Sciatica
Exercises help open up the spinal canal
When pain persists In about 10 to 30 percent of people with nonemergency sciatica , several weeks or months of conservative care fails to fully relieve symptoms . In cases that are not severe and debilitating , one option is to continue with conservative care and hope for incremental improvement over time .
Another option is an inflammation-reducing corticosteroid injection into the area where the nerve root is compressed . If effective , pain relief usually lasts a few months . However , there are limits to the number of injections a patient can have .
Surgery to relieve compression is another option when , despite conservative care , signs and symptoms remain fairly debilitating or if they begin to include muscle weakness or loss of bladder or bowel control . This can be the case with sciatica caused by spinal stenosis , which tends to be more progressive than sciatica caused by a herniated disk .
With spinal stenosis , the most common surgical procedure involves removing the back portion of one or more vertebrae to create more space within the spine . Bone fusion or supportive hardware may be used to improve the stability of the spine , particularly if the vertebrae have slipped forward due to the wear and tear caused by spondylolisthesis .
With a herniated disk , disk material pressing on the nerve root is removed ( discectomy ) and can sometimes be done with small incisions and minimal damage to the surrounding tissues . n
With spinal stenosis , the most common surgical procedure involves removing the back portion of one or more vertebrae to create more space within the spine .
An exercise bicycle can help the patient bend forward while exercising , helping to open up the spinal canal and minimize nerve compression .
Physical therapy Once pain is under reasonable control , physical therapy can help regain normal back mobility with stretching exercises , but it ’ s important to learn how to care for and protect one ’ s back during daily activities . Applying a heat pad or towel-wrapped ice pack to the area of pain for 15-minute intervals three or four times a day can help improve symptoms .
Over the long run , physical therapy exercises that strengthen the stabilizing muscles in the back and abdomen are important for preventing future sciatica episodes and low back pain .
Weight loss This helps reduce stress on the lower spine , potentially easing compression on sciatic nerve roots .
Alternative therapy Some people find that acupuncture , massage therapy , meditation and chiropractic manipulation can help improve their symptoms .
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