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FIRST AID
- Pain
killers:
Ibuprofen (neurofen; brufen) is the best over-the-counter treatment for
siatic pain as it has antiinflammatory and analgesic properties. Your
doctor can prescribe stronger drugs if necessary. For maximum pain
killing effect analgesics should be taken on a regular basis every few
hours as per instructions on the packaging.
- Hot or
Cold packs:
A bag of frozen peas will do as a cold pack and a hot water bottle will
make a good hot pack. Place on the painful areas, particularly on the
back pain to gain relief. You may find one approach helps more than the
other. Cold reduces inflammation and heat encourages greater blood flow
to the area.
CONVENTIONAL TREATMENTS
If the pain persists or gets worse go and see your doctor for a
diagnosis and further treatment. Do also consider the alternative
therapies as well. They certainly have a lot to offer.
Because siatica has so many causes there is no single approach to
treatment that will guarantee to resolve it. A good approach is to
persuade your
doctor to arrange an MRI scan of your lower back to check out for a
prolapsed disc, spinal stenosis and a tumour. The remaining causes are
less serious and can be approached via a number of methods.
- Pain
relief:
Your doctor will have a wide range of pain killers he/she can prescribe
to help relieve symptoms. You may be sent away with these to see how
you get on. It is a fact that 80% of all acute back pain resolves
completely within 6 weeks and so it may just be a waiting game.
- Physiotherapy:
This will be the most likely conventional recommendation from your
doctor. Physiotherapists will often give excercises to improve muscle
tone and will stretch and massage muscles for pain relief or use
ultrasound. This approach can aggravate symptoms in the case of a
prolapsed disc and physical manipulation should not be used in this
particular circumstance. Physiotherapy is best used for piriformis
syndrome, sacroiliac strain and trigger points.
- Steroid
injections:
This would only be performed for pain relief in the case of a
prolapsed disc, spinal stenosis or a tumour. This involves injecting a
steroid solution into your back in the region of the problem under
medical supervision. this normally performed in hospital under the
guidance of a consultant. This treatment can instantly relieve pain but
may only last for a limited period of time.
- Surgery:
Ultimately surgery may be necessary if other conventional approaches
and alternative therapies have not worked. It should be regarded as a
last resort. It is used in the case of a prolapsed disc,
spinal
stenosis or a tumour. Depending on the cause of the siatica, surgery is
used to widen the canal through which the spinal chord passes and thus
stop the aggravation and pain. There are always risks to consider with
surgery and your surgeon will outline these to you. Risks include: A
reaction to the anaesthetic; injury to the soft tissues surrounding the
spine causing long term pain; injury to the spinal chord resulting in
paralysis or loss of some bodily functions.
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