The condition if you have pain in the lumbosacral spine is often a phenomenon known to a lot of people, especially at the age of 40-60 years. This complaint is named sciatica or lumbar radiculopathy (radiculitis among the inhabitants). It is a chronic neurological pathology a result of compression with the sciatic nerve. The disease comes with intense pain, stiffness of movements along with a number of other symptoms.
Sciatica is diagnosed in adults of both sexes, often affecting women that are pregnant. Radiculitis will not pose a threat to life, nevertheless its quality reduces significantly, depriving an individual of activity and ability to function. Therefore, if you worry you have sciatica, immediately make contact with a neurologist or chiropractor. Timely treatment will relieve pain, adequate diagnosis will identify and take away the cause from the disease.
Causes of inflammation of the sciatic nerve
Pain in sciatica occurs as a result of compression or irritation of the sciatic nerve. The causes of compression include any local inflammation, trauma on the lumbosacral region along with other factors:
– intervertebral hernia or disc protrusion;
– experience of pathogenic microflora, including tubercle bacillus, streptococci, staphylococci, gonococci;
– infectious diseases – influenza, typhus, malaria, syphilis, scarlet fever;
– metabolic diseases – gout;
– local osteophytes;
– diabetes;
– spondylosis from the vertebrae with the lumbosacral region;
– osteocondritis in the spine;
– continuing development of cicatricial changes in the exit zone of roots – – sciatic nerve;
various spinal injuries;
– scoliosis of the lumbosacral region.
A good sciatica affects the patient’s motor function. Together with pain within the lower back, there is a loss of flexibility in the hips and pelvis, decreased sensitivity, limited mobility inside the knee joint and ankle to the side of the lesion. Compression from the sciatic nerve can disrupt bowel and bladder function, inducing the patient to try out fecal and bladder control problems.
Symptoms of lumbar radiculopathy
The clinical picture of sciatica develops gradually. In the beginning, a little discomfort is felt within the back, turning into tolerable pain. Irradiation of painful sensations is noted inside the buttock and down the posterior projection from the thigh. At this stage, someone thinks he is simply fed up with physical labor and perceives the problem because norm. In the future, increased exercise can provoke an extreme attack, in the event the pain literally fetters our bodies.
In addition to stabbing, burning and shooting pain, vegetative and neurological disorders occur:
– decreased sensitivity in the limb along the side of the lesion;
– the alternative option – increased sensitivity from the buttocks and legs;
– weakness from the ankle;
– violation with the functionality from the pelvic organs.
Treatment and diagnosis of sciatica
Sciatica can manifest differently in different people. The examination starts with historical past to recognize concomitant diseases, which in turn really helps to establish the initial reason behind a pinched sciatic nerve.
That is then physical testing which usually structure provokes compression or irritation. According to the outcomes of the identification, the doctor gives the patient an in depth report on the identified pathology. Having a lack of information, your physician can refer the sufferer to X-ray, CT and MRI.
The procedure regimen is determined by the cause of sciatic nerve compression. If the reason for sciatica is a herniated disc, it can be well treated with chiropractic. After eliminating the reason for sciatica, its symptoms lowered alone.
Usually do not torture yourself with pain and never bring the problem to surgery. On time, contact professionals in the field of treatments for diseases in the musculoskeletal system, doctors with deep expertise in the anatomy and physiology of the body system.
Check out about Back pain and sciatica see our new resource: check