Many do not understand if a nerve is pinched and gives in the leg what to do. After suffering an injury or overloading the body with physical activity, acute pain during walking makes itself felt. Such a symptom indicates the appearance of neuralgia. That is, the sciatic nerve is pinched.
Pregnancy, the elderly, athletes and people whose professional activities are continuously associated with hard physical labor, and others, suffer more from this ailment.
To eliminate the manifestation of unpleasant symptoms, special massage, medications, exercises and physiotherapy are indicated.
Causes
In the sciatic nerve, the largest accumulation of fibers is collected. If it gets pinched, a person feels a pain syndrome, which significantly worsens the quality of life.
Only a specialist can make a diagnosis based on an analysis of the diagnosis, since the disease does not have specific symptoms, and therefore such symptoms can be a manifestation of other diseases.
Factors affecting sciatic nerve damage:
- Acute osteochondrosis. Symptoms are manifested in any sudden movement, muscle cramps are felt.
- Radiculitis. Worries people over 40. It manifests itself in numbness of the limb and pulling pains.
- Physical overwork. It occurs in people who work hard physically, also in athletes.
- Various injuries.
The degree of recovery will directly depend on the neglect of the disease.
Symptomatology
In order for the patient to understand that he has a pinched nerve, he should pay attention to the following symptoms:
- Pain in the legs. The symptom is not constant, manifested by seizures. The pain can be localized both in a certain place, and cover the entire thigh. A person becomes pained when walking or any sudden movements.
- Paroxysmal back pain. Most often, a person feels inconvenience in the thigh, where the nerve was injured, in some cases, the lower back also suffers. Soreness in the back is not felt as much as in the legs. Tingling, twitching may be felt.
- Dullness of sensitivity. The patient may feel numbness, burning, tingling, and many other alarming processes that are characteristic of neuralgia. They are localized in the place of the buttocks and thighs. There are times when the foot and lower leg suffer.
- Failures in the movements. A person cannot move quickly, feels constant pain in the leg (s).
- Gait changes. Feeling constant pain, a person tries to step on the leg that is damaged as little as possible. The lameness is visible to the naked eye.
- Muscle weakness. Patients noticed a breakdown, stiffness in movements. It is worth noting that even after recovery, symptoms are still felt for some time.
When a patient is injured and a nerve is pinched in his left leg (or right), he has a direct path to traumatology. But, based on the name "neuralgia", it is easy to guess that a neurologist is involved in this kind of disease.
When a patient is injured or, for other reasons, feels the above symptoms, he should contact a neurologist who will conduct the required studies and prescribe treatment in accordance with the severity of the identified pathology.
If with the help of a neurologist it was not possible to identify the exact degree of the disease, then they resort to the help of a radiologist.
Treatment
There are many different methods for eliminating the disease if a nerve is pinched in the right leg (or left). Therefore, self-medication is categorically not appropriate here, only a qualified specialist should deal with the selection of individual treatment.
It is allowed to take a painkiller before going to the clinic. Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs are excellent for neuralgic diseases. The action of the drug is aimed at counteracting inflammatory processes, as a result of which pain is reduced.
The composition of the drugs has ibuprofen. The use of drugs is allowed only for one week. Otherwise, they can cause adverse reactions.
Despite the fact that such medicines are highly effective in treatment, they also contain substances that are contraindicated in many patients. Among them are people suffering from gastrointestinal problems. Therefore, the medicine in the form of tablets is not suitable for them. Instead, injection ampoules can be used.
Among these medicines is the well-known Diclofenac. The result of its use is noticeable just a couple of days after the start of injections.
Gels and ointments also help with pinched nerves. For example, Fastum Gel noticeably reduces pain half an hour after application.
If medication does not help when a nerve is pinched and a leg hurts, the doctor prescribes an operation to remove the cause of the discomfort. After surgery, a rehabilitation period (up to two months) follows, after which the patient will be able to restore physical activity, nothing will interfere with a full life.
Additional treatment
Not understanding when the nerve in the leg was pinched, how to treat the pathology, in combination with doctor's prescriptions, bed rest should be observed, and for a more effective treatment process, you can undergo a massage course (on the recommendation of a doctor) after the acute phase of the disease has passed. This is approximately five to seven days. Ideally, he will attend at least ten sessions of therapeutic massage, and after six months repeat the cycle.
Massage has a beneficial effect on the muscles and significantly relieves muscle cramps. From the procedure, blood circulation in the body improves and conductivity in damaged tissues increases.
Swimming pool
A good restoring effect is provided by regular trips to the pool. As you know, swimming strengthens muscle mass and at the same time relieve stress. In order to have a noticeable effect from swimming, you should visit the pool at least once a week.
Physical Education
Exercise for therapeutic purposes is also prescribed after the acute phase of the disease. Physical education can be practiced at home and in the gym. However, the first time should take place under the supervision of an instructor. Clothing should be chosen the most comfortable, which would not limit movements. It is important to perform the exercises smoothly and slowly, since any sudden movement can provoke pain.
If the movements are performed properly, but the pain is still felt, charging should be stopped.
Each of the proposed exercises must be performed at least six times. However, if fatigue appears, the process should be interrupted and continued after recovery. The generally accepted set of exercises is performed lying on your back. One leg bends at the knee and the other rises at right angles. Hands grasp the second leg at the back at the level of the knee. These are the simplest exercises that relax muscles and do not overload them.
A nice addition will be yoga. She should be constantly monitored by a professional, and doing it on her own is strongly discouraged.
Physiotherapeutic Methods
Many do not know when a nerve pinched in a leg, what to do? In practice, it has been proven that excellent results when pinching the sciatic nerve give such procedures: phonophoresis, magnetotherapy, applications in combination with paraffin, electrophoresis in combination with drugs, UHF therapy.
Physiotherapy is especially useful for pinching a nerve in the leg. Thanks to this procedure, blood flow is normalized, pain gradually disappears, it warms up the affected tissue properly and reduces swelling.
Unfortunately, in some cases, no medication helps, and there is no indication for surgery. The doctor prescribes steroid hormones, which are undesirable, but in some cases can not do without them. They should not be taken for long. Even a very short time is enough for powerful components that relieve swelling and neutralize inflammation.
Sometimes the problem lies in the spine. If the clinical studies confirm this, it is possible to prescribe a special corset, whose task is to reduce the load on the spine.
Pregnancy and pinching in the leg
During pregnancy, especially in the latter stages, women become more and more limited in physical activity. If the nerve in the leg is pinched during pregnancy, this is a frequent occurrence.
Women in position should not use any injectable or medication. Therefore, doctors strongly recommend that pregnant women relax more, avoid stressful situations, and lie mainly on hard surfaces. A medium hard mattress will come in handy.
ethnoscience
In addition to traditional medicine, there are alternative methods of treatment and very effective if you choose the right methods.
If the nerve in the leg is pinched, and what to do is unclear, then ordinary potato helps with the disease. To prepare the medicine you need to grate it, add a couple of drops of kerosene and apply evenly to the lower back, lubricated with vegetable oil.
An decoction from the combination of orange peel and lemon balm in equal proportions will also help. The components must be placed in a bucket of water and brought to a boil. Infused broth for ten minutes. After that, valerian is added. The broth should be drunk three times a day.
If the localization of pinching is in the leg, then you can prepare an effective compress from the same potatoes and horseradish. The components in equal proportions need to be crushed to a state of gruel and add a spoonful of honey. Pre-lubricate the loin with vegetable oil, and apply a compress on it. You can fix it by wrapping with gauze. After an hour the pain goes away.
Treatment with alternative methods is effective. However, you should not think that it can cure the body from pinching. Traditional medicine is a concomitant treatment, not the main one. Treatment with folk remedies, in combination with traditional medicine and experienced doctors, will help a person recover.
Prevention
Of course, warning the disease is much healthier and cheaper than treating it later.
It is easiest to follow basic recommendations that significantly reduce the risk of getting sick:
- exercise regularly;
- to sleep about six to eight hours a day;
- as often as possible to do walks in the fresh air;
- choose a not too soft mattress;
- wear comfortable shoes and not “abuse” high platforms;
- arrange a good rest with physical overwork;
- dress seasonally to avoid hypothermia.
It should be understood that even if the symptoms are not pronounced, you should definitely consult a doctor. It is known that seizures do not spoil life as much as constant pain, since they appear from time to time and you can forget about the existence of the disease for the next attack.
Nevertheless, the disease itself will not go away, and negligence and carelessness will aggravate the situation.
Conclusion
It is important to consult a doctor as soon as possible in the presence of characteristic symptoms. The sooner you catch a disease, the less trouble a person will receive in the future with treatment, and the chances of a quick recovery without consequences will increase significantly.
It must be remembered that even folk remedies do not permanently eliminate the problem, but only relieve painful sensations. Only complex therapy is able to help the patient recover if a nerve is pinched in the leg.