Signs of inflammation of the sciatic nerve and how to treat it. Causes of the disease. Why is this nerve needed and where is it located?

Inflammation sciatic nerve(sciatica) can occur unexpectedly even in people who consider themselves healthy. The sciatic nerve is the longest in the human body. It begins in the lumbar region, passes through the tailbone, the back of the pelvis and both lower limbs, reaches the feet. Therefore, pain and sensory disturbances with sciatica affect not only lumbar region, but also spreads to the legs along the entire nerve.

Inflammation itself is not a separate disease and usually serves as a manifestation of another pathology.

Causes of sciatica

• Full or partial displacement intervertebral disc, accompanied by pinching of the sciatic nerve, narrowing spinal canal, growths on the spine;
• Piriformis syndrome;
• Damage to organs or the muscular system of the pelvis due to injury or heavy physical exertion;
• Hypothermia, infectious processes;
• Presence of neoplasms.

Symptoms of inflammation of the sciatic nerve

The main symptom of this condition is pain in the area of ​​the sciatic nerve. As a rule, it is localized on one side of the body, and on the opposite side, numbness is felt in the corresponding area, which is periodically replaced by tingling. But it happens that both legs are involved in the process at the same time.

Intensity pain manifestations may be different. At the beginning of inflammation they are weakly expressed, intensifying with physical activity, sneezing, laughing. As the disorder progresses discomfort grow, are constantly present, becoming especially intense at night. The patient may wake up from attacks. In severe cases, the patient cannot move due to acute pain.

Diagnostics

If symptoms appear, you should consult a neurologist. The doctor will conduct general examination. With sciatica, there may be decreased mobility of the joints of the knees or feet, weakened or abnormal neurological reflexes, and increased pain when trying to lift a straight leg upward.

General and biochemical analysis blood, x-rays, performed in different projections in a standing and lying position, magnetic resonance imaging. Sometimes you may need to additionally visit another specialist - a rheumatologist, vascular surgeon, or vertebrologist.

Urgent consultation with a doctor is required if:

• Against the background of pain, body temperature rises to 38 o C;
• Swelling or reddened skin appears on the back;
• The pain gradually spreads to new areas of the body;
• There is severe numbness in the pelvic area, hips, legs, making it difficult to walk;
• There is a burning sensation when urinating, and there are problems with holding urine and feces.

Treatment of sciatica

The set of procedures is selected differently for each patient and depends on the specific symptoms and severity of the condition. It includes:

• Mode. During the period of acute pain, the patient needs to lie on a bed with a hard mattress, and also limit physical activity until the inflammation subsides;
• Medicines. Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, muscle relaxants, and vitamins are used. Ointments and gels are applied topically irritating effect which relieve pain and reduce spastic syndrome;
• Physiotherapy. Warming compresses, heating, electro- or phonophoresis are prescribed. When used in combination medicines(antispasmodics, anti-inflammatory, muscle relaxants, vitamins) with physiotherapy, their effect increases significantly;
• Massage. Begin to carry out after subsiding acute process. It helps reduce pain, increases the conductivity of the damaged nerve, improves blood supply and lymph flow, and prevents muscle wasting;
• Physiotherapy. After determining the cause of inflammation of the sciatic nerve, an exercise program is individually selected for the patient. Some of them need to be performed already in the first days of illness, while lying in bed. As motor activity is restored, the load is gradually increased. Activities in the pool are also recommended. Water reduces pain, relieves muscle spasms, facilitates movement;
• Surgical treatment. Indicated in cases where conservative methods do not work and expressed pain syndrome becomes chronic, as well as with severe disorders of the pelvic organs.

Prevention

To prevent inflammation of the sciatic nerve, it is necessary to pay attention to maintaining the tone of the back muscles. Should be attended to and monitored correct posture. When working sedentarily, take regular breaks and stretch.

It is necessary to avoid injuries, do not lift heavy objects and avoid hypothermia. It is also necessary to contact specialists in time to treat pathologies that cause sciatica.

Which doctor should I contact?

If you have inflammation of the sciatic nerve, you should consult a neurologist. Additionally, you may need to consult a neurosurgeon, vertebrologist (for diseases of the spine), vascular surgeon (for differential diagnosis with damage to the vessels of the limb). The treatment also involves a physiotherapist, a specialist in physical therapy and massage, you can also contact an osteopath.

Video version of the article:

About sciatica in the program “Live Healthy!” with Elena Malysheva:

In the “Health” program with Elena Malysheva about paralytic sciatica syndrome:

The sciatic nerve is the largest nerve in our body (its width is almost the same as the width of the little finger). It goes on both sides lumbar region spine (lower back) and eventually goes down to the soles of the feet. Any type of compression or compression of this nerve is usually referred to as “sciatica”. The term "sciatica" describes symptoms of pain in the legs, as well as tingling, numbness or weakness, extending from the lumbar region to the buttocks and beyond.

Sciatica is not medical diagnosis. This is a symptom of an underlying disease.

Symptoms of inflammation of the sciatic nerve

Sciatica is often characterized by one or more of the following symptoms:

• constant pain in one buttock or leg (rarely occurs in both legs);
• when sitting, the pain intensifies;
• burning or tingling down the leg;
• weakness, numbness in the leg or foot, impaired motor function of the leg or foot;
• sharp pain when standing up and walking.

Sciatic pain can be intermittent and irritating or constant and disabling. Specific symptoms inflammation of the sciatic nerve also varies widely depending on the condition that caused the sciatica (for example, a herniated disc in the lumbar spine).

While symptoms can be very painful, permanent sciatic nerve damage (tissue damage) is rare.

Sciatic nerve and sciatica

Symptoms of sciatica occur when the sciatic nerve becomes inflamed.

The sciatic nerve is composed of individual nerve roots that begin to branch as they exit the lumbar spine and eventually form the sciatic nerve.

The sciatic nerve originates in the lumbar spine at the level of the third lumbar segment (L3).

At every level of the lumbar spine nerve root emerges from the inner part of the spine and then combines with others to form the massive sciatic nerve.

The sciatic nerve runs from the lumbar spine down to the back of both legs.

Part of the sciatic nerve then branches into each leg to innervate certain areas of the leg: for example, the buttocks, thigh, leg, foot, toes.

Symptoms of sciatic nerve inflammation (leg pain, numbness, tingling, weakness, possibly a number of symptoms radiating to the foot) vary depending on the location of the sciatic nerve compression. For example, compression of the lumbar segment 5 (L5) nerve causes weakness in extension thumb feet and potentially ankle weakness.

Course of pain syndrome with sciatica

The likelihood of developing sciatic nerve symptoms increases with age. Sciatica rarely occurs before age 20, with peak incidence occurring around age 50.

Often, certain events or injuries do not cause sciatica, but can contribute to its occurrence.

Most people suffering from sciatica begin to feel better after a few days or weeks. However, in some cases, the pain from a compressed nerve can be severe and debilitating.

There are several symptoms that require immediate medical attention and possibly surgery. For example, in the case of progressive neurological symptoms(eg leg weakness) and/or bowel dysfunction or Bladder(so-called "cauda equina syndrome").

Since inflammation of the sciatic nerve and its accompanying symptoms are caused by an underlying disease, treatment is focused on identifying and treating the underlying pathology. Most often, conservative methods are used in treatment.

For some people, the pain can be severe and disabling; for others, it can be infrequent and annoying, but tends to get worse.

These symptoms cannot be confused with any others, these sensations cannot be ignored. Hellish pain spreading throughout the body below the lower back, shooting into the buttock and thigh, piercing the leg to the very toes as if with a hot nail - many of us know this condition firsthand.

The thickest and longest one is to blame for all this torment. nerve fiber our body called the sciatic nerve. The symptoms described above are due to its anatomical features.

He comes out spinal cord in the area of ​​the sacrum and descends to the foot. Numerous branches of the sciatic nerve extend to all the major muscles of the leg.

Thus, it is the sciatic nerve that is responsible for the full motor activity of our lower extremities. In a normal state, this nerve does not make itself felt in any way, despite its impressive dimensions. But when for some reason it becomes inflamed, acute symptoms, which we described at the beginning of the article.

This disease - inflammation of the sciatic nerve - is also called sciatic neuralgia or sciatica (one of the variations of radiculitis). Today we will look in detail at the disease sciatica, symptoms and treatment at home.

Inflammation of the sciatic nerve: symptoms and causes

The main sign of inflammation of the sciatic nerve is pain. Burning, sharp, reminiscent of a toothache (the nature is the same - an inflamed nerve), only greatly intensified. The pain is felt in the back just below the lower back, radiates to the buttock, thigh, and cuts through the entire length of the leg to the heel.

The pain becomes almost unbearable when walking, moving, or performing various strains (coughing, sneezing, lifting weights). At rest, the pain takes on an aching, pulling character, sometimes giving way to a feeling of heaviness.

Sleep is disturbed because a person cannot find a comfortable position. In addition to pain, weakness, numbness and tingling in the leg, and a feeling of “shaking” when walking may occur.

The main cause of inflammation of the sciatic nerve is pinching caused by various degenerative processes developing in the spine. Herniated intervertebral discs, osteochondrosis, etc. cause deformation of bone tissue and its pathological growths. Growths and bulges unplanned by nature put pressure on the nerve and pinch it. The result is that the nerve responds terrible pain and inflammation.

Infection Very often, sciatica occurs as a complication after undergoing viral infection– influenza, ARVI and others. Inflammation of the sciatic nerve can be provoked by diseases such as tuberculosis, typhoid, malaria, scarlet fever, brucellosis, syphilis, gonorrhea, rheumatism, as well as various purulent inflammatory processes in the body. The infection enters the nerve through the lymphatic and blood vessels or directly from nearby foci.

Joint diseases With coxarthrosis hip joints deformation of the bone tissue is also observed, creating pressure on the nerve and causing acute pain. In this case, the pain does not have a clear localization and can appear both in the thigh area and nearby knee joint, which often makes diagnosis difficult.

Other risk factors and causes of sciatica:

• a poorly executed injection in the buttock, when the needle pierces a nerve cord
• hypothermia
• various injuries
• flat feet, which entails skeletal imbalance
• posture disorders, spinal curvature
• spinal overload

Treatment methods for sciatica

Sciatica is a disease that you are unlikely to be able to endure, as they say, “on your feet.” Strong pain practically deprives a person of the ability to move normally even around the apartment, so it is impossible to continue living in a busy work rhythm. Urgent and effective measures are needed.

The treatment regimen for inflammation of the sciatic nerve includes the following basic points:

1. Anesthesia.
2. Elimination of inflammation.
3. Treatment of the underlying disease - the root cause of neuralgia.

Relieving pain is necessary first so that a person can lead a relatively acceptable lifestyle. Doctors prescribe strong painkillers, both for internal use and in the form of ointments, creams and topical gels. In very acute cases, the inflamed nerve is blocked using novocaine (lidocaine) injections. This procedure should be performed by an experienced doctor. The blockade relieves pain quite long term.

To treat the inflammatory process, drugs from the NSAID line (non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs) are prescribed. They work effectively, have an analgesic effect, but at the same time they have a very serious side effect, having a destructive effect on gastrointestinal system, liver and kidneys. Therefore, they should never be abused.

Eliminating the root cause of the disease is the key to successful treatment. WITH infectious diseases cope with antibacterial and antiviral therapy. To eliminate pinched nerve roots, there are many techniques: manual therapy, massage, spinal traction, physiotherapy, mud therapy, acupuncture, physiotherapy and others.

A special place is occupied by the treatment of sciatica folk remedies. For a successful result, it is best to use the entire range of healing measures and remedies, of course, after a detailed consultation with the treating doctor.

Treatment of inflammation of the sciatic nerve with folk remedies

As we have already noted, traditional medications prescribed for sciatica have many side effects and contraindications. In such a situation, one cannot neglect the extensive experience of traditional medicine, which has a wide arsenal of effective recipes.

We would like to introduce you to some of them. Most of the products involve external use - these are various rubbings, baths, ointments and substances for compresses. But there are also recipes for internal use. We remind you that using them without consulting a specialist is risky: problems with gastrointestinal tract, kidneys and liver.

Recipes for oral administration

• Two teaspoons of seeds horse chestnut pour 0.5 liters of boiling water, put on water bath for 15 minutes, strain, cool. Drink 100 ml before each meal.
• Pour two tablespoons of dried calendula flowers with two glasses of boiling water, leave in a tightly closed container for at least two hours, strain. Take half a glass before meals 3-4 times a day.

• Pour a tablespoon of dry crushed burdock root into one glass of Cahors. Heat the solution over low heat for no more than 5 minutes (do not bring to a boil). Strain. Divide the resulting portion of tincture into two doses - before breakfast and before dinner. Prepare a fresh batch the next day.

External Recipes

Good results in the treatment of inflammation of the sciatic nerve with folk remedies are given by warm baths with herbal decoctions. But remember: lying in a hot bath is contraindicated for patients with heart pathologies, varicose veins and women with gynecological diseases. Consult your doctors!

• Horseradish bath. Fresh root Grind horseradish weighing about 100 grams in a meat grinder, place in a gauze bag and place in a warm bath. Take a bath for no more than 5 minutes.

• Bath with pine shoots. Pour three liters of boiling water over a kilogram of fresh young pine shoots, then simmer covered for another 10 minutes. Leave for 4 hours, strain. Add to a warm (not hot!) bath in the proportion of 1 liter of decoction per 15 liters of water. The procedure should not last longer than 15 minutes.

Rubbing

• Dry white acacia flowers (100g) pour 300g of vodka, close, put in a warm place for 7 days. Then strain. Rub the tincture into sore spots as needed.

• Dry white lilac flowers (2 tablespoons) pour 300 ml of alcohol or vodka. Leave for 7 days in a dark place, then strain. Rub into sore spots 3 – 4 times a day.

• Squeeze the juice from the black radish, add honey in the proportion of 1 part honey to 3 parts juice, mix well. Rub the sore areas with massage movements for several minutes until the mixture is absorbed into the skin.

• Twenty leaves bay leaf pour a glass of vodka and leave for three days in a dark place. Rub the tincture into painful areas to reduce pain.

• Anesthetic mixture. Dissolve a blister of analgin tablets (at least 10 tablets) in a glass of vodka, add a teaspoon of 5% iodine solution, and leave for three days in a dark place. Treat painful areas with tincture and tie with woolen cloth until the morning.

• Prepare a tincture of triple cologne (standard bottle) and fresh dandelion flowers, keep in a dark place for three days. Rub the product into the sore area before going to bed. Repeat until the condition eases.

• Take 300 g of liquid honey and melt it in a water bath. Add 50 ml of alcohol, pour it in a thin stream, stirring constantly. Cool, mix well. Use the prepared mixture to massage both painful areas and the entire back. The massage should last at least half an hour.

Compresses

Treatment of sciatica with folk remedies includes compresses that will help significantly improve the condition and reduce pain.

• Heat a piece of beeswax in a water bath to give it a soft consistency. Then form a cake out of it, place it on the painful area, covering the top with polyethylene or wax paper. Wrap the compress in a woolen cloth or cover it with a layer of cotton wool and bandage it. Keep the compress all night until the morning. Repeat the procedure daily for 7 days. After a week's break, the course can be repeated.

• Knead a kind of dough from one glass of flour and a tablespoon of liquid honey, roll it into a flat cake, then make a compress, as in the previous recipe.

• Pour 1/2 liter of sunflower oil into an enamel pan, add 100 g of salt (preferably coarsely ground) and 100 g of crushed fresh leaves nettles Bring the mixture to a boil and add 50 g of currant leaves and chopped burdock root. Stir again and bring to a boil. Do not boil, remove from heat, cool. The resulting drug is used for compresses.

• Scald several cabbage leaves with boiling water (for greater elasticity) and carefully place them on the painful area. Tie the top with woolen cloth and cellophane. Leave for several hours. Through a short time The compress can be repeated with fresh leaves.

• Mix fresh horseradish root, crushed to a pulp, with grated potatoes, add a tablespoon of honey. Stir until smooth. To lubricated by any vegetable oil put clean gauze on the skin, then spread medicinal mixture, cover with another layer of gauze, tie with cellophane and wrap in a warm cloth. The compress gives a burning sensation, this is normal. You can repeat the procedure every other day - it is not recommended more often, because... you can get burned.

• Prepare a solution of 1 part turpentine and 2 parts water. Soak a crust of black bread with this solution and apply tightly to problem area, wrap the top with thin plastic film. The maximum duration of the procedure is 15 minutes, but if the burning sensation is very strong, it must be stopped immediately. The product is effective, but there is a danger of skin burns.

• Grate medium-sized raw potatoes and squeeze out the juice. Add a teaspoon of kerosene to the remaining potato cake. Stir until it reaches the consistency of sour cream. Place the medicine in an even layer between two gauze sheets and apply to the sore spot, previously generously lubricated sunflower oil. Use with caution, there is a risk of burns!

Therapeutic exercises for sciatica

The sciatic nerve is recognized as the largest in the human body. It is formed as a result of the interweaving of three sacral and two lumbar roots, thanks to this property the lower limbs acquire sensitive and motor functions. In medicine, there is such a disease as sciatica. It is this that affects the sciatic nerve and causes its inflammation.

What is sciatica

This pathological condition which is accompanied by intense pain. Inflammation of the sciatic nerve, the symptoms of which are detected fairly quickly, is considered very unpleasant neurological disease. At the first signs of illness, it is recommended to immediately consult a doctor.

With sciatica, the roots of the lumbar and sacral region, which are located in the spinal cord, so the pain spreads to lower section backs and posterior region hips This is how inflammation of the sciatic nerve can be recognized. Symptoms, treatment, diagnosis of the disease have been studied in detail, any intervention is carried out under strict medical supervision.

The causes of the development of the disease most often are hypothermia and pinched nerves that develop due to diseases of the spine. People with diabetes and joint inflammation are also susceptible to developing sciatica and are at risk.

Symptoms of the disease

The main sign of the development of inflammation is intense pain, which provokes a decrease in the sensitivity of the legs and disrupts full motor activity. The nature of negative feelings often varies. It can be stabbing, burning, sharp, nagging pain. As a rule, a person suffers from attacks, which are followed by a period of relative calm.

According to medical observations, a person experiences discomfort on one side - left or right, with the exception of bilateral sciatica. When the destructive process is accompanied by intense pain, the patient experiences severe suffering. Any attempt to perform a simple step initiates an exacerbation of the disease.

In some cases, the disease manifests itself with moderate symptoms. It has been noticed that this inflammation of the sciatic nerve (symptoms and treatment do not differ from the common ones) is accompanied by loss of sensation in the legs, numbness and tingling. Despite weak degree severity of the disease, it is important to provide timely medical assistance.

Loss of the ability to fully bend and straighten the legs, raise and lower the foot, urinary and fecal incontinence - all this Negative consequences, which threatens inflammation of the sciatic nerve. Symptoms and treatment of the disease are a reason to immediately consult a doctor.

Diagnostic measures

To make a diagnosis it is necessary comprehensive examination which consists of a number of activities:

• Examination by a neurologist, in severe cases- rheumatologist, vertebrologist, surgeon specializing in vascular pathologies.
• Tomography.
• Clinical tests.
• X-ray images spinal column in a sitting and lying position.

How to get rid of the disease

Treatment tactics are developed taking into account the individual characteristics of each patient. Therapeutic techniques may contain the following activities:

• drug treatment;
• physical culture (therapeutic);
• massage techniques;
• physiotherapy.

Observance makes a great contribution to recovery. correct mode day. The patient must change his habits and sleep on a hard surface. Physical activity should be kept to a minimum until it disappears acute inflammation sciatic nerve (symptoms and treatment are always interrelated with each other). When the patient suffers from intense pain, he is prescribed bed rest.

Drug treatment

In the treatment of sciatica, anti-inflammatory drugs that belong to the non-steroidal group are often used. The principle of their action is based on the inhibition of a special enzyme that promotes the synthesis of prostanoids. All medications have an analgesic effect:

• "Sulindak".
• "Diclofenac".
• "Ibuprofen."
• "Ortofen".
• "Naproxen."
• "Indomethacin".
• "Ketorolac".

It should be understood that all medications in this group have a negative effect on the gastric mucosa, help reduce blood clotting, and negatively affect the functioning of the kidneys. The prescription of the drug is carried out with restrictions.

The modern pharmaceutical industry has developed more gentle drugs that do not irritate the digestive tract:

• "Movalis".
• "Arcoxia".
• "Nimesulide".

If the negative feelings are different excessive intensity, the doctor may prescribe a short course hormonal drugs to eliminate inflammation of the sciatic nerve (symptoms). Treatment is medicinal, complicated. Such pharmacological agents They allow relief of pain, but are not able to eliminate the cause of inflammation itself. Therapy may cause side effects.

The presented list of remedies allows you to alleviate the course of a disease such as inflammation of the sciatic nerve (symptoms). Treatment with medications can be supplemented with vitamin complexes. A diagnosis of sciatica requires taking vitamins B and E. Medicines that improve metabolism and help relax muscles are also prescribed.

Ointments and injections

Injections are prescribed in case of a sharp exacerbation. In addition, this technique is used when conservative methods turned out to be ineffective.

Professional influence is the basis successful elimination pathology such as inflammation of the sciatic nerve (symptoms). Treatment - injections and ointments - should be prescribed only by a specialist. Steroid drugs that relieve inflammation are placed as close as possible to the sciatic nerve. This guarantees a quick effect on the affected area.

For external effects, special patches, ointments, and gels are used. Among the effective medicines the following can be distinguished:

• "Finalgon"
• "Virapin."
• "Naftalgin".
• "Viprosal."
• "Saliniment".

The acute form of the inflammatory process is well relieved with ointments with propolis, turpentine, and mustard oil. Similar drugs activate the nerve, increase blood circulation, warm the affected area.

Surgical intervention

Surgeon intervention is required if the functioning pelvic organs observed serious violations. When diagnosing pathologies intervertebral discs microsurgical operation is carried out. During a microdiscectomy, a fragment of a displaced disc that is putting pressure on the sciatic nerve is removed.

Physiotherapeutic manipulations

Massage treatment is carried out if the acute phase of inflammation has come to an end. Using such techniques, you can improve blood circulation, reduce pain, stabilize nerve conduction and prevent muscle hypertrophy.

Among physiotherapeutic procedures, phonophoresis, electrophoresis, heating, and compresses are especially effective.

Traditional medicine methods

Combining the secrets of traditional medicine and official ways treatment allows you to increase the success of treatment many times over. Most often, the following recipes are used to treat inflammation of the sciatic nerve:

1. Massage with bee products. Natural honey heated in a water bath, mixed with alcohol (50 ml of liquid per 300 g of product). When the mass has cooled down a little, the back is rubbed. The duration of exposure is at least 30 minutes. Instead of honey base you can use beeswax, making warm compresses. A cake of wax is placed on the sore spot, covered with film and a warm scarf and left overnight. This is how acute inflammation of the sciatic nerve (symptoms) is eliminated. Treatment at home using honey is highly effective.
2. Warm baths with oatmeal. Treatment of sciatica with similar procedures helps relieve pain. One bath will require a kilogram of resin. Session duration is 30 minutes.
3. Elderberry, chamomile. Plant flowers are placed in a fabric bag, which is dipped in boiling water and placed on the affected area as a lotion.
4. Horseradish. The root of the plant is ground on a grater and placed on gauze. The matter is wrapped in a bag and placed in a warm bath. The procedure relieves pain associated with inflammation of the sciatic nerve (symptoms).

Treatment with folk remedies combined with traditional therapy, always brings positive results.

Patient opinions

Accumulated practical experience official and non-traditional influences aimed at curing an ailment such as inflammation of the sciatic nerve (symptoms). The treatment, reviews of which are given below, turned out to be quite effective:

• Warm baths are considered very beneficial. In combination with medications, they completely relieve pain and help to bend and straighten the limb normally. Regular procedures bring long-awaited peace to your legs and back.
• At neglected form disease requires a course of injections. The injections are painful, but they help provide significant relief.
• Drug treatment is excellent at controlling the symptoms of the disease, particularly pain. But it often comes with side effects that cause a lot of anxiety. It is better to discuss your medication intake with your doctor to choose the safest one.

Instead of completion

Modern techniques make it possible to completely eliminate inflammation of the sciatic nerve (symptoms). Treatment - drugs, injections, massage, physiotherapy - is highly effective and well blocks pain.

The sciatic nerve is the largest single nerve in our body. Starting from the lower vertebra, it passes through the buttock, along the back of the thigh into the foot. Plays a vital role in transmitting signals from the spinal cord to the leg muscles. Any pain and other neuralgic symptoms associated with this area are called sciatica.

Pain due to inflammation is observed different intensity, the left or Right side bodies. They manifest themselves in shooting discomfort from the lower back to one or both legs.

An exact answer to the question of why the nerve becomes inflamed and how long it lasts unpleasant condition no one can give. The disease can arise as a result of an infection, injury, or side effect diseases of the spine. The pain goes away after complex treatment, including physical procedures, drug therapy and other measures. An experienced doctor can tell you what to do in each specific case.

Symptoms of inflammation of the sciatic nerve

If the sciatic nerve is inflamed, the patient may feel something similar to an electrical discharge passing through the entire leg, and the disease also manifests itself in numbness and tingling, and in women the right side is usually affected, and in men the left.

Chronic inflammation, if not treated in time, can seriously ruin a patient’s life, limiting his mobility and reducing his ability to self-care.

How to determine that you are not just tired and overworked, but need qualified medical consultation? In addition to pain, there are also a number of typical signs sciatica:

• lower back pain radiating to one or both buttocks, thighs, legs;
• pain and other symptoms are felt along the entire length of the sciatic nerve;
• the nature of the pain can be described as soft, dull, sharp, pulsating, painful, piercing;
• sudden movements, sneezing, coughing and laughter can worsen the patient’s condition;
• muscle weakness of the lower extremities;
• the sensations intensify when performing any movements.

Causes

Experts usually do not distinguish inflammation of the sciatic nerve in separate disease, most often this is a consequence, a “mask” under which other ailments are hidden. That is why, when diagnosing, doctors should first of all pay attention to the main reasons that can lead to this neuralgia:

• hypothermia is one of the main causes of the disease. Creating drafts, walking in short shorts with a bare back, sitting on concrete parapets and metal pipes does not come easy for our health;
• the most popular reason for the onset of the inflammatory process in men and women. IN in this case pathology occurs due to degenerative diseases or injury to the intervertebral disc, spinal stenosis, spondylolisthesis;
• intervertebral disc herniation;
• injury to the lower extremities (sprain, fracture);
• infectious diseases (typhoid, rabies, tetanus, tuberculosis, syphilis, etc.);
• damage by mercury, arsenic, overdose of certain medications and other chemical compounds;
• diabetes.

Treatment of inflammation

It is quite logical that patients are interested in how and how to treat such an unpleasant illness, but in this case it is strictly not recommended to self-medicate. Any measures should be taken after consultation with qualified specialist, which can not only relieve pain, but also cure the cause of its occurrence.

It is important to know which doctor can help with sciatica! If you suspect inflammation, you should contact an experienced neurologist.

In general, treatment methods are divided into several groups:

• Conservative therapy consists of taking effective means, allowing to relieve inflammation, swelling, reduce pain, and get rid of dysfunction. Currently used analgesics, non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, diuretics (relieve swelling), muscle relaxants (relieve muscle spasms). Thus, you can be treated with local remedies (ointments, creams, patches), oral (tablets and capsules), parenteral (injections);
• radical treatment methods involve surgical intervention and are used in the most extreme cases;
• physiotherapeutic procedures, consisting of the use of UHF, massage, and other techniques, are used after the period of exacerbation has passed. They relieve the disease, although not quickly, but effectively. The duration of treatment depends on the diagnosis, severity of the disease, and individual characteristics.

There are also dozens of different methods for treating inflammation of the nervous cycle, including traditional and ethnoscience, acupuncture, manual therapy, treatment with leeches and others.

However, we should not forget that the sciatic nerve is the largest in the body, and an incorrect approach to restoring its functions can lead to the most severe consequences, up to the loss of limbs. Therefore, we do not recommend joking with your health and getting involved in dubious experiments.

Drug treatment

At the core drug treatment sciatica is the use of drugs NSAID groups. Their reception is only permissible short period time (no more than 2 weeks) due to strong side effects on blood clotting and kidney function. However, thanks to such medications, an analgesic effect is achieved and inflammation is relieved.

The most commonly used are Diclofenac, Ibuprofen, Ketorolac and others.

After a period of exacerbation of neuralgia has passed, patients are transferred to gentler drugs taken in the form of tablets (Arcoxia and their analogues).
To boost immunity, doctors use vitamin complexes When prescribing vitamins B and E, it is recommended to enrich the diet with natural and healthy foods.

Injections

Treatment inflammatory processes in the sciatic nerve possible with injections steroid drugs. They are injected in close proximity to the inflamed area.

What injections for inflammation to give in each specific case should be determined by your attending physician. After all, any medications have a number of contraindications, side effects, therefore it is only possible short-term use. After completing the course of treatment, the pain subsides for a period from a couple of weeks to several years.

Blockade for inflammation of the sciatic nerve

If inflammation of the sciatic nerve is accompanied by unbearable pain, a treatment method such as a blockade may be prescribed. It allows you to relieve discomfort and restore muscle mobility.

An anti-inflammatory drug is injected together with an analgesic directly into the painful area. However, due to the possibility of touching and damaging a nerve during the operation, it should be performed only by an experienced specialist, and the patient should carefully weigh all the risks and benefits before signing consent for the procedure.

Massage

Massage Therapy – Non-Surgical holistic approach, releasing muscles and tissues constrained by spasm, opening energy channels body, improves blood circulation, allowing you to effectively fight pain.

During sessions held experienced specialist It’s not easy what happens on the massage table general relaxation, there is a surge of endorphins in the body, general improvement health status. Therefore, the answer to the question of whether it is possible to do massage during inflammation is definitely positive.

Ointments

Warming ointments for the treatment of inflammation - effective remedy For home use. Typically, turpentine is used for such purposes, camphor ointment, as well as beeswax, mustard oil. They help relieve spasms, serve as excellent warming agents, and improve blood flow in the affected area.

Also among pharmaceutical ointments Finalgon, Viprosal, Naftalgin and others are successful against inflammation.

Leeches

Treatment with leeches can provide positive impact in the treatment of sciatica, eliminate stagnant processes, relieve swelling. However, in no case should they be used without the supervision and participation of a specialist, in otherwise may arise side effects, complications.

• Only special medical leeches are allowed for use;
• the duration of the procedure is adjusted individually;
• the skin is first wiped with clean gauze, without any strong-smelling disinfectants;
• leeches are not placed at random, but in strict accordance with the scheme drawn up by the doctor.

Treatment of inflammation of the sciatic nerve with folk remedies

As a complement to the above options, it is possible to use folk remedies to treat inflammation in the sciatic nerve. These include taking herbal infusions that have anti-inflammatory properties, such as burdock, nettle, thyme, cabbage and willow.

However traditional methods should be used with great caution, especially if we're talking about about sciatica during pregnancy, because during pregnancy and lactation many herbs are strictly contraindicated.

Treatment at home

The decision to treat inflammation at home without consulting a specialist is very risky. After all, the problem that has arisen indicates the presence of other more serious illnesses. Before getting a consultation with a qualified neurologist who can tell you what and how to treat your specific case, you can do the following at home:

• avoid sudden movements;
• take an anti-inflammatory non-steroidal drug(Ibuprofen, Diclofenac). However, it is permissible to take such medications without medical advice for more than three days;
• do light massage, rubbing and stroking movements.

Consequences of inflammation of the sciatic nerve

As a rule, patients are interested in whether it is possible to go to acute period diseases, and whether it is possible to heat the injured area.

As first aid for sciatica, you should adhere to the following recommendations:

• The patient should be placed on his stomach on a flat, hard surface, preferably a thick carpet. In this case, you should do without a pillow; you should place a tightly rolled fabric roll under your shoulders;
• the patient should be covered with a warm but light blanket that will not get tangled between the legs;
• on bottom part It is not recommended to place your back and legs warm compresses after all, heat can increase swelling;
• at the most as soon as possible should be called ambulance or contact a neurologist who can come on call.

It is important to know! Without special education It is strictly not recommended to use any other measures.

The duration of sciatica depends on its cause. Hernia, dislocation, shingles, degenerative diseases of the lumbar spine can cause temporary problems and pain lasting from a few days to a couple. Chronic sciatica, which can only be treated surgically, is also possible.