Surgery For Sciatic Pain
Surgery For Sciatic Pain
Sciatic pain can be identified by pain and tenderness down the leg which
may be due to inflammation of sciatic nerve. The pain usually starts in
the back and extends down of the legs resulting from acute nerve
compression.
Major causes of sciatic pain are slipped/prolapsed disk, muscle tension
(Piriformis syndrome), lumbar spinal stenosis, degenerative disc disease
such as osteoarthritis and spondylolisthesis. Sciatic pain can give rise
to pain in low back, buttock, thigh, knee and foot. The diagnosis is
based on the physical examination, medical history of the patient and
certain diagnostic tests such as x-ray, CT and MRI scan and Discogramn.
In most people, sciatic pain gets better on its own and heals within few
days or weeks. However, in some people, pain is severe and needs to be
treated. There are various treatment options for sciatic pain including
surgical and non-surgical options. The non-surgical options for treating
sciatic pain are as follows:
* Application of ice or heat
* Medications such as non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs including
naproxen, ibuprofen and aspirin which can relieve pain and inflammation
and steroids to decrease swelling and inflammation of the nerves.
* Epidural steroid injections are used to decrease the inflammation if
sciatic pain is severe.
* There are numerous alternative treatments for sciatic pain which can
effectively relieve the sciatic pain.
* These therapies include massage therapy, acupuncture and chiropractic
manipulation.
* Physical therapy and exercises are also found to be useful for treating
the sciatic pain.
If the sciatic pain is extremely severe and does not heal within 6-112
weeks, then spine surgery is recommended. Depending on the cause and
duration of sciatic pain, surgery for sciatic pain is recommended.
Generally there are two types of surgical procedures suggested for
sciatic pain including an open decompression (lumbar laminectomy) or
microdecompression (microdiscectomy). When the sciatic pain results from
the disc herniation, microdiscectomy surgery for sciatic pain is
recommended. It is suggested after 4-6 weeks if patient does not
experience relief by non-surgical options. However, this surgery may be
considered before 4-6 weeks if the patient experiences severe pain and
disability. If there is progressive weakness in the legs or sudden loss
of bladder or bowel control, then urgent surgery is required. About 90 to
95% of patients experience pain relief after this surgical procedure.
Lumbar laminectomy or open decompression is another type of surgery for
sciatic pain. Sciatic pain may be caused by lumbar spinal stenosis. When
patient experiences the sciatic pain beyond his tolerance level, this
surgery is recommended. The laminectomy is preformed to remove a tiny
portion of the bone over the nerve root or disc material from under the
nerve root which can offer the nerve root enough space and a better
healing environment. This surgery can effectively relieve the pain and
improve the function in the patients with sciatic pain.
A new surgery called as the X stop is designed to reduce the symptoms of
lumbar spinal stenosis which is FDA approved. This procedure includes
inserting an implant in the very back of the spine which can prevent the
patient from leaning backwards; this position can typically cause pain in
the patients with lumbar spinal stenosis.
Surgery for sciatic pain is generally elective and it depends on patients
wish to undergo surgery or not. It is usually recommended for the
patients with spinal stenosis or herniated disc.
