The initial stages of sciatica treatment generally involve a variety of conservative, or nonsurgical, treatment methods. Your doctor may recommend some combination of over-the-counter or prescription non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, physical therapy, behavior modification, hot/cold compresses, weight management, low-impact exercise, and gentle stretching. The majority of patients who suffer from sciatica can typically manage their symptoms through nonsurgical means. Only a small percentage of individuals need to consider the option of surgery.

Alternative Sciatica Treatments

Some patients choose to try alternative or complementary sciatica treatment for their symptoms of pain, tingling, numbness, and muscle weakness in their lower back, buttocks, and legs. Alternative treatments are usually used in place of doctor-prescribed treatments, whereas complementary therapies are used in addition to the previously mentioned treatment methods. While not all doctors condone these types of treatments and the efficacy of alternative and complementary medicine is still debated among health professionals, many patients have found relief from their symptoms thanks to a holistic, or “whole body,” approach to treatment. Examples of alternative and complimentary treatments include yoga, acupuncture, acupressure, massage, meditation, biofeedback, and herbal remedies.

If you do decide to try these therapies, check with your doctor first to confirm that the alternative or complementary approaches are safe for your condition and will not cause unwanted interactions with any medications you may be taking.

Targeted Pain Management Techniques

Since surgery should only be considered as a last resort for sciatica treatment, your doctor may recommend some targeted pain management therapies if other conservative treatments like physical therapy and hot/cold compresses are not effective. Options include analgesic pain patches, corticosteroid injections, transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation (TENS), and ultrasound therapy, among others.

Surgery for Sciatica

In the event that you fall into the small category of people who do require sciatica treatment in the form of surgery, there are generally two different types of procedures that are available: endoscopic surgery and open spine surgery. Open spine surgery is a highly invasive procedure that will involve the removal of anatomy to decompress the sciatic nerve root. For instance, if a herniated disc is contributing to the symptoms, the entire disc will be removed and in its place a bone graft and stabilizing hardware will likely be inserted to facilitate spinal fusion of the vertebrae surrounding the disc. Fusion is often necessary after an open spine surgery to ensure spinal stability after large portions of bone and other tissue have been removed. This type of procedure also requires hospitalization, a large incision in the lower back, side, or abdomen, and an arduous rehabilitation.

Endoscopic surgery, on the other hand, is a minimally invasive procedure that is performed on an outpatient basis, meaning no hospitalization. Patients generally return home a few hours after their surgery. Because this procedure involves an endoscope, which is a small camera that can be inserted into the spine through a series of thin tubes, there is no need for the surgeon to open up the entire lower back with a large incision and soft tissue dissection. Instead, surgical tools are funneled to the site of sciatic nerve compression and only the portion of bone or disc material that is compressing the nerve is removed. This precludes the need for spinal fusion, a bone graft, and hardware. Patients are not only able to enjoy an expedited recovery period due to the lack of trauma to spinal tissues, but they will also be able to retain full mobility in their lower back, which is not possible with a spinal fusion.

An endoscopic procedure does offer many benefits over an open spine surgery, but not all patients will be candidates for this type of surgery. When considering surgery, be sure to meet with a variety of spine specialists, both those who specialize in open spine techniques and those that specialize in endoscopic techniques, to determine the best option for your specific condition.

Patrick Foote is the Director of eBusiness at Laser Spine Institute, the leader in endoscopic spine surgery. Laser Spine Institute specializes in safe and effective surgical sciatica treatments and outpatient treatments for several other spinal conditions.

Patrick Foote is the Director of eBusiness at Laser Spine Institute. Laser Spine Institute specializes in safe and effective endoscopic sciatica treatments. http://www.laserspineinstitute.com/back_problems/sciatica_sciatic_nerve_pain/sciatic_nerve_treatments/conservative_sciatic_treatments/

Author Bio: Patrick Foote is the Director of eBusiness at Laser Spine Institute, the leader in endoscopic spine surgery. Laser Spine Institute specializes in safe and effective surgical sciatica treatments and outpatient treatments for several other spinal conditions.

Category: Medicines and Remedies
Keywords: sciatica treatment