SYMPTOMS

• Lower back pain
• Pain in the rear or leg that is worse when sitting
• Hip pain
• Burning or tingling down the leg
• Weakness, numbness, or a hard time moving the leg or foot
• A constant pain on one side of the rear
• A shooting pain that makes it hard to stand up
• Fever
• Swelling or redness in your back or spine
• Pain that moves down your legs
• Numbness or weakness in the upper thighs, legs, pelvis, or bottom
• Burning when you pee or blood in your pee
• Serious pain
• Loss of bladder or bowel control (leaking or not being able to make it to the toilet in time)

Sciatica usually affects only one side of the lower body. Often, the pain extends from the lower back all the way through the back of your thigh and down through your leg. Depending on where the sciatic nerve is affected, the pain may also extend to the foot or toes.

For some people, the pain from sciatica can be severe and disabling. For others, the sciatica pain might be infrequent and irritating, but has the potential to get worse.

CAUSES

Sciatica can be caused by several different medical conditions including:

• A herniated or slipped diskthat causes pressure on a nerve root. This is the most common cause of sciatica. Disks are the cushioning pads between each vertebrae of the spine. Pressure from vertebrae can cause the gel-like center of a disk to bulge (herniate) through a weakness in its outer wall. When a herniated disk happens to a vertebrae in your lower back, it can press on the sciatic nerve.
• Degenerative disk diseaseis the natural wear down of the disks between vertebrae of the spine. The wearing down of the disks shortens their height and leads to the nerve passageways becoming narrower (spinal stenosis). Spinal stenosis can pinch the sciatic nerve roots as they leave the spine.
• Spinal stenosisis the abnormal narrowing of the spinal canal. This narrowing reduces the available space for the spinal cord and nerves.
• Spondylolisthesis is a slippage of one vertebra so that it is out of line with the one above it, narrowing the opening through which the nerve exits. The extended spinal bone can pinch the sciatic nerve.
• Osteoarthritis.Bone spurs (jagged edges of bone) can form in aging spines and compress lower back nerves.
• Trauma or injuryto the lumbar spine or sciatic nerve.
• Tumors in the lumbar spinal canal that compress the sciatic nerve.
• Piriformis syndrome is a condition that develops when the piriformis muscle, a small muscle that lies deep in the buttocks, becomes tight or spasms. This can put pressure on and irritate the sciatic nerve. Piriformis syndrome is an uncommon neuromuscular disorder.
• Cauda equina syndrome is a rare but serious condition that affects the bundle of nerves at the end of the spinal cord called the cauda equina. This syndrome causes pain down the leg, numbness around the anus and loss of bowel and bladder control.

RISK FACTORS

• Have an injury/previous injury: An injury to your lower back or spine puts you at greater risk for sciatica.
• Live life: With normal aging comes a natural wearing down of bone tissue and disks in your spine. Normal aging can put your nerves at risk of being injured or pinched by the changes and shifts in bone, disks and ligaments.
• Are overweight: Your spine is like a vertical crane. Your muscles are the counterweights. The weight you carry in the front of your body is what your spine (crane) has to lift. The more weight you have, the more your back muscles (counterweights) have to work. This can lead to back strains, pains and other back issues.
• Lack a strong core: Your “core” are the muscles of your back and abdomen. The stronger your core, the more support you’ll have for your lower back. Unlike your chest area, where your rib cage provides support, the only support for your lower back is your muscles.
• Age. Age-related changes in the spine, such as herniated disks and bone spurs, are the most common causes of sciatica.
• Obesity. By increasing the stress on your spine, excess body weight can contribute to the spinal changes that trigger sciatica.
• Have an active, physical job: Jobs that require heavy lifting may increase your risk of low back problems and use of your back, or jobs with prolonged sitting may increase your risk of low back problems.
• Lack proper posture in the weight room: Even if you are physically fit and active, you can still be prone to sciatica if you don’t follow proper body form during weight lifting or other strength training exercises.
• Have diabetes: Diabetes increases your chance of nerve damage, which increases your chance of sciatica.
• Have osteoarthritis: Osteoarthritis can cause damage to your spine and put nerves at risk of injury.
• Lead an inactive lifestyle: Sitting for a long period of time and not exercising and keeping your muscles moving, flexible and toned can increase your risk of sciatica.
• Smoke: The nicotine in tobacco can damage spinal tissue, weaken bones, and speed the wearing down of vertebral disks.

COMPLICATIONS

Although most people recover fully from sciatica, often without treatment, sciatica can potentially cause permanent nerve damage. Seek immediate medical attention if you have:

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

PREVENTION

It's not always possible to prevent sciatica, and the condition may recur. The following can play a key role in protecting your back:

• Exercise regularly. To keep your back strong, pay special attention to your core muscles — the muscles in your abdomen and lower back that are essential for proper posture and alignment. Ask your doctor to recommend specific activities.
• Maintain proper posture when you sit. Choose a seat with good lower back support, armrests and a swivel base. Consider placing a pillow or rolled towel in the small of your back to maintain its normal curve. Keep your knees and hips level.
• Use good body mechanics. If you stand for long periods, rest one foot on a stool or small box from time to time. When you lift something heavy, let your lower extremities do the work. Move straight up and down. Keep your back straight and bend only at the knees. Hold the load close to your body. Avoid lifting and twisting simultaneously. Find a lifting partner if the object is heavy or awkward.

DIAGNOSIS

If your pain is severe, the doctor might order imaging tests to check for bone spurs and herniated disks. You could get tests like:

• X-ray,which makes pictures of the inside of your body, to check for bone spurs
• CT scan, which combines a series of X-rays to get a better look at your spinal cord and spinal nerves
• MRI,which uses radio waves and magnets to create pictures of your insides to get a detailed look at your back and spine
• Electromyography (EMG), which measures how fast nerve signals travel through your body, to check for things like a herniated disk

TREATMENT

If your pain doesn't improve with self-care measures, your doctor might suggest some of the following treatments.

1.Medications-

The types of drugs that might be prescribed for sciatica pain include:

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

2.Physical therapy-

Once your acute pain improves, your doctor or a physical therapist can design a rehabilitation program to help you prevent future injuries. This typically includes exercises to correct your posture, strengthen the muscles supporting your back and improve your flexibility.

3.Steroid injections-

In some cases, your doctor might recommend injection of a corticosteroid medication into the area around the involved nerve root. Corticosteroids help reduce pain by suppressing inflammation around the irritated nerve. The effects usually wear off in a few months. The number of steroid injections you can receive is limited because the risk of serious side effects increases when the injections occur too frequently.

4.Surgery-

This option is usually reserved for when the compressed nerve causes significant weakness, loss of bowel or bladder control, or when you have pain that progressively worsens or doesn't improve with other therapies. Surgeons can remove the bone spur or the portion of the herniated disk that's pressing on the pinched nerve.

5.Lifestyle and home remedies-

For most people, sciatica responds to self-care measures. Although resting for a day or so may provide some relief, prolonged inactivity will make your signs and symptoms worse.

• Cold packs.Initially, you might get relief from a cold pack placed on the painful area for up to 20 minutes several times a day. Use an ice pack or a package of frozen peas wrapped in a clean towel.
• Hot packs.After two to three days, apply heat to the areas that hurt. Use hot packs, a heat lamp or a heating pad on the lowest setting. If you continue to have pain, try alternating warm and cold packs.
• Stretching.Stretching exercises for your low back can help you feel better and might help relieve nerve root compression. Avoid jerking, bouncing or twisting during the stretch, and try to hold the stretch for at least 30 seconds.

EFFECTIVENESS OF ACUPUNCTURE

Acupuncture works by relaxing tight muscles, improving blood circulation, regulating the nervous system, and releasing neurotransmitters to reduce pain.

Acupuncture has been shown to be an effective treatment for sciatica without the side effects of prescription pain medications like NSAIDs and muscle relaxers. It is also a safe, non-surgical treatment option that can relieve sciatica pain.

One systematic review of acupuncture for sciatica found that acupuncture improved sciatica symptoms better than non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID) treatment. Acupuncture also helps enhance the effects of medications that may be prescribed for sciatica so it can help reduce the dosage and mitigate the side effects.

MECHANISM OF ACUPUNCTURE

The British Acupuncture Council says Acupuncture can help relieve back pain and sciatica by:

• Stimulating nerves located in muscles and other tissues, which leads to release of endorphins and other neurohumoral factors, and changes the processing of pain in the brain and spinal cord.
• Reducing inflammation, by promoting release of vascular and immunomodulatory factors.
• Improving muscle stiffness and joint mobility by increasing local microcirculation, which aids dispersal of swelling.
• Causing a transient change in sciatic nerve blood flow, including circulation to the cauda equina and nerve root. This response is eliminated or attenuated by administration of atropine, indicating that it occurs mainly via cholinergic nerves.
• Influencing the neurotrophic factor signalling system, which is important in neuropathic pain.
• Increasing levels of serotonin and noradrenaline, which can help reduce pain and speed nerve repair.
• Improving the conductive parameters of the sciatic nerve.
• Promoting regeneration of the sciatic nerve.

Once needles are inserted in certain acupuncture points, endorphin production will increase. Acupuncture can also cause muscle relaxation. Acupuncture will help to reprogram the muscles to stay relaxed. The back, hip, and pelvis are very interconnected and the treatment should incorporate all of them. Overall, the treatment should relax and stretch the tendons and fascia while strengthening the muscles. This will help release the spastic muscles and strengthen them, allowing the back to naturally heal. It can even encourage an out of place disc to go back into place, depending on severity.

After the pain is gone, it is important to maintain the healthy condition of the patient’s back. Stretching is essential and will help keep the muscles relaxed. Also, doing tai chi, the Chinese exercise and meditation, is very effective to strengthen the lower back and relax it.

BEST CURE FOR SCIATICA

Looking for the best relief for sciatica in Chennai, here’s why you should reach out to the expert Acupuncturist. A. Shaji Bharath from the best rated clinic Dr.Bharath’s Acu Heal. He is currently treating patients for a wide range of conditions. As a best acupuncture practitioner with 15 years of experience, and having worked with several orthopedician and neurologists, Acupuncturist. A. Shaji Bharath can create the treatment plan for the best cure for sciatica to manage the condition that's tailored to your needs, which can break a cycle of long-lasting pain in the back of leg and lower back. As the top acupuncture doctor in Chennai he has witnessed acupuncture doing wonders for people suffering from sciatica. The effectiveness rate increases several times just with one course of Acupuncture. So, take some time to find the right pain management and best remedy for acupuncture approach that suits you. Most of the people swear by acupuncture, citing it as a best cure and a ‘miracle’ in improving their quality of life. To contact the top acupuncture doctor in Chennai, Dial: +91 9884746916 or Visit: drbharathsacuheal.com for more details.

BEST ACUPUNCTURE DOCTOR NEAR ME

To choose the Best doctor for Acupuncture, it's important that the Acupuncturist should have a decade of experience and treated at least 1000 to 2000 patients.

You can also search for the Best Acupuncture Doctor near me or ask your primary care physician to refer an experienced Acupuncturist nearby. Once you find the Best Acupuncture Doctor in Chennai, you may go through their google reviews first and then fix an appointment with the doctor only when you are satisfied with the reviews.

The Best Acupuncture Doctor should address your concerns and help you feel more comfortable before your first session. Acupuncture usually takes numerous sessions or several weeks to get a complete cure in any ailment but within 3 or 4 sessions the patients will experience positive differences.

BEST ACUPUNCTURE CLINIC NEAR ME

There are numerous clinics popping up and it is sometimes skeptical to choose the best or even the safe one. To address such concerns, you can look into the following points to choose the best acupuncture clinic for treating sciatica. Acupuncture is also offered in hospital pain clinics and by healthcare organizations but it is ideal to visit the best Acupuncture Clinic. If you are not sure, it would be a good idea to contact your local doctor to see if they would be prepared to refer to the best rated acupuncture clinics.Acupuncture is offered in top rated acupuncture clinics near me because conventional treatment has failed or produces unacceptable side effects. Most of the best acupuncture clinics will spell out very clearly what type of acupuncture they practice and how professional they are - at present anyone can set themselves up as an acupuncturist but reputable practitioners will belong to an organization. So while you are filtering the best clinics for acupuncture that treats sciatica, you can look out for these factors.Treatment without surgery for sciatica is possible through acupuncture and it gives the best result.

We have been rewarded a 5-star rating from Google & Practo. You can also check the reviews there.

THE BOTTOM LINE

Most cases of sciatica do not require surgery. Time and self-care treatment are usually all that’s needed. However, if simple self-care treatments do not relieve your pain, Dial +91 9884746916 or Visit: drbharathsacuheal.com. Acupuncturist. A. Shaji Bharath,the best Acupuncturist in chennai can confirm the cause of your pain and gives the best remedy for sciatica.

SCIENTIFIC REFERENCES

• Han, C., Sun, Z. R. & Yue, J. H. (2014). Efficacy of Acupuncture Treatment on Nerve Root Sciatica. Liaoning Journal of Traditional Chinese Medicine. 41(2): 324.
• Qin Z., Liu X., Yao Q., Zhai Y., Liu Z. Acupuncture for treating sciatica: a systematic review protocol. BMJ Open. 2015;5(4) doi: 10.1136/bmjopen-2014-007498.e007498.
• Dorsher P. T. Acupuncture for chronic pain. Techniques in Regional Anesthesia and Pain Management. 2011;15(2):55–63. doi: 10.1053/j.trap.2011.04.002.

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FAQ:

What are the services provided for sciatica by Dr. Bharath’s Acu Heal?

Sciatica is a term used to describe nerve pain in the leg that is caused by irritation and/or compression of the sciatic nerve. Sciatica originates in the lower back, radiates deep into the buttock, and travels down the leg.

After a thorough investigation by pulse and tongue diagnosis, condition of the symptom is understood by the Acupuncturist.

The treatment will be given based on the disease’s chronicity and acuteness. In the first few sessions, positive changes in symptoms may be experienced and after several more sessions there are 90 to 100% chance that the patient be cured of the lower back pain which is the root cause for this symptom. This treatment will help in inducing sound sleep which will help and play a vital role in reversing this symptom. Simultaneously the patient will be advised on a diet and exercise regime.

What are the benefits of acupuncture for sciatica?

This is a drugless therapy and there are no side effects. During or after completing the course of treatment any form of medication if any can be stopped.

How many sessions do you need for sciatica?

It takes around 30 to 40 sessions in a period of 4 to 5 months.