic nerve vulnerable. Usually, the first signs of neuralgia are simply ignored or attributed to other diseases.

With sciatica, the entire body of the nerve is excited, therefore, the pain spreads to all organs and tissues along the path of the sciatic nerve tract. It itself originates in the sacral plexus.

It is located at the level of the lumbar spine. The vertebrae there are large, strong, but movably connected to each other.

Between any movable vertebrae there is a vertebral disc, which, with certain disorders, can completely or partially collapse, which leads to inflammation and pain.

And given that the spine in the lumbar region carries enormous loads, it is not difficult to understand why inflammation and pain most often occur at the level of this department.

Sciatica: treatment

Knowing the anatomical basis of the disease, the doctor correlates it with the symptoms described by the patient and prescribes a sciatica treatment that meets two principles: individuality and maximum effectiveness.

Before treating sciatica, it is worth understanding the reasons for its manifestation in a particular patient. By eliminating these causes in the future, the patient can have a healthy and happy life without pain.

Inflammation of the sciatic nerve: causes

Degenerative processes in the vertebral discs, development and leads to infringement of the roots of the spinal nerves. When the sciatic nerve is pinched, the patient experiences extremely unpleasant sciatica symptoms.

The disease manifests itself under the influence of both external and internal causes. For example, pay attention to the following sciatica causes:

• Hernias. The hernial protrusion presses on the spinal nerve roots in the lower back, thereby disrupting the electrical conductivity and blood supply to the nerve tissue. Soon, inflammation occurs at the site of compression, accompanied by pain. Successful sciatica treatment will be associated with;
• Infections. Whether the causative agent of the disease is a bacterium, a virus or a protozoan organism, if this pathogen releases toxins, then the nervous system will surely react to them. In this group, mention should be made of influenza, tuberculosis, typhus, sepsis, syphilis, malaria and scarlet fever. Most often, the infection is activated at the time of hypothermia and decreased immunity
• Intoxication of a different origin can also trigger the development of nervous inflammation. Toxins of an internal nature enter the bloodstream during gout and diabetes, and come from the outside with alcohol and drug abuse or chemical poisoning (arsenic, mercury, lead). To cure sciatica, you first have to purify the blood;
• The proliferation of bone tissue beyond its natural outlines in osteochondrosis and spondylosis creates pressure on the sciatic nerve cord, like a hernia. A similar process occurs for. The hip nerve can become inflamed within a few hours, and sometimes does not make itself felt for several months.

A competent consultation of a doctor and a complex of modern research will help to reliably determine the cause of pain sensations and their source. High-quality professional diagnostics has been and remains a determining factor in therapeutic success in medicine.

Methods to be applied in diagnostics. Determined by a physician based on the severity of symptoms.

The average sciatic nerve inflammation, the symptoms and treatment of which we are considering, does not require complex diagnostics, but a visit to a general practitioner and a visit to a neurologist are necessary steps.

How to quickly cure neuralgia? Visit a doctor, undergo an examination, confirm the diagnosis and strictly follow all the instructions during the period of treatment and rehabilitation.

The local therapist does not make decisions about the method of treating neurological diseases, so the patient is redirected to a narrower specialist - a neurologist (in case of complicated inflammation - to an orthopedist, surgeon and other doctors).

A neurologist performs a series of tests to confirm the diagnosis:

• Testing the Achilles reflex. When the tendon is struck, the contraction of the calf muscle does not occur or is noticeably weakened. This indicates a failure in the activity of the nerve pathways;
• The severity of the knee reflex. A hernia between the 3rd and 4th lumbar vertebrae most often leads to a decrease or disappearance of the knee reflex;
• Is there a plantar reflex? If the patient does not bend the fingers and foot during the test, then the neurologist can put another plus in favor of sciatica;
• Lying on your back, lift your straight leg up. Sciatica patients experience pain in the hip and lower back.

This is the required minimum of an office examination. Further, the doctor may prescribe one of the instrumental studies:

• X-rays will reveal pathologies of the bone and cartilaginous tissue of the spine, which means that it will be able to point to the source of sciatica in all cases, except for pregnancy and obesity;
• CT - computed tomography allows you to study in detail the state of each vertebra in the area under study, but soft tissues are not always visible;
• Electroneuromyogram - a specialized study that allows you to assess the conductivity of nerve tissue in a particular part of the patient's body;
• MRI - magnetic resonance imaging is a more informative and reliable method. Doctors will be able to examine all areas of interest in the nerve and spinal cord in relation to the state of the bone tissue.

Based on the combination of symptoms and research results, doctors established the final diagnosis: sciatic nerve inflammation. Treatment is carried out in several directions at the same time.

A professional doctor prescribes a whole range of therapeutic measures:

• Taking medications and injections (non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, analgesics, vitamin supplements, ointments and creams, blockades);
• Physiotherapy and massage (electrophoresis, ultrasound, laser, magnetotherapy, acupuncture, massage of the lumbosacral region and below, including limbs);
• Reflexology and remedial gymnastics (only outside the exacerbation period!).

Phytotherapy and homeopathy, specific procedures, yoga, psychotherapy, etc. act as auxiliary methods of treatment. It is worth consulting a doctor about the permissibility of using each of the non-medical methods.

Patient Question: How Long Is Sciatica Treated? - For 4 weeks and longer you will have to take medications and perform procedures.

With improperly selected treatment or non-compliance with recommendations, neuralgia is treated slowly. Pain on the outside of the reed, sometimes radiating to the pelvis, then disappears, then resumes.

This is especially familiar to patients who are treated according to their own understanding and the "advice of a neighbor": taking analgesics gradually loses its effectiveness, gymnastics also does not bring relief.

"I always heal myself!" - young patients exclaim. - “Why run to doctors at 30 years old !?”. And in order not to start the development of the disease.

Nervous inflammation (neuritis) of an infectious or toxic nature can spread to other parts of the nervous system.

In this case, the patient is taken by surprise, not knowing what to do. Therefore, doctors strongly recommend contacting medical institutions at the first signs of illness.

BTW!Sciatica is rarely treated surgically. But some patients manage to bring themselves to the need for such an intervention.

Morning exercises are useful for everyone: both recovering and healthy. Moderate physical activity, and even more so a set of exercises, provide the spine with a sufficient number of multidirectional movements.

The effect is obvious: there is no stagnation in the muscles, no curvature of posture, no infringement or hernias.

In the evening after work, there is no better way to prevent neuralgia and scoliosis than a comfortable orthopedic pillow and a quality mattress.

Sciatica is an inflammatory disease. Otherwise - sciatic nerve neuralgia, which is expressed in acute pain. Unpleasant sensations are localized in the lower extremities (buttock, thigh, lower leg on one or both sides). The disease is typical for people over 30 years old.

How to cure sciatica, the neurologist knows better than others. In complicated cases, an orthopedist, surgeon, osteopath and even a psychotherapist are involved in the treatment. Self-medication with sciatic neuralgia is dangerous by the development of pathologies of the spinal cord and loss of mobility in the lower body.

Inflammation of the sciatic nerve refers to diseases in which a person is in no hurry to see a doctor. This is due to the fact that the disease usually makes itself felt 2-3 times a year and does not cause critical discomfort. However, if you do not trust a specialist, more serious problems may appear in the future.

In another way, this disease is called sciatica, and the main causes of its occurrence are as follows:

1. Is the most common cause of sciatica. The intervertebral disc reduces the load on the vertebrae, but if a hernia occurs, the nerve root emerging from the disc can be pinched or compressed, and this leads to the development of sciatic nerve neuralgia.
2. Osteochondrosis. It is complicated osteochondrosis that can cause inflammation, because with this disease, the intervertebral discs become overgrown with growths and change their shape. The discs subject to deformation press on the nerve roots, which leads to inflammation of the sciatic nerve.
3. Spinal stenosis. With such a disease of the spine, the canal in which the spinal cord is located and from which the nerve endings come out is narrowed. This is due to overgrowth of soft tissue and expansion of the joints. All this leads to pressure on the nerve roots, and, therefore, to pain and inflammation.

In addition to the main causes, there are other causes of sciatic nerve neuralgia:

• rheumatism;
• arthritis;
• various injuries;
• hypothermia and overheating;
• diseases in gynecology;
• prolonged constipation.

Of the very rare causes of sciatica, one can single out: blood clot, tumor, Lyme disease, fibromyalgia, abscess.

The main symptoms of sciatica

Typically, the symptoms of this disease are manifested by pain in the lumbar region. They vary in the duration, intensity and nature of the pain.

A tingling, burning pain begins in the lower back and gradually spreads to the buttock and then spreads down the leg to the foot. Painful sensations and numbness of body parts can last as long as several hours or several weeks, so immediate complex treatment is required.

During an attack, a person can catch their breath, there is a rapid heartbeat and profuse sweating.

The pain appears throughout the limb, but its intensity differs in different areas. It grows gradually, at first in the form of discomfort when moving, when a person constantly wants to sit down.

Then the pain intensifies, and it becomes more difficult to walk, while often the limb ceases to be sensitive and becomes numb.

In such cases, immediate specialist assistance is required, because with acute attacks of pain, sciatica can become paralyzing. And only a surgeon will help to cope with this.

This disease can remain at the initial stage for a long time and not manifest itself. But some reasons can provoke its sharp manifestation:

• hypothermia;
• sharp movement (when turning);
• lifting heavy objects.

Sciatica symptoms can be easily confused with other diseases of the spine, therefore, it is necessary to establish an accurate diagnosis in a timely manner and start treatment.

Treatment of sciatic nerve inflammation

As soon as the doctor establishes an accurate diagnosis, he prescribes complex treatment, which includes medicines, exercise and massage.

Medication

To repair the sciatic nerve, your doctor may prescribe non-steroidal drugs that reduce inflammation. These include: Ibuprofen, Motrin, Ketoprofen, Advil, Volteren, Naproxen. These agents can effectively eliminate inflammation.

The above anti-inflammatory drugs are not recommended to be taken for a long time, because with excessive use they can negatively affect the state of the cardiovascular system and the gastrointestinal tract.

Drugs such as Morphine, Codeine and Percadone are opioid pain relievers. They act in such a way that a person loses sensitivity to pain for a short time. Also come in the form of patches.

These drugs are not advised to take often, as they can be addictive.

Physical exercise

When treating sciatica, one cannot do without physical education, because it helps to relax muscles and helps relieve pain.

Most effective exercises:

1. Lie on your back, bend your legs and pull them to your stomach, hands are pressed to the floor. Without lifting the body from the floor, start alternating knee movements to the left and right.
2. Elbow placket. Lie face down, bend your elbows, palms on the floor. Hold the bar, stretching your back if possible for 20-30 seconds.
3. Lie on your back with bent legs. In this position, you need to strain and relax your back muscles.

Regular, correct exercise improves blood flow to painful areas and helps heal sciatica faster.

Massage is also a way to relax muscles. It starts from the knees, buttocks and thighs, smoothly moving to a sore spot in the lower part of the lower back.

Movements should not be abrupt and no pressure should be allowed. Rub, pinch, and stroke the skin.

During a massage session, the patient should be in the supine position and, if possible, be on a hard surface. Massage can be included in the treatment complex regardless of the stage of sciatica development.

Operative intervention

There are cases when sciatica becomes paralyzing or protracted. And if none of the listed methods help to cope with the disease, then immediate surgical intervention is required.

In order to prevent serious complications, one should not ignore the disease, but immediately contact a qualified specialist.

Injections for inflammation of the sciatic nerve

Injections for inflammation help not only relieve pain, but also effectively promote treatment. Due to the fact that the injections are made directly in the affected area, they affect the inflamed nerve locally, thereby increasing the effectiveness of the treatment.

For injections, your doctor will usually prescribe steroid anti-inflammatory drugs. After assessing the symptoms of the disease, the specialist himself calculates the dose and duration of the course of injections. The advantage of treatment with injections is a significant reduction in side effects.

Sciatica treatment at home

To treat this disease at home, special baths, compresses and rubbing, which have a relaxing effect, will help.

Healing bath recipes:

1. Pour 1 kg of pine shoots with 3 liters of hot water. Insist 4 hours. At the rate of 1:15, pour the broth into a warm bath. Take a bath for 15-20 minutes.
2. Grate horseradish on a fine grater, wrap the gruel in cheesecloth and lower it into the bath. Take a horseradish bath for at least 10 minutes.

Baths should be taken throughout the week.

It is important to remember that a person with sciatica is strictly prohibited from taking hot baths. The permissible maximum water temperature is 37 degrees.

Compresses and rubbing

Compresses to help relieve discomfort:

1. Melt the beeswax in a steam bath. Form a lozenge out of wax and apply it to the painful area. Secure with cling film. Wrap a shawl on top. It is recommended to do the compress every night for a week.
2. Knead the "dough" from 1 tbsp. flour and 1 tbsp. honey, form a cake and apply to the diseased area according to the principle of the previous recipe.
3. Pour boiling water over fresh cabbage leaves so that they do not break. Then apply a compress to the lower back, apply cellophane and a warm shawl on top. Keep for several hours.
4. Grate raw potatoes, squeeze and pour out the juice. Add 1 tsp to the potatoes. kerosene and mix well. Put the gruel in cheesecloth, tie and attach to the desired place. To avoid burns, the area where the compress will be applied should be liberally lubricated with vegetable oil.

Grinding recipes:

1. Prepare a tincture of 300 gr. vodka and 100 gr. acacia. Soak in a dry place for 7 days, then strain and rub into painful areas as needed.
2. Bay leaf 20 pcs. pour vodka 200 gr. Insist 3 days in a dark and dry place. Rub in to relieve painful sensations.
3. Dissolve 10 tablets of analgin in 200 grams of vodka, add iodine 1 tsp. After 3 days, treat the desired areas with the resulting solution, cover with a woolen shawl.
4. Mix one bottle of triple cologne with dandelion flowers. Let it brew for 3 days. Rub into the affected area before going to bed for a week.

These compresses and methods of rubbing can help not only eliminate pain, but also provide effective assistance in treating the disease.

Gymnastics

Gymnastics for this disease will help eliminate discomfort and increase the general tone of the patient's body.

Exercise is a natural analgesic by increasing blood flow in the affected area.

Basic exercises:

1. Exercise "Mill". Spread your legs shoulder-width apart and stretch in turn - with your left hand to your right leg, with your right hand to your left leg. This exercise involves the muscles of the arms, legs, and abs.
2. Sit on the floor and stretch your legs. Hands spread apart and slowly try to bring the shoulder blades together. It is recommended to do the exercise gently and slowly in 4-5 approaches.
3. Lie on your back. Pull the bent legs to the stomach and wrap your arms around. Raise the pelvis and hold the body in this position for about 30 seconds. Do 10 sets.

The exercise is best done in the presence of a physical therapist. There is a risk of an attack of acute pain and immediate specialist help is required.

Prevention measures

Preventive measures for sciatica include, first of all, strengthening the back muscles. To do this, you must systematically engage in gymnastics and have at least minimal physical activity.

It is also important to keep your back straight at all times. Not only when walking, but also in a sitting position. Avoid hypothermia, always dress warmer. Women are advised to give up heels as they only interfere with the treatment of sciatica.

Watch a helpful video where a specialist explains how to treat sciatica:

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Sciatica is an unpleasant sensation associated with compression of the sciatic nerve at any level of its extension - from the lower back to the foot. It is important to note that sciatica itself is not a disease in the narrow sense of the word, but only a number of symptoms that appeared secondarily in the presence of predisposing diseases, most often of the spine. By focusing on specific symptoms and telling the doctor about their own diseases of the spine, the patient will speed up diagnostic procedures and bring himself closer to cure.

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The reasons

The paired sciatic nerve is recognized as the thickest nerve in the human body. It forms at the level of the lumbar and sacrum and continues to the foot. Sciatica is a manifestation of compression of the sciatic nerve at any of these levels.

The prevalence of diseases of the spine, mainly of the lumbar spine, makes the infringement of the roots of the sacral plexus the main cause of the development of neuralgia. Causes of sciatic nerve malfunction may include:

• diseases of the spine (osteochondrosis, herniated disc);
• systemic diseases (leukemia, autoimmune diseases);
• muscle tissue diseases (myositis, fasciitis);
• stress (altering muscle function by impaired nervous regulation);
• tumors.

Yet it is the hernia of the lumbar spine and the osteochondrosis that precedes it that causes sciatica in 95% of cases.

A herniated disc is its protrusion into the spinal canal, as a result of which the nerve roots of the lumbar and sacral plexus are compressed. With osteochondrosis, the mobility of the vertebrae changes, their deformation occurs, growths appear on them, which also lead to compression of the adjacent nerves.

Regardless of the cause that caused the attack of sciatica, inflammation will occur along the nerve. Nerves are very sensitive to inflammation and are inherently highly vulnerable structures. This is the reason for the duration and severity of unpleasant sensations, similar to those in diseases of the facial and trigeminal nerve.



Manifestations

As already mentioned, sciatica is a secondary disease, the foundation of which is mainly created by degenerative diseases of the spine. Therefore, the signs of sciatica are most typical for middle-aged and elderly people, but sometimes they can also appear at a younger age in the presence of concomitant diseases.

The disease is predominantly unilateral in nature. In men, the pain is more often right-sided, and in women, it is left-sided.

The most striking symptoms of sciatica are acute pain sensations from the level of the lower back, which pass to the back of the thigh and then can reach the foot. Other manifestations include:

• burning sensation, feeling of "fullness", decreased function of the adjacent muscles of the lower back, buttocks and limbs;
• numbness, burning sensation in the leg, its weakness and decreased sensitivity;
• pain in the entire limb caused by muscle spasm followed by a decrease in muscle tone and volume;
• pain, aggravated by tilting the head, inhaling, coughing, bending the body.

With prolonged exposure to a traumatic factor on the sciatic nerve, nearby muscles also begin to suffer, since for their normal functioning they must be adequately innervated. Subsequently, muscles that do not receive good innervation begin to work without coordination, quickly get tired and atrophy (decrease in volume) with a decrease in their strength and deterioration in performance. As a result, in addition to the immediate pain of the nerve along its course, pain in the surrounding muscles is also added.

All these symptoms are specific and in the overwhelming majority of cases can be interpreted in favor of sciatica. However, in the presence of osteochondrosis of the lumbosacral spine, the symptoms can be concentrated precisely at this level without vivid pain in the underlying parts. In addition, local nerve roots are responsible for the functioning of the pelvic organs (intestines, bladder, genitals), which can also manifest itself as a violation of their functions.

The expansion of the scale of damage and pain become one of the main reasons for visiting a doctor not on the day when the pain occurred, but only when the symptoms increase.



Diagnostics

To confirm the diagnosis of sciatica, it is necessary to consult a neurologist. In addition to direct questioning, the doctor conducts a general, neurological examination, during which a decrease in the strength of the knee, Achilles and foot reflexes is determined, as well as several specific tests to differentiate between possible diseases. Tests include Lassegue and Bonnet samples.

In the Lassegue test, the leg extended at the knee is bent at the hip joint. In this case, the damaged sciatic nerve root is stretched, painful sensations arise along its course.



In the Bonnet test, the patient bends the leg at the knee and hip joint in such a way that the knee is pressed against the chest - painful sensations arise in the buttocks.



For a more accurate diagnosis of the disease - determining the level of the lesion, establishing the specific cause of sciatica - the doctor, in addition to the usual and special neurological examination, prescribes radiography, computed tomography (CT), magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), electromyography (EMG).

X-ray and CT are more effective as a method for diagnosing osteochondrosis, the presence of bone growths in the vertebrae. MRI accurately and effectively shows the presence of a herniated disc, indicating the degree and level of compression of the nerve roots. Based on the results of these studies, it is highly probable that the cause of sciatica has arisen, which affects further treatment tactics.

Differential diagnosis includes simple muscle pain in other diseases (myositis, venous disease), traumatic skeletal injuries, neuroses. Similar symptoms can be observed in pregnant women in the absence of the cause of sciatica simply as one of the "unusual" manifestations of pregnancy.

Kidney disease, such as urolithiasis, can simulate sciatica. With renal colic, the pain will come from the lower back and spread to the thigh. The only difference is that in renal colic, pain is defined along the front and inner thighs, unlike sciatica, when pain spreads along the back surface.



Treatment

After establishing the exact cause of the disease, it is the doctor, depending on the age and general condition of the patient, who chooses how to treat it. Treatments can be aimed at eliminating the cause of sciatica, and if the cause cannot be eliminated, it is necessary to reduce the effect of the underlying disease on the inflammation of the sciatic nerve.

Treatment includes various manipulations, medication and non-medication, the use of additional equipment to reduce the load on the spine and reflex muscle spasm, increase mobility and blood circulation in the affected area.

Medicines




In the treatment of sciatica, various medications are used, in particular non-steroidal anti-inflammatory and analgesic drugs (NSAIDs) based on diclofenac, nimesulide. The drugs, temporarily relieving inflammation, facilitate the general condition of the patient. They can be used in the form of tablets, solutions.

To relieve tension in the muscles, antispasmodics are used, the most famous of which is drotaverine (No-shpa). Acting on the affected muscles, these funds normalize their increased tone and relieve pain. They are used mainly in the form of tablets and injections.

These drugs will alleviate his patient's condition, but taking them on an ongoing basis will only have a detrimental effect on the gastric mucosa, which leads first to gastritis, and soon even to peptic ulcer disease.

With a complex local effect in traditional medicine, various medicinal creams, gels and ointments are used for sciatica with NSAIDs in the composition. The most common among them are Ketonal (gel), Finalgon (ointment) and Diclofenacol (ointment) - all of them are applied and act directly at the site of inflammation. By action, they are warming, irritating, analgesic and anti-inflammatory. It is important to understand that warming and irritating medications should not be used for fresh inflammation - this can increase swelling and pain.

NSAIDs and antispasmodics are only symptomatic therapy and do not eliminate the cause of sciatica. This means that after the cessation of the action of these drugs, the unpleasant pain sensations will return again.

Among the drugs that affect the cause of the development of pain and inflammation, there are three groups of drugs:

• chondroprotectors affect the preservation and strengthening of cartilage tissue, eliminating its further destruction - the main cause of sciatica (manifestation of osteochondrosis);
• vasodilators increase blood flow in damaged and inflamed tissues, as a result of which local metabolism is normalized, which affects local regeneration;
• vitamin and mineral complexes - due to the intake of an increased amount of vitamins, micro- and macroelements, the nervous tissue is restored faster and more efficiently.

Physiotherapy

Among the methods of non-drug treatment, various physical effects on damaged tissues can be used. The most common are therapeutic massages, various physiotherapy procedures, and exercise therapy.

Massage and manual therapy give a result similar to that of using antispasmodics and vasodilators - it allows you to relax the muscles, increase blood flow to them, which will have a beneficial effect on tissue regeneration. It should be remembered that in the acute period of the disease, these procedures are strictly contraindicated: the rush of blood to fresh inflammation will increase the edema, and the effect on the damage of an additional physical factor will increase the pain.

Physiotherapy includes magnetotherapy and electrophoresis. During magnetotherapy, the magnetic field acts on the problem area, relieving swelling and inflammation, enhancing metabolic processes. During electrophoresis, special medicinal substances directly enter the diseased area and act locally under the influence of an electric current. The medicine gets strictly to the required point, bypassing the transformation in the gastrointestinal tract, which also makes it possible not to use injections. The main task of electrophoresis is to numb the damaged area and alleviate the suffering of the patient.

Physiotherapy exercises, subject to regular exercise, helps to strengthen the muscle frame and harden the muscles, preventing the progression of the disease and alleviating existing unpleasant symptoms. The exercises themselves and the lesson schedules are selected by a specialist in physiotherapy exercises and in most cases cannot be performed without his help. Otherwise, if physical activity is not performed correctly, the patient's condition may worsen.

Folk remedies

If you cannot see a doctor, you can use several traditional medicine methods that are applicable at home. The most popular folk remedies are the steaming of various plants in the bathroom:

• Grated horseradish (up to 100 g) can be added to a bath with a water temperature of 36-37 degrees. After the preparations, the patient sits in the bath immediately before going to bed.
• Young pine shoots (about 1 kg) must be boiled in boiling water (3 liters of water), and then added to the bathroom with water.

Herbal and herbal balms are also used, which have an anti-inflammatory effect. The most common recipes for sciatica balms are made on the basis of ethyl or ammonia with the addition of herbs and herbs. For example, balms with the addition of eucalyptus, valerian, calendula are popular. For a pronounced effect, prepare balms with red pepper in the composition.

These procedures are considered more distracting, but with the proper approach they relieve muscle tension and pain.

When using any of these treatment methods, you must consult with a specialist, otherwise you can harm yourself and aggravate the situation. It should be borne in mind that each person has individual contraindications to one or another method of treatment. Only a qualified specialist can take into account all the risks and forecasts.

Prevention

The mainstay of sciatica prevention is to strengthen the muscles of the back, especially the lumbar region. If there is a predisposition, it is necessary to prevent the spread of the disease to the underlying parts of the sciatic nerve.

To prevent sciatica, it is recommended to keep your back in the correct position - straight, not only when walking, but also while sitting. Exercise and regular exercise will help strengthen the muscles of the back, pelvis and legs, which will increase the resistance of the body and spine to constant stress and reduce the risk of sciatica.

Lifting of weights has a detrimental effect on the development of the disease - as a result of an excessive load on the spine, the chance of pinching the lumbar plexus nerve and the development of sciatic nerve neuralgia increases. If possible, you should try to keep your back warm and comfortable, dress according to the weather and not freeze.

Occupational hazards in chemical plants (in particular, neurotropic poisons such as lead or arsenic) adversely affect the condition of the sciatic nerve. Alcohol, especially its excessive use, damages nerve tissues - the brain, spinal cord and nerve roots and trunks.

With cured sciatica, you need to follow some rules that will prevent recurrence of sciatic nerve neuralgia in the future: wearing a retaining corset for the lower back, compression underwear on the shins and orthopedic shoes as a means to relieve the spine.

It is important to remember the symptoms and causes of this disease in order to effectively counteract it in the early stages, without bringing the development of the disease to the “point of no return”. Even diseases such as chronic infections, SARS, flu can affect the development of sciatica. The listed methods of treatment must be applied wisely and in case of any ailment, immediately consult a doctor.

With sciatica comes pain that at times is difficult to endure. So for any signs of this disease, you should immediately consult a doctor who specializes in diseases of the spine.

When applying, the doctor examines the patient for symptoms of the disease, in some cases prescribes a diagnostic examination. And only if necessary, he gives recommendations for treatment.

About sciatica in general terms

Sciatica is not an independent disease, and as already indicated above, it is only a symptom of neurological diseases. The sciatic nerve is the largest nerve in the human body. The beginning of the nerve is located at 5 levels of the spinal cord, and as a result of the union of the first 3 roots of the sacrum and the last 2 lumbar roots, it is formed.

The sciatic nerve is more susceptible to disease and sensitivity than others. It is responsible for the functionality of the lower limbs (motor functions and sensitivity), because its length is along the length of the entire leg.

The nerve, going down, is divided into smaller nerves that branch into the fingers and feet, ankle joint, lower leg, knee, thigh.

Various factors influence the possible occurrence of sciatica:

• it may be a consequence of hypothermia;
• complication from infection - tuberculosis or flu;
• spinal injuries - osteochondrosis, swelling, intervertebral hernia;
• various changes in the shape of the vertebrae;
• degeneration of intervertebral discs and their deformation, as well as other factors can injure nerve endings or lead to entrapment.

The list of factors influencing the onset of sciatica is long. It also includes gynecological diseases, birth injuries, arthritis, constipation and diabetes.

It is possible to diagnose inflammation of the sciatic nerve in various ways. Clinics often use examinations such as:

1. radiography;
2. MRI - magnetic resonance imaging;
3. cT scan;
4. electromyography.

With the help of diagnostics by instrumental examination methods, it is possible to consider in more detail the causes of the onset of the disease and clarify its localization.

But in most cases, sufficient for diagnosing inflammation of the sciatic nerve, the doctor will observe the symptoms characteristic of the disease, as well as signs of deformation of the ligaments and muscles.

About symptoms of sciatic nerve neuralgia

For a correct diagnosis of the cause of pain and in order to understand whether the existing pain sensations are signs of sciatica, it is necessary to take into account the main symptoms of nerve inflammation.

As indicated above, the sciatic nerve - it is the most important element of the nerve plexus of the sacrum, which provides mobility of the limb and its sensitivity due to the nerve endings emanating from it in all parts of the leg. It exhibits the function of innervating a sufficiently large area of \u200b\u200bthe body, while ensuring the full functionality of the pelvic organs.

That is why the symptoms directly depend on which area of \u200b\u200bthe nerve root is the localization of pathological changes.

Sciatica symptomatology has a difference in specificity, duration, severity and location of the lesion:

• By its nature, the pain can be shooting, burning, pulling, stabbing or aching.

  A characteristic feature of sciatica is the paroxysmal pain sensations: there is an alternation of a period of intolerable pain with a period of complete calm or temporary relaxation.

• With sciatica, the nature of the pain is descending: the pain starts from the lumbar region, gradually moving lower and lower, right down to the very fingertips.
• As a rule, pain is present only in one of the patient's legs.

  If pain occurs in both legs, then it will already be bilateral sciatica. This pathological process will act painfully on a person.

Sometimes there are so intense painful sensations that the patient is practically paralyzed and his slightest movement is an attempt to sit down, transfer body weight from one leg to another, stretching a limb will cause severe pain.

Sometimes pain is so pronounced that a person is unable to carry out quite familiar actions:

1. sleep well
2. to stand,
3. turn or bend over.

To a greater extent, the symptoms of the disease are calmer: the soreness is much more tolerant and calmer, only a violation of sensitivity is felt - tingling, "creeping creeps", numbness in a certain area.

Sometimes, symptoms of nerve inflammation include partial atrophy or slow weakening of certain muscles. And it is also likely that complications arise with flexion of the lower leg or raising the foot.

With severe sciatica, there is a likelihood of fecal and urinary incontinence, since there is a lesion of the sciatic nerve in the area that is responsible for the functionality of internal organs.

Sometimes sharp severe pains are present simultaneously in the legs and in the lumbar region.

The characteristic symptoms of sciatica are

1. pain in the gluteal region, which tends to increase with prolonged standing or sitting;
2. painful sensations that are permanent and penetrate the leg in the back;
3. weakness of the leg muscles and their tension;
4. sharp pain, which tends to increase with additional exertion - walking, bending over, as well as coughing and sneezing;
5. the function of leg mobility is limited;
6. sensations of numbness, burning or "creeping creeps", tingling in the lower part of the limb.

All of the above symptoms help to make it easier for the doctor to diagnose the disease without examination procedure by instrumental methods... Although in some cases additional diagnostics are necessary.

Timely identification of the cause of the malfunctioning of the spine properly, as soon as possible to make a diagnosis and start immediate treatment is very important.

Naturally, the diagnosis of a disease that affects the spine will play an important role. Immediate examination and treatment can relieve a person of sciatica.

Therefore, self-medication is strongly discouraged.

For successful diagnosis and treatment, it is better to contact specialized clinics. Remember that every clinic has both positive and negative customer reviews. So the choice is always yours.

A few reviews of clinics as a conclusion:

“I initially signed up with one specialist, but in the end I was accepted by a completely different specialist. We talked "heart to heart" and it's in the bag ...

He only asked me where I work and by whom, the place of birth and about my complaints. And it's all. The simplest deception for my own money, which requires payment in advance. "

Catherine,

Spine Clinic Medical Center - St. Petersburg

“There was a burning pain in my back for a week. That is why I came to the spine clinic. The local doctor could not correct the case with the prescribed treatment, the pain remained.

But in the clinic they did everything necessary and made a diagnosis: back pain, inflammation of the sciatic nerve. Here I go - I am being treated. The results of the examinations and the treatment were very pleasing. As I came at the beginning - I barely got up into the office - I could not straighten up. Now I already feel full of vitality.

And an experienced doctor was caught. "

Spine and Joint Health Center "NATAMED" - Moscow

Rostislav,

“I had sciatica, which they helped me to identify at the clinic, so I had to go there and now I go once every six months or a year. Very satisfied with the staff and the attending physician.

I absolutely did not regret choosing a clinic, which I wish you too - good health and a suitable doctor! I also bought bonus coupons there. Now I want a few more for the full course of treatment. "

“Complete unsanitary conditions. Completely full of inconveniences of an elementary different plan - no rugs, no screens, no toilet paper ... I can continue for a long time. But this is not why I came to the clinic. Although the attitude towards patients is extremely disrespectful and consumerist.

Not only do they talk on the phone during the reception, the workers solve the issues, but they also leave the office while you are lying on the table, waiting. And the masseur is concerned at all. And it is not realistic to get medical documents there. And they do not react to comments there at all.

You should probably contact the higher structures. I was struck by such negligence towards clients. "

Inflammation of the sciatic nerve (sciatic nerve neuralgia, lumbosacral radiculitis, sciatica) is one of the most common neurological diseases associated with damage to the sciatic nerve (n. Ischiadicus) and clinically manifested by burning pain in the back of the thigh, weakness of the knee joint, skin sensitivity of the skin of the lower leg and foot.

The disease is usually one-sided. Bilateral lesions of the sciatic nerve are rare. People aged 40-60 years mainly suffer from sciatica, the incidence rate is 25-30 cases per 100,000 population.

Inflammation of the sciatic nerve can permanently reduce the patient's ability to work, and in severe cases, even causes disability. Therefore, this pathology is considered by vertebrologists and neurologists not only as a medical problem, but also as a socially significant problem.

Causes of sciatic nerve inflammation

The causes of sciatic nerve inflammation are varied. These include:

• hypothermia of the lumbar region;
• lifting weights;
• pelvic injuries;
• spondylosis;
• spinal stenosis;
• malignant or benign tumors of the spine;
• malignant or benign tumors of the pelvic organs;
• piriformis syndrome;
• urological and gynecological diseases;
• pregnancy and abnormal childbirth;
• blood vessel thrombosis;
• poisoning with heavy metals (arsenic, lead).

Infectious diseases, for example, HIV infection, measles, rubella, scarlet fever, tuberculosis, can also cause inflammation of the sciatic nerve.

Frequent or long-term inflammation of the sciatic nerve has a negative effect on the blood supply and trophism of the muscles of the affected limb, as well as some internal organs.

Sciatic nerve inflammation symptoms

The main sign of sciatic nerve inflammation is intense pain that spreads along the affected nerve trunk and is called sciatica. It is localized in the gluteal region and the back of the thigh, extending to the lower leg and foot to the very toes. The nature of this pain is described by patients as a "blow with a dagger", the pain is shooting or burning. It is often so pronounced that patients assume a forced position and cannot move independently. The pain syndrome is combined with skin sensitivity disorders in the affected lower limb.

Objective examination determines the difficult flexion of the leg in the knee joint, which is explained by paresis of the semitendinosus, semimembranosus and biceps muscles. Against this background, the tone of the quadriceps muscle of the thigh begins to prevail, and the leg is fixed in a position extended at the knee joint. Therefore, a typical symptom of sciatic nerve inflammation is walking with a straightened leg.

During a neurological examination, a decrease or absence of Achilles and plantar tendon reflexes, paresis of the muscles of the foot are noted. Long-term illness can cause these muscles to atrophy.

Disorders of pain sensitivity with inflammation of the sciatic nerve cover the outer and back surfaces of the lower leg, as well as the foot. A weakening of the musculo-articular feeling is noted in the ankle and interphalangeal joints, and in the area of \u200b\u200bthe external ankle, vibration sensitivity disappears or sharply weakens.

Other signs of sciatic nerve inflammation are:

• soreness at the point of exit of the sciatic nerve to the thigh;
• soreness in the Valle and Gar points;
• a positive Bonnet symptom (a symptom of tension), which consists in the occurrence of a sharp shooting pain in the patient when trying to passively move the leg bent at the knee and hip joint to the side in the supine position;
• a positive symptom of Lasegue (sharp pain that occurs at a certain stage of slowly raising the straightened leg while lying on the back).

Inflammation of the sciatic nerve can permanently reduce the patient's ability to work, and in severe cases, even causes disability.

In some cases, inflammation of the sciatic nerve is accompanied by vasomotor and trophic disorders. This is manifested by a cold snap of the skin of the foot, its cyanosis, impaired sweating in the plantar region (hyperhidrosis, anhidrosis).

Diagnostics

The diagnosis of sciatic nerve inflammation, due to the pronounced clinical picture of the disease, does not cause difficulties. It is much more difficult to establish the cause underlying the development of the pathological process.

At the time of examining the patient, the neuropathologist pays special attention to the features of the pain syndrome, zones of reflex loss, a decrease in muscle strength and a violation of skin sensitivity.

In the diagnosis of inflammation of the sciatic nerve, instrumental diagnostic methods are used:

• electroneurography;
• electromyography;
• ultrasound examination of the pelvic organs and hip joints;
• x-ray of the lumbosacral spine;
• computed or magnetic resonance imaging of the pelvic organs and hip joints.

Treatment of sciatic nerve inflammation

Bed rest is recommended, and patients with sciatic nerve inflammation should be placed on a hard surface. The best position is on the stomach with a small pillow under the chest. If necessary, the patient can be covered with a warm blanket. Heating pads and warming compresses should not be used, since heat increases blood flow to the lesion site, as a result of which soft tissue edema increases, compression of the sciatic nerve increases, respectively, the pain becomes more intense.

Medical treatment of sciatic nerve inflammation is carried out only as directed by a neuropathologist. The therapy regimen includes:

1. Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs. These drugs have a pronounced anti-inflammatory and analgesic effect. To prevent the possible development of side effects, you should not increase the dosage recommended by your doctor.
2. Central-acting analgesics. They are used to relieve intense pain syndrome, in a short course, as they can cause the formation of mental dependence in the patient.
3. Corticosteroids. They have a powerful anti-inflammatory and anti-edema effect. In severe cases, when other drugs are ineffective, drugs of this group can be injected into the epidural space, which contributes to the rapid improvement of the patient's condition.
4. Antidepressants. Reduce the severity of fear and anxiety, calm the patient, and normalize sleep.
5. Vitamins. Vitamin complexes have a beneficial effect on the functions of the nervous system, contribute to the restoration of damaged nerve fibers.

Also, in the treatment of sciatic nerve inflammation, ointments are widely used that have either an anti-inflammatory effect (Voltaren, Diclofenac, Nurofen), or a local irritant effect (Finalgon, Apizatron).

At the stage of remission, they resort to physiotherapeutic methods of influence, use electro- and phonophoresis of drugs, UHF therapy, magnetic and laser therapy, acupuncture, paraffin applications.

People aged 40-60 years mainly suffer from sciatica, the incidence rate is 25-30 cases per 100,000 population.

In case of ineffectiveness of conservative therapy, the issue of surgical treatment of sciatica is considered. The choice of the method of surgical intervention depends on what kind of condition caused the sciatic nerve damage.

Exercises for inflammation of the sciatic nerve

After the acute process subsides, patients are recommended regular exercise therapy. Exercise with inflammation of the sciatic nerve accelerates the rehabilitation process, and is also an effective prevention of relapse.

Physiotherapy exercises should be started under the guidance of an instructor. Exercises should not cause muscle overexertion, discomfort, the appearance or intensification of pain. The intensity of the loads should increase smoothly as the patient's muscle strength increases. Physiotherapy exercises can be supplemented with other types of physical activity, for example, swimming, walking or cycling.

The main goal of physiotherapy exercises for inflammation of the sciatic nerve is to increase muscle tone, improve their blood supply, relieve inflammation. In addition, regular physical activity helps to normalize body weight, allows you to form the so-called muscle corset - to strengthen the muscles that support the spinal column and prevent the nerve roots from being pinched.

Exercises for inflammation of the sciatic nerve are aimed at working out different muscle groups and, above all, the buttocks and legs. The complex may include the following exercises:

1. Starting position: lying on your back on a firm surface. Raise your legs and, bending at the knee joints, pull them to your chest. Hold this position for 30 seconds. Return to starting position. Repeat 10-12 times. If the exercise is difficult, you can support the buttocks with your hands.
2. Starting position: lying on its side. Pull your legs to your chest, pulling the socks, and then straighten. The exercise should be performed 10-12 times at a fast pace.
3. Starting position: lying on your stomach, legs together, arms extended forward. Raise the upper body up, coming off the floor. At the same time, the legs remain motionless. Hold this position for a few seconds and smoothly return to the starting position. Perform the exercise 5-6 times. As the muscles strengthen, the number of repetitions is gradually increased.
4. Starting position: sitting on a chair, back straight, arms behind the head, legs crossed. Perform turns of the body to the right and left. 10 turns should be made in each direction.
5. Starting position: Kneeling on the floor, arms raised above your head. Lean forward, trying to reach the floor with your palms, and then return to the starting position. You must do the exercise 15 times.
6. Starting position: sitting on the floor, legs extended forward, arms raised to shoulder level and spread apart. With springy movements, take your arms back and return to the starting position. Repeat the exercise 5-8 times.
7. Starting position: lying on your back, legs apart, arms behind your head. Slowly raise your legs without lifting your shoulder blades from the floor. At the maximum point, the legs should be fixed for a few seconds, after which they smoothly return to their original position. Repeat the exercise 5-10 times.
8. Starting position: standing, feet shoulder-width apart. Put your right hand on the waist, and extend the left over your head. Perform 10 bends to the right. After that, change the position of the hands and perform the same number of bends to the left.

Potential consequences and complications

Frequent or long-term inflammation of the sciatic nerve has a negative effect on the blood supply and trophism of the muscles of the affected limb, as well as some internal organs. The redistribution of physical activity caused by the forced position of the affected limb leads to dysfunction of the entire musculoskeletal system and negatively affects the body as a whole.

Sciatica can cause a number of complications:

• dryness and thinning of the skin on the affected limb;
• muscle atrophy, as a result of which the leg from the side of the lesion "shrinks", that is, it loses its volume;
• thinning and increased fragility of nails;
• decreased muscle strength;
• violation of the mechanics of movements in the knee and ankle joints, which leads to changes in gait, increased fatigue;
• paresis or paralysis of the muscles of the affected leg.

Complications of inflammation of the sciatic nerve from the internal organs are retention or incontinence of stool, loss of control over urination, a sharp decrease in libido, erectile dysfunction.

Forecast

With timely and adequate treatment, the prognosis is favorable. If conservative therapy is ineffective, indications for surgical intervention may arise.

Prevention

Regularly carried out preventive measures allow more than 80% to reduce the risk of developing primary inflammation of the sciatic nerve, as well as relapses of the disease. These activities include:

correct lifting of weights (from a squat position with a straight back);

the formation of correct posture;

avoiding hypothermia of the lumbar and pelvic region;

maintaining a normal body weight.

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