Information on Chronic Sciatica
There are actually two different types of sciatica.
Acute sciatica lasts for a period of less than six weeks
while chronic sciatica lasts for more than six weeks.
Many cases of acute sciatica pass without any specific
treatment apart from over-the-counter analgesics and
hot and/or cold compresses. Most patients with acute
sciatica find sufficient relief from the pain and other
symptoms by using these simple measures.
In the case of chronic sciatica, additional treatment
methods may be needed to achieve the same level of relief;
other healthcare professionals may be called in to assist.
In addition to drugs, a structured exercise program
may be necessary, under the supervision of a physiotherapist,
to give relief from the pain of chronic sciatica and,
in extreme cases, surgery may be needed, depending on
the cause of the chronic sciatica. Many sufferers of
chronic sciatica find that a combination of medical
treatment and home or alternate remedies give them the
best results.
The symptoms of chronic sciatica are similar to those
of acute sciatica but they continue for a longer time.
Chronic sciatica symptoms are not necessarily any more
severe than those of acute sciatica. The pain of both
types can be a deep, dull pain felt in the hip or buttocks
or a sharp, shooting pain that travels down the leg;
other symptoms are lower back pain, loss of mobility,
movement difficulty and numbness or tingling of the
feet.
There is often inflammation of tissue with sciatica
and NSAIDS or non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs
are prescribed to reduce the inflammation which causes
pain. Long term use of NSAIDS is not a good option for
chronic sciatica because they can cause ulcers or bleeding
and so they may be tried early on in sciatica treatment
but then discontinued. Some pain killers can be safely used, according to
the instructions on the packet, over an extended time
period. These include medications containing paracetamol,
ibuprofen or codeine. Amitriptyline is another drug
that was used to treat depression but has been shown
to be effective in relieving nerve pain like sciatica.
It does have some side effects that you should be aware
of like drowsiness, blurred vision and constipation;
people with heart problems should not take amitriptyline.
Bed rest used to be recommended for chronic sciatica
but recently it has been shown that keeping active and
moving gives better results. Adopting a more active
lifestyle is also of great benefit to chronic sciatica
sufferers as exercise helps to strengthen the muscles
of the torso which support the spine. Regular exercise
releases more endorphins which are the body's natural
pain killers.
Moderate exercise on most days of the
week is a good habit to get into; this can be brisk
walking, swimming or cycling for at least 30 minutes.
Yoga is a great activity for relieving the symptoms
of chronic sciatica. It is important to warm up properly
before starting any strenuous exercise.
In addition to regular general exercise, your doctor
may recommend physical therapy. A trained therapist
will teach you specific exercises which are aimed at
stretching and strengthening the core muscles to improve
posture, support the back and maintain flexibility of
the spine.
You can also help yourself at home by applying cold
compresses when pain strikes and then alternating these
with heat packs to get maximum pain relief. Continue
to do 5 to 20 minutes of specific sciatica exercises
every day as well as taking your 30 minutes of exercise
several times a week. Make sure your diet is nutritionally
balanced, that you drink plenty of water and eat lots
of fruit and vegetables to give your body the best chance
of healing itself.
Some patients find that alternative therapies help
with the pain of chronic sciatica. You might like to
try massage therapy, acupuncture, cognitive behavioral
therapy or naturopathy in conjunction with the other
strategies we have discussed in this article.
Other Resources:
Chronic Sciatica
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