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Sciatica or sciatic pain and symptoms typically result from a pinched or compressed spinal nerve root (exiting nerve). Your spinal cord stems from the base of your skull traveling through the cervical, thoracic and lumbar regions of your back. Between each vertebrae, at each level, a pair of spinal nerves exit through holes in the bone of the spine called the foramen on both sides of the spinal column. These nerves are called nerve roots or radicular nerves.
ConditionCausesSymptomsDiagnosis, Treatment & Recovery
The sciatic nerve, an extension of the exiting nerve, anatomically runs down both legs connecting to muscle and tendons in your hip, buttock, thigh, knee, calf and foot. The main cause of sciatica is a herniated disc compressing or pinching a nerve root. Sciatica can be present in one or both legs. Another common term used to describe this pain is radicular pain or radiculitis (nerve root inflammation). Radicular pain is usually secondary to inflammation or compression of a spinal nerve. This pain is often steady and deep and usually reproduced with certain positions and activities such as sitting or walking. Once a surgeon documents a nerve dysfunction, the condition is called radiculopathy.
The symptoms generally associated with sciatica occur on one side of your body affecting a leg. However, in severe cases of spinal stenosis, exiting nerves on each side of the spinal cord can be compressed and produce sciatic symptoms in both the arms legs, leaving patients in chronic debilitating pain. This sciatic nerve pain can manifest itself with some or all of the following symptoms:
A thorough and accurate diagnosis is key to selecting the best treatment options. A comprehensive diagnostic workup consists of the following:
Most cases of herniated disc do not require surgery. Clinical research suggests that the pain associated with a herniated disc often subsides without surgical intervention within 4-6 months. If any or all of these symptoms are present you should seek a professional medical opinion quickly.
Once conservative measures have been exhausted, and the patient is still in considerable pain after 6 months, then a minimally invasive procedure may be recommended. The following procedures has shown good results in minimizing in most cases and alleviating pain altogether in some cases:
Our Least Invasive Procedure patients’ can begin getting out of bed one hour after surgery and go home shortly afterwards. There will probably be some pain after the procedure and is usually localized to the incision site. Activity is gradually increased and patients are typically able to return to work around a week to two weeks. Keep in mind just because there is less or no pain, always consult your physician before beginning any physical work.
Our Minimally Invasive Spine Surgery patients’ post-operative recovery is much longer and may involve overnight stay in the hospital. Once your pain in under control you can go home. Dr. Rodriguez will give you medication to control your pain while you recover at home.
At home, you will need to continue to rest. You will be instructed on how to gradually increase your activity. You may still need to take the pain medications for a while. However, pain and discomfort should begin to reduce within a couple of weeks after surgery. The doctor will discuss with you other techniques for reducing pain and increasing flexibility before you leave for home. The doctor will also discuss with you a time frame for when you can resume basic activities such as walking, driving and light lifting, and when you can return to more advanced activities such as physical labor, sports and yard work.
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