Instituto Clavel wants to answer all your questions about pathologies of the spine and skull. On this occasion, Dr. Ignasi Català, neurosurgeon and Deputy Director of the Institute, talks about sciatica and its recovery process.
Sciatica is an condition that affects the sciatic nerve, that is, the nerve roots of the L5 and S1 vertebrae. This condition is characterized by nerve pain that radiates from the lower back to the hip, buttocks, and one or both of the legs. Usually it affects only one side of the body.
The intensity of the pain can vary from a mere nuisance to severe pain that incapacitates the affected person. There may be other symptoms as well, such as numbness or muscle weakness in the affected area.
Find out more about the symptoms of sciatica here
What causes a pinched sciatic nerve?
The most common cause of sciatica is a lumbar disc herniation that puts pressure on the sciatic nerve, or canal stenosis, which is a narrowing of the lumbar spinal canal that can affect the L5 and S1 nerve roots.
There are also less frequent causes, such as excessive bone growth (known as lumbar facet osteoarthritis) and other diseases such as diabetes or the existence of a tumor.
There are various risk factors that increase the probability of suffering from a pinched sciatic nerve, such as age, obesity, or the kind of work a patient performs. Sitting for long periods of time, carrying weight, or frequently turning the back, for example, can make it more likely to develop sciatica.
Sciatica can also occur as the result of an accident. In any case, we recommend seeing a specialist as soon as possible so that the patient’s condition can be evaluated and to find out what the best treatment option is. Seeing a doctor is especially urgent in any of the following situations:
- The pain is caused by an accident
- The pain is excruciating and appears suddenly, and is accompanied by numbness, tingling, or weakness in the affected leg
- Loss of sphincter control
Does a damaged sciatic nerve recover?
Generally, the answer is yes. In the vast majority of cases, the sciatic pain can be cured by a few weeks of conservative treatments, without needing surgery. Conservative treatments can include:
- Pain relief medication
- Rehabilitative physical therapy
- Personalized exercise program
- Guidelines for changing habits
- Epidural nerve block to relieve pain
If these treatments are not effective and the sciatic nerve pain continues, it is possible that the specialist will consider surgery, although this will depend mostly on the primary source of the pain. For example, if it is a herniated disc, surgery may be indicated to remove the herniation and relieve the pressure on the sciatic nerve.
The type of surgery recommended will depend on the pathology responsible for the sciatica, and this can only be determined based on a personalized evaluation and an exact diagnosis by a specialist.
At Instituto Clavel, we are able to make the right diagnosis informed by our years of experience, and also the use of the most advanced diagnostic technology: the EOSedge scanner. This provides a high quality image of the patient's complete spine in a standing position, making it easier to determine the type of injury.
You can request to have your case evaluated by our team here
What is the best way to prevent sciatica?
To conclude, Dr. Català offers some recommendations that can be really useful for preventing sciatica or a pinched sciatic nerve.
- Pay attention to your posture. Making good posture a daily habit is a key prevention measure against any spinal pathology. In the case of sciatica, it is especially important to use the right posture when sitting. To do this, sit with your spine straight and keep your knees and hips aligned. It is also important that you choose a seat with proper lumbar support and armrests.
- Exercise regularly. Walking is one of the most beneficial activities for the spine, but so is keeping the muscles of the abdomen and lower spine strong. We recommend that you do these exercises under supervision by an expert to be sure to avoid risks. If you have had a back problem in the past, or have one now, you should get your doctor’s approval first and adapt the exercises accordingly.
- Pay attention to how you move. For example, when lifting heavy objects, try to bend your knees and keep your back straight. Hold the object close to your body and avoid twisting your spine as you lift it.
- Keep a healthy body weight. Being overweight increases the load on the spine, which can make back problems more likely.
We should point out, however, that it is not always possible to prevent sciatica, because as we mentioned earlier, it may be related to other pathologies.
Categories: Spine treatments, Spine pathologies, Instituto Clavel