The sciatica It is a term that is frequently heard and is very common among the population, but apart from what is thought, it is not a disease, but rather a sign of irritation, or in other words, a symptom that can originate for several reasons, all related to the sciatic nerve, from which it takes its name.
The pain, tingling and numbness of the leg is caused by the so-called sciatica, as indicated by the Dr. Héctor Ortegón Baqueiro, specialist in neurosurgery and member of the network of doctors of the Merida Clinic.
What is sciatica?
The doctor explains that the Sciatica is a term used to describe pain in the lower extremity, especially on the back or side of the leg. It is a sign of irritation.
He explains that “it is as if we said that the respiratory system has a cough. So, we must investigate at what level of the respiratory system the cough is, whether in the pharynx, trachea, bronchi or lungs.
The same happens in sciatica, because the sciatic nerve originates in the spinal cord, and its path is in the lower extremity, it is the largest nerve in the body,” he points out.
Expanding on the topic, he points out that the sciatic nerve is equivalent to the trunk of a tree and like the tree, it has roots. The roots of the sciatic nerve are in the spine, each root irritated by a circumstance gives rise to pain in the sciatic path.
The causes behind the so-called “sciatica”
It indicates that sciatica is a symptom and has four main causes that cause it: the most common and on everyone’s lips is a herniated disc, but there are others such as a vertebra displaced forward due to gradual degenerative problems that narrow the exit of the nerve, which is one of the roots of the sciatic and causes pain.
Another reason is spinal joint fluid; the synovium. This has an envelope where it is contained that serves to slide the joint, but when it breaks it forms a cyst that compresses the root.
Other times, degenerative spinal problems lead to the formation of spikes or spurs that narrow the hole where the nerve exits the spine, causing sciatica.
“For this reason, when someone experiences pain in the back of the lower extremity, it is called sciatica, and we must investigate what the cause is,” he points out.
Pain, tingling and numbness in the leg are the symptoms. These last two attract attention, but what forces the patient to seek medical help is when the pain begins.
The specialist doctor details that herniated disc, one of the most common causes of sciatica, can occur suddenly, the pain is intense and sudden, and in the other three causes it can begin gradually,
The pain, as already mentioned, is reflected in the back of the lower extremity, begins in the buttock and extends to the posterior or lateral aspect of the thigh and reaches the calf and heel, this limits mobility to cause of pain.
How is it diagnosed?
Regarding the diagnosis, it specifies that for this a neurological evaluation or examination must be done.
“It is looked for by maneuvers, because when a nerve root is irritated it does not allow a certain action feature in the examination and then it is checked if there is any muscle weakness, because the roots are mixed, they have motor and sensory fibers, according to the weakness. muscle we can anticipate the level of the nerve root that is affected and then examine the reflexes,” he says.
“Each reflex has a level in the spine, when the reflexes are altered we have to review the why, since all of this helps in the diagnosis,” he explains.
The definitive step is the imaging study and magnetic resonance imaging, it is the most precise study that locates the level of the problem, where it originates and the size of the lesion.
Depending on which of the causes of sciatica is identified in the image, the treatment is provided. In the first instance, they are anti-inflammatory and analgesic, and physical activity is modified.
“80 percent of sciatica cases can be treated medically and only 20 percent that do not respond to treatment may require surgical intervention to decompress the root,” he notes.
Explains that the cause of sciatica has a limited evolution.
For example, in the most common case, which is a herniated disc, what is herniated is not the disc that moves but rather the nucleus, because the disc has a composite structure, it has a fibroelastic annulus and a nucleus that is the that cushions, but if the ring breaks and lets the nucleus and therefore the nerve root escape, the nucleus is out of place, its physiology is no longer intact and it can lose water, become dehydrated, lose volume and stop compressing. the root, and when you stop compressing it the pain disappears. It is the mechanism by which the disc heals, regardless of what is given to the patient.
Treatment of sciatica
He says that currently different treatments are promoted to cure sciatica such as ozone, acupuncture and magnetic pulses, to which the patient sometimes agrees, and believe that they are being cured, although this is not the case, and they do eventually heal, in reality. It is the natural evolution of the condition.
Reducing the inflammation of the root with anti-inflammatory drugs is what really helps the patient, and usually in three or four weeks they will feel well and 80 percent respond to the treatment.
Sciatica can occur once more, but there are general prevention measures such as losing weight if overweight so that the patient does not put that load on the shock absorbers that are the discs. Even so, the disc has a biological evolution, it can heal, just like the pain disappear, but it can also occur once more.
In any case, the important thing is to consult the specialist who will guide you on the best solution and treatment.
Dr. Héctor Ortegón Baqueiro works at office number 114 of the Mérida Clinic from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Appointments by phone 999 925 0705.
Related news
#Sciatica #pain #symptom #conditions
2024-04-05 05:19:28
