Sciatica occurs when a nerve root is being pinched and pain goes down the side or back of a person’s leg. It is a burning, searing pain that can feel like an electrical sensation along with pins and needles. At any one point in time, approximately 1% of Americans are suffering from sciatica due to a pinched nerve from a lumbar disc herniation.
Thankfully, over 90% of those suffering from sciatica can receive effective nonoperative treatment, avoiding surgery and getting back to a functional pain-free existence. What are the AZ pain management treatments that work well for this nonsurgical sciatica management?
The first treatment that is available is very simple over the counter pain medications including Tylenol and anti-inflammatories such as ibuprofen. These may work to reduce the pain someone and allow a person to walk better and sit more comfortably. Along with
Formation of the Sciatic Nerve
these over-the-counter pain medications, an ice pack alternating with heat may work well for pain relief.
If the simple over-the-counter remedies are not effective enough, then a person may need to see a pain management doctor for stronger medication. This may include muscle relaxers such as Valium, along with Narcotic medication which may include Vicodin or Percocet or something along those lines. In addition, there is a medication called a Medrol Dosepak which may provide exceptional pain relief for a few days to a few weeks. It is a hefty anti-inflammatory and can really knock down the pain. It contains prednisone, and should not be repeated except every few years.
Additional treatment that often works well involves physical therapy and maybe chiropractic treatment. The stretching and strengthening exercises along with chiropractic manipulations can help reduce sciatica pain substantially.
Chiropractors also offer spinal decompression therapy in their clinics often times which has over 85% effectiveness in treating back and leg pain due to degenerative disc disease or a lumbar herniated disc.
The next level of treatment involves the gold standard for sciatica pain management which is epidural injections. These injections involve administration of cortisone, which has been
Disc Herniation Leading to Pinched Nerve and Sciatica
shown in numerous studies to be over 75% effective for the nonoperative treatment of sciatica. Steroid medication around the nerve root that is being pinched can effectively relieve the pain by providing a large anti-inflammatory effect to this region. Often times a series of three injections is necessary for the best results.
If you or a loved one is suffering from sciatica, you should contact the best pain management doctors in Arizona and the southwest, Arizona Pain Specialists. The clinics serve Phoenix, Glendale, Scottsdale, Mesa, Chandler, Gilbert, Surprise, Casa Grande, Fountain Hills and more with all of the options discussed.
This can get your treatment started and may involve also a chiropractor for a physical therapy (or physical rehabilitation) clinic as well. Most chiropractors are very good at doing a full musculoskeletal work up and evaluating your MRI and then including a pain management doctor with your treatment. When looking for a Phoenix chiropractor, he or she should work in association with Arizona pain doctors in case you need one.
Call (602) 507-6550 today for the best sciatica treatment in Arizona!