This pathology is one of the most common, and its peculiarity lies in the fact that it is only one-sided. Most often, people aged 40 to 65 come to specialists with sciatic nerve neuropathy, and the disease occurs the same in both sexes. The patient has unilateral numbness of the foot and lower leg, paralysis of the fingers and foot may develop in that part of the body where the sciatic nerve was affected. Sciatic nerve neuropathy in the ICD-10 is listed under the code G57.
Main reasons
The factor of damage to the sciatic nerve may be the restriction (crushing, irritation) of the intervertebral hernia, spasm of the piriformis muscle, and gluteus maximus muscle.
The main factors of sciatic nerve inflammation can be hypothermia, ridge diseases, ridge injuries, joint inflammation, diabetes mellitus, severe physiological overload, and various infections.
What diseases cause pathology?
This pathology can be triggered by various serious and dangerous diseases, such, for example, as:
- tumor development processes;
- diabetes;
- drinking alcohol too often;
- herpes;
- AIDS.
In addition, traumatic neuropathy of the sciatic nerve can also develop after the appearance of cut or lacerated wounds in the thigh area, as well as due to a gunshot wound in the same part of the body. This pathology appears often with dislocations, fractures of the pelvic bones and other injuries in which the sciatic nerve is affected.
Doctors also note that sciatic nerve neuropathy can develop against the background of any hereditary or acquired pathologies of the spine, such as, for example, a herniated disc or scoliosis. In addition, according to medical data, such a disease is present in almost 54% of patients suffering from discogenic lumbar radiculitis.
Very rarely, sciatic nerve neuropathy develops after an incorrect injection into the buttocks area. This pathology is often observed with scarlet fever, tuberculosis at a certain stage, as well as with measles. Damage to the sciatic nerve is possible with chronic alcoholism, drug use, as well as with severe arsenic poisoning.
Symptoms
Signs and symptoms of this disease depend on the place and degree of damage to the leg, however, almost all patients with sciatic nerve neuropathy complain of loss of sensitivity in the affected area of the limb. There are other symptoms of sciatic nerve neuropathy, and these include the following:
- the leg may be slightly concave inward;
- inability to freely extend or bend toes;
- severe burning in the calf muscles or in the toes;
- severe weakness in only one or both legs.
Pain as the main symptom
In addition, the patient may feel severe pain when trying to crouch. Such a symptom may be accompanied by a feeling of a sudden change of cold to heat, which occurs in the lower region of the limbs. If the disease is at its last stage, then there is complete muscle atrophy in that part of the limb where sciatic nerve neuropathy occurred.
Other symptoms
There are other symptoms of this ailment, such as a strong change in gait, patients are often forced to be in a position in which the lower limbs are bent in the hip joint. With neuropathy of the sciatic nerve in the lower part of the damaged limb, a feeling of heaviness can be felt, which is often accompanied by viscous and dull pain.
It should be noted that the above pain is enhanced by sneezing or coughing. If the sciatic nerve was affected in the thigh area, then the patient has problems with bending the knee, this also leads to a change in gait, since the patient has to walk with legs straightened. During an external examination by a doctor and palpation of muscle attachment sites, the patient may feel severe pain, and pain can also go to that part of the buttocks where the sciatic nerve leaves the piriformis muscle.
Diagnostics
Diagnosis of the disease is most often done at the time of a neurological examination by a patient specialist. The neurologist most carefully examines how the disease manifests itself in pain, examines the firewood of hypesthesia, checks the weight and compares with what was previously and looks at the reflexes of a person. Thanks to a detailed study of these indicators, it is possible to establish how much the disease struck the body. Confirmation of the conclusions made by the doctor is made using electromyography and electroneurography, thanks to which it is possible to distinguish sciatic mononeuropathy from lumbar plexopathy and some radiculopathies.
Currently, ultrasound therapy is used to examine the nerve trunk and possible formations, in terms of anatomy, due to which it can be determined whether there are any tumors on the nerves, whether it is compressed or if there are any other changes. In addition, it is possible to determine the genesis of neuropathy by using X-ray of the spine, sometimes you can also do magnetic resonance therapy, an X-ray of the pelvic area or also an ultrasound of these areas, in addition, you can take tests to determine the level of blood sugar.
Treatment
The elimination of the foci of pain that occur with sciatic nerve neuropathy requires hard work to eliminate this disease. To block the pain syndrome, as well as relieve inflammation in the nerves, and for your own prevention, you will need to conduct a small course of treatment for sciatic nerve neuropathy. First, you need a consultation and examination of a doctor. Usually, in cases of injuries and injuries, plastic bone fragments and immobilization are performed. A course of exercise therapy and massage procedures is required.
Exercises
At home, therapeutic exercises are very useful for improving your health, as well as relieving inflammation in the nerves. Exercises advised by doctors:
- You need to relax, and then begin to twist your shoulders to warm the muscles.
- You need to lie on your back, bend your knees and put your feet on the floor, cross your arms over your chest. When inhaling, it is imperative to raise the body so that the shoulders come off the floor. When exhaling, return to the starting position. About 10-15 times you need to repeat this exercise.
- Get on all fours and begin to bend and arch your back. This exercise will affect your overall condition very well.
- If you are tormented by pain, there is the simplest exercise that will not make you uncomfortable. Sit on a chair, straighten your back, cross your legs, and then raise your hands behind your head and start making turns to the side. It is necessary to make 5-10 turns in each direction. Take your time, do the workout with zeal, but as far as possible.
These are basic exercises, but also exercises for stretching muscles that eliminate pain cramps and relax the body will also help you. Pay attention to the clothes you wear! It should not hamper your movements, as well as interfere with free circulation.
Massage, which is aimed at improving blood circulation, helps a lot. A can massage helps very well. The duration of this procedure should not exceed 15 minutes. From folk recipes, a decoction of calendula, rose hip, parsley is very effective. You can rub a mixture of radish juice and honey, taken in a proportion of one to one, in a sore spot. It is necessary to include sauerkraut in the diet, as it contains useful vitamins that help accelerate the metabolic process. If you have been given this diagnosis, you need to start treatment right now. Do exercises, eat right and live healthy.