Sciatic Nerve Inflammation: Symptoms and Treatment

Inflammation of the sciatic nerve is a very common disease, which is popularly known as sciatica. The disease is accompanied by pain attacks, which become more frequent as the pathological process progresses. Patients with a similar diagnosis need timely medical attention. Of course, many people today are looking for additional information about pathology. Why does sciatic nerve inflammation develop? Symptoms and treatment, diagnostic measures, and home therapy methods are important information worth exploring.

General information about the disease

Unfortunately, many people experience problems such as sciatic nerve inflammation. Symptoms and treatment are important information. But for starters, it's worth sorting out the general data.

The sciatic nerve is the longest nerve in the human body. Its function is the innervation of the lower extremities. The nerve begins in the sacral region, passes through the coccyx, and then follows along the back of the pelvis and both lower extremities to the very feet. That is why its inflammation is accompanied by severe pains in the entire lower body, which brings a lot of discomfort to the patient, significantly limits physical activity, and if untreated, can lead to disability.

So why does sciatica develop? How to treat sciatic nerve inflammation? We will consider the answers to these questions in more detail.

The main causes of the development of the disease

According to statistics, inflammation of the sciatic nerve is rarely an independent disease. In most cases, a similar problem appears against the background of other pathologies.

• The cause may be the herpes virus, especially if its activation leads to the development of shingles. The inflammatory process in this case can capture the sciatic nerve.
• Osteochondrosis and spondylosis are accompanied by degenerative changes in the bone tissue of the spine, which sometimes leads to infringement of the nerve. A hernia of the intervertebral disc can lead to the same result.
• Inflammation of the sciatic nerve often develops against the background of gout.
• The list of causes includes stenosis (narrowing) of the spinal canal.
• Potentially dangerous are injuries to the organs or muscles of the pelvis.
• Sciatica can be the result of the formation and growth of tumors.
• Damage to the sciatic nerve is often observed against the background of spinal injuries.
• A similar problem is often encountered by women during pregnancy. Inflammation of the sciatic nerve can be the result of gynecological diseases, as well as injuries sustained during childbirth.
• The reason can be called the so-called piriformis syndrome, a reflex, involuntary contraction of which is often accompanied by excessive compression of the sciatic nerve, which leads to its inflammation.
• The list of other causes includes poisoning with toxins (sciatic nerve damage often occurs against arsenic or mercury poisoning), Reiter's syndrome, Lyme disease, lumbar radiculitis, diabetes mellitus, fibromyalgia, thrombosis of large and medium vessels.

In addition, the disease can worsen when exposed to certain risk factors:

• Strong hypothermia, prolonged exposure to cold air flows - all this can provoke the development of the inflammatory process. By the way, according to statistics, most often this happens in the relatively warm season, when the lower back is not covered with clothing.
• Risk factors include frequent infectious diseases.
• Sciatica can develop as a result of excessive physical exertion, lifting weights. This can lead to deformation of the muscular skeleton and infringement of the nerve roots emerging from the spine.

Of course, during the diagnosis it is very important to determine the causes of sciatica. Sciatic nerve inflammation is much easier to treat if risk factors are eliminated first.

What symptoms should I look for?

Many people are interested in questions about why sciatic nerve inflammation develops. Symptoms and treatment are precisely the information that should be considered, since they are interrelated. The clinical picture in this case is characterized by a number of violations.

• The main sign of inflammation is pain. Unpleasant sensations, as a rule, arise in the lumbar region, after which they extend to the hips, calves and cover the limbs right up to the tips of the toes. The pain may be sharp, burning or aching. Some patients complain of constant discomfort. However, in most cases, the pain is paroxysmal - an outbreak of soreness ends with temporary relief. Sometimes unpleasant sensations are so strong that they lead to temporary paralysis of the limbs - during an attack a person simply loses the ability to move.
• When leaning forward, the pain, as a rule, becomes less intense, which is associated with a weakening of pressure on the nerve. But the attempt to rotate the body enhances the discomfort.
• During a pain attack, the patient cannot lean on the affected limb - walking becomes temporarily impossible. Discomfort appears or worsens during physical exertion.
• The sciatic nerve is in one way or another responsible for the innervation of the pelvic organs. In especially severe cases, a pain attack is accompanied by involuntary urination and / or defecation.
• Sometimes the skin along the nerve swell and acquire a reddish tint.
• Attacks can occur at different frequencies. In some patients, they happen several times a year, in others - several times a week or even a day. If we are talking about a chronic process, then progressive muscle atrophy is possible.

Treatment of inflammation of the sciatic nerve should be started as soon as possible - this way you can speed up the healing process and avoid complications.

Diagnosis of sciatica

Diagnosis of inflammation of the sciatic nerve is rarely fraught with difficulties, because the symptoms of pathology are very characteristic. Nevertheless, they are sometimes lubricated, and a number of studies are needed to make a diagnosis:

• First, a general inspection is carried out. Informative is the Laseg test. The patient is asked to lie down on his back and raise his leg up without bending it at the knee. If during such a manipulation there is pain along the nerve, which subsides after a person lowers his leg, then this indicates a lesion of the sciatic nerve.
• In fact, there are many more such tests. For example, the Valsalva test is informative. The patient needs to close his mouth and nose, and then create forced breathing. Such manipulations lead to increased pressure in the chest and abdominal cavity. The pain subsides for a while, but other neurological symptoms appear, for example, impaired motor activity of the foot, weakening of the knee reflex, decreased skin sensitivity, etc.
• Electroneuromyography. This procedure allows you to measure the speed of propagation of nerve impulses during nerve stimulation (in this case, the sciatic).
• Of course, additional examinations are also being conducted. For example, patients take blood tests. They are sent for x-ray studies, computed or magnetic resonance imaging. Such procedures can not only make the correct diagnosis, but also determine the cause of the development of inflammation.

Treatment of sciatic nerve inflammation

Drug treatment in this case helps to cope with the main symptoms of the disease.

In most cases, doctors use drugs of several groups:

• Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs are effective, in particular those containing ibuprofen, aspirin, paracetamol, diclofenac. It is worth noting that prolonged use of such drugs is dangerous, as it can lead to the development of diseases of the digestive tract (for example, gastric ulcer).
• With severe pain, steroid drugs are used that have more pronounced anti-inflammatory properties. Such substances as cortisone, hydrocortisone, prednisone are considered effective. Sometimes drugs are administered by epidural injection - this helps to relieve pain almost instantly.
• Vitamin complexes (in particular, group B) are necessarily included in the treatment regimen. They are necessary in order to restore the functioning of the nervous system and damaged nerve fibers.
• In combination with other drugs, sedatives and antidepressants are also used. Such funds help to normalize the patient’s emotional state, improve sleep and well-being.

Of course, all of the above drugs can be used only under the strict supervision of a doctor. They help to cope with pain, as well as relieve inflammation. A period of rehabilitation follows.

Effective ointments for sciatica

In addition to tablets and injections, medicines are also used for the external treatment of affected areas. Only a doctor knows how to treat sciatic nerve inflammation. Properly selected ointments by a specialist will help to cope with unpleasant symptoms, as well as restore normal functioning of tissues:

• Effective analgesic ointments are considered "Finalgon", "Nikoflex", "Efkamon". Such agents enhance blood circulation in the tissues, providing them with sufficient oxygen and nutrients. According to reviews, drugs are most effective if inflammation of the nerve is associated with compression or hypothermia.
• Chondroprotective ointments help with osteochondrosis, which also leads to inflammation of the sciatic nerve. Such drugs as Chondroitin, Teraflex M, Chondroxin are considered effective.
• Sometimes analgesic ointments are used, in which non-steroidal anti-inflammatory substances are present. Such drugs help relieve inflammation and ease pain. In medical practice, such drugs as Diclofenac, Voltaren, Diclovit, Fastum Gel are often used.
• Sometimes homeopathic ointments are used, for example, “Target T” and “Traumeel C”. It is believed that such drugs increase local immunity, improve metabolic processes in tissues, and also relieve pain. Nevertheless, they are used only as an aid.

Massage for treatment

Treatment of inflammation of the sciatic nerve necessarily includes massage. Of course, such procedures are carried out after the acute phase of sciatica. Massage should be performed by an experienced, qualified specialist. Attempts to do this yourself can only exacerbate the situation.

Properly performed massage helps relieve muscle spasm, improve blood circulation, trophic tissue and nerve fibers. The course of treatment consists of approximately 11-15 procedures. According to reviews, massage really helps to recover faster after an attack of sciatica.

Physiotherapy

As soon as the main symptoms of sciatica exacerbation disappear, doctors recommend doing special therapeutic exercises. The first few classes are best done under the supervision of an experienced physiotherapist. Properly selected exercises will help improve blood circulation, relieve muscle spasm, which often becomes the cause of nerve infringement.

• First you need to lie on your back (preferably on the floor). Raise your legs, supporting your buttocks with your hands, and pull your knees to your chest. In this position, you need to hold out for about 30 seconds, and then return to the starting position. The exercise is repeated at least 10 times.
• Staying on the floor, roll over onto your stomach. Put your hands on the floor and try to raise your upper body as much as possible. The legs remain on the floor. Freeze in this position for a few seconds, then return to the starting position.
• Useful are the tilts of the body in different directions (in a standing position). Remember that all movements must be neat and slow. Too sharp jerks can only aggravate the situation.

Sciatic nerve inflammation: how to treat at home?

Many people with this diagnosis are interested in questions about whether it is possible to do something on their own. Treatment of inflammation of the sciatic nerve at home is possible only with the permission of a doctor. Traditional medicine offers several remedies for combating sciatica:

• Effective are ointments and alcohol tinctures of horse chestnut. They need to process the skin along the affected nerve.
• Some folk healers recommend can massage. During the procedure, you can use an anti-inflammatory ointment or any warming cream.
• They will help to cope with pain and muscle spasm and applications from natural, heated beeswax.

Preventive actions

You already know why symptoms of sciatic nerve inflammation appear . Home treatment, features of drug therapy - this is important information. But it is worth learning more about prevention, because it is much easier to avoid the development of an ailment than then worrying about treatment. Doctors recommend following some precautions:

• It is worth avoiding physical overstrain and excessive loads on the spine, especially when it comes to a person who does not play sports all the time.
• Doctors recommend avoiding hypothermia of the lumbar region, since quite often inflammation of the sciatic nerve is associated with this.
• It is important to keep fit. Trained muscles and strong ligaments of the back reduce the likelihood of damage to the sciatic nerve.

If the slightest symptoms appear, you should immediately consult a doctor. Only a specialist knows how to deal with sciatic nerve inflammation. Treatment at home is not able to replace full-fledged drug therapy.