MicroTube Spine Surgery - Sciatica or Pinched Nerve

Sciatica / Pinched Nerve

The nerve pain caused by irritation or injury to the sciatic nerve is called sciatica. Pain caused by sciatica or pinched nerve originates in the gluteal or buttock area. The sciatic nerve is the thickest and longest nerve in the body. Injury to the sciatic nerve is considered rare.

The term sciatica is often used to refer to any pain that starts in the lower back and travels down the leg. The condition usually only affects one side of the body. Sciatica occurs when a bone spur or a herniated disk compresses part of the nerve. The condition can cause pain, inflammation, and numbness in the affected leg.

While pain associated with the condition can be severe, most cases won’t need sciatic nerve surgery or pinched nerve surgery. Sciatic nerve pain treatment options might involve sciatic nerve surgery if there’s a significant weakness in the leg or bladder or bowel changes.

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Sciatic Nerve Surgery

Common Causes of Sciatica

Sciatica can be attributed to various medical conditions, including:

Slipped or herniated disk

A herniated or slipped disk can cause pressure on a nerve root. Pressure from the vertebrae can cause the disk’s gel-like center to herniate or bulge. When a herniated disk develops in the lower back, it can press on the sciatic nerve.

Spinal stenosis

Spinal stenosis refers to the unusual narrowing of the spinal canal. The narrowing reduces the available space for the nerves and the spinal cord.

Osteoarthritis

Bone spurs can develop in aging bones and compress the nerves found in the lower back.

Piriformis syndrome

Piriformis syndrome is a condition that occurs when a small muscle located deep in the buttocks (piriformis muscle) tightens or spasms. This can irritate and put pressure on the sciatic nerve.

Cauda equina syndrome

Cauda equina syndrome is a severe but rare condition that affects the nerves located at the end of the spinal cord. The condition can cause numbness around the buttocks, pain down the leg, and bladder and bowel control loss.

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Symptoms of Sciatica

Some of the most common symptoms of the condition include:

Moderate to severe pain in the buttock, leg, and lower back.
Weakness or numbness in the feet, leg, buttock, and lower back.
Loss of movement or pain that worsens with activity.
“Pins and needles” feeling in the toes, feet, or legs.
Loss of bladder or bowel control.

Possible Complications

While most people can fully recover from the condition even without sciatic nerve pain surgery or even pinched nerve treatment, the condition has the potential to cause permanent nerve damage. It is recommended that you seek immediate medical attention if you experience:

Weakness in the leg affected
Loss of feeling in the affected leg
Loss of bladder or bowel function

Risk Factors for Sciatica

Risk factors for sciatica include:

Age

Changes in the spine related to aging (i.e., bone spurs and herniated disks) are considered some of the most common causes of the condition.

Obesity

Excess body weight can increase stress on the spine and might cause spinal changes that can cause the condition to develop.

Prolonged sitting

Sitting for prolonged periods or leading a sedentary lifestyle might also cause sciatica.

Diabetes

Diabetes affects how the body uses blood sugar and can increase the risk of nerve damage.

Occupation

Jobs that will require carrying heavy loads, twisting the back, or driving a motor vehicle for prolonged periods might also play a role in the development of sciatica.

Sciatica Treatment Options

Pinched nerve or sciatic nerve treatment for minor cases will only involve self-care measures. However, if there is no improvement, other remedies might be recommended. For instance:

Medications

Medications typically prescribed for the condition can include:

Muscle relaxants
Narcotics
Anti-inflammatories
Tricyclic antidepressants
Anti-seizure medications

Lifestyle and Home Remedies

Cold packs
Hot packs
Stretching
Over-the-counter medications (Motrin IB, Advil, etc.)

Physical therapy and steroid injections might also be prescribed. Sciatic nerve surgery will be the last resort if all other remedies fail.

MicroTube Spine Surgery Treatment option

A pinched nerve is considered a form of sciatica and can develop due to pathologies like a synovial cyst, foraminal or lateral stenosis, and disk herniation. Common symptoms of lumbar radiculopathy can include tingling and numbness, pain in the lower extremity, and weakness of the muscles. MicroTube Spine Surgery uses a minimalistic approach to nerve impingement and addresses the cause of the condition directly. Learn more about the benefits of MicroTube Spine Surgery by clicking here.