Contrary to popular belief, sciatica is not an independent disease.

This symptom is often associated in people only with damage to the bone tissue of the spine, but in fact it indicates damage or pinching of the nerve roots. spinal cord caused by injury, disease, or inflammation.

Let us consider in more detail the syndrome called sciatica, its symptoms and treatment.

One of the most common questions among people with back pain: what is sciatica and how to treat it?

A symptom called sciatica is characterized by severe pain in the back, caused by inflammation or injury to the nerves of the spinal cord.

By area of ​​development and localization of appearance pain symptoms share to:

• Cervical;
• Thoracic;
• Lumbar.

Most often, signs of radiculitis appear in women, middle-aged people over 30 years old and in the elderly population.

The symptom is able to manifest itself both in an acute form, and in case of ignoring the causes of occurrence, acquire a chronic form.

It develops against the background of diseases that cause degenerative changes in the tissues of the spinal column, such as. This is also facilitated by various manifestations of posture disorders: lordosis, kyphosis.

Negative factors associated with the development of symptoms include inflammatory processes caused by injuries, muscle strain or infectious diseases.

Treatment of sciatica is to identify and eliminate the underlying cause causing pain. Therapy usually requires integrated approach with the use of medical and physiotherapeutic treatment.

Cervical

The cervical region is the most mobile part of the spinal column. Painful symptoms of cervical sciatica appear when the position of the body in space changes.

Often, compression of the nerves in these weak and small vertebrae can cause other symptoms:

• dizziness;
• Violation of visual acuity and hearing.

Piercing pain can radiate to the shoulders and upper limbs- arms. In this case, they talk about the occurrence of cervico-shoulder sciatica.

thoracic

This type of syndrome, in terms of the nature of the manifestation of pain symptoms, is very similar in manifestations of intercostal neuralgia. Symptoms can manifest as acute attacks or periods.

The type of pain can be:

• Sharp, burning or dull pain in the area of ​​​​the ribs;
• Tick ​​of one or more muscles;
• redness of the skin;
• Increased pain with respiratory movements, sneezing, coughing.

This symptom causes great discomfort to the patient, as it restricts the movement of the chest and prevents the patient from breathing naturally.

Lumbar

What is lumbar sciatica? Lumbar sciatica or sciatica has a variety of symptoms, and treatment requires an individual approach.

It is considered the most common pathology among people who complain of back pain.

It is characterized by compression of the nerve endings in the lower parts of the spinal column and is most often manifested by the following symptoms:

• Movement restriction lumbar spine;
• Piercing pain when bending and turning the body;
• Difficulty standing on toes or bending them;
• Violation of the sensitivity of the limbs.

In case of damage and pinching of nerve endings in the area of ​​formation sciatic nerve pathology is called -.

Sciatica can radiate pain symptoms to the lower extremities, namely: hip joint, leg and foot.

Based on data provided by the National Center for Population Health Statistics in the United States itself common cause loss of labor activity of a person under the age of 45 are back pain.

Every third person of this age has symptoms of sciatica caused by chronic causes.

The strength of the manifestation of the pain syndrome depends on the level of damage to the nerve roots and the place of their localization.

Symptoms of sciatica have signs of the pathology that causes it. In the vast majority of cases, the cause is osteochondrosis.

The main symptoms of radiculitis are as follows:

• Pain symptoms in the area of ​​damage localization: piercing or dull pain, burning sensation in the tissues at the site of inflammation;
• Stiffness in movements. Intuitive bending of the knees during sleep or when trying to sit or stand up. There may be numbness of the limbs, spontaneous elementary muscle movements - muscle tic;
• When cervical sciatica can be observed: dizziness, decreased visual acuity and hearing;
• Sacral sciatica - back pain often radiates with strong backaches in the legs or so-called.

There may also be redness skin, sweating, tingling and a feeling of "flies" under the skin.

The pain can both suddenly appear and subside. In the acute phase, symptoms may last from several days to several weeks.

The spinal column is the main axial part of the human skeleton. Consists of 24 vertebrae separated by intervertebral discs.

In addition to being involved in the movement of the trunk and head, one of the functions that the spine performs is to protect the spinal cord.

The spinal cord connects our brain with the rest of the body. There are sensory and motor nerves, some of which allow us to feel everything we do, while others allow us to perform various motor functions: walk, bend over, etc.

Nerve bundles branch off in different directions from the spinal cord, which are on Latin are called "radicula" (root) and this is where the name of the symptom comes from.

So, sciatica is inflammation or damage to those very “radicula” that have arisen due to various factors. There is also another name - radiculopathy.

Due to age-related changes, a large physical load on the back or the development of pathologies such as osteochondrosis, thinning or damage to the intervertebral disc occurs.

As a result, the annulus fibrosus ruptures and the gel-like contents of the disc protrude and compress one or more nerve roots.

As a result of degenerative changes in the tissues of the spine, it is not uncommon to compensate for thinning intervertebral disc growths called osteophytes form along the edges of the vertebrae.

In certain positions of the body, osteophytes can, as it were, close together, provoking a pinched nerve, and cause pain.

The main factors for the occurrence of pain symptoms, experts also include the following reasons:

• Violation of the static posture due to: osteochondrosis, lordosis, kyphosis, scoliosis;
• Mechanical injuries of the spine;
• Infectious diseases. Some infections can damage the myelin sheath of a nerve, making it more susceptible to injury;
• Metabolic disease;
• Stress;
• The presence of osteophytes - bone neoplasms.

Causes of sciatica often causes banal hypothermia, including local. As a result, in the body as a protective reaction, muscle tremors begin.

As a result, the muscles involuntarily tighten to provide the body with normal heat production and thereby cause pain.

Effective treatment of sciatica depends on an accurate diagnosis. After an initial examination of the patient and palpation of problem areas, acute sciatica can be diagnosed.

But to identify the source of the cause of the pain, the specialist may prescribe the following additional studies:

• X-ray examination - allows you to identify the degree of degenerative changes in the bone tissue of the spine;
• Magnetic resonance or CT scan- help to detect damage in cartilage and near vertebrae soft tissues;
• ultrasound internal organs- is done in order to exclude the pathology of internal organs - some of them have symptoms similar to sciatica.

Also, in addition to identifying possible presence infectious agent, blood and urine tests may be prescribed.

To exclude the risk of cardiac pathologies, an electrocardiogram is prescribed.

To the question: how to quickly cure sciatica? There is no single answer.

This symptom has many causes, and treatment requires an individual approach to the patient, and therapy is prescribed on the basis of a specific diagnosis.

With the appearance of severe pain symptoms at home, the treatment of sciatica consists in restoring blood circulation in the affected area. To do this, you can use any warming ointments or do self-massage in the area of ​​\u200b\u200bthe focus for several minutes.

Attention! To the question: is it possible to do physical education with radiculitis? The answer is yes! But only after removing the inflammation. Moreover, a complete rejection exercise leads to weakness of the skeletal muscles and increases the recovery time.

It is better, of course, to resort to the help of household members; the most similar procedure can be done more or less successfully if you have lumbar or cervical sciatica, but with a chest type this procedure practically impossible to do.

Medical therapy different forms syndrome, including the treatment of lumbar sciatica - the most common. First of all, it consists in taking anti-inflammatory drugs. nonsteroidal drugs to stop the inflammatory process.

Attention! In order to avoid aggravation of the condition, the treatment of sciatica with the help of certain types of massages is prohibited during the acute phase of the development of the pathology.

To relieve surge muscle tissue muscle relaxants are used and different types physiotherapy: exercise therapy, warming up, massage, stretching of the spinal column, acupuncture.

An effective way is the complex use of ultrasound therapy and hydrogen sulfide baths.

How to cure sciatica if traditional medical methods treatments don't help? If therapy does not positive results for 3-6 months, specialists can consider the issue of surgical intervention.

With a long unbearable pain syndrome, a specialist can prescribe the treatment of sciatica with the help of analgesic blockades.

They are made with a syringe. The analgesic is administered directly instead of focusing pain symptoms. This method is not considered a therapy for pathology, since it does not treat the cause, but is a tool for relieving pain.

Traditional medicine tells us how to treat sciatica of the lower back or, as people say, radiculitis. Some healers consider the Russian bath to be an excellent remedy that helps well with sciatica.

It is necessary to warm up the sore spot well and lie down to sleep well wrapped up. The next morning, according to reviews, the disease will recede.

Attention! Treat lumbar sciatica with bath procedures during the period of exacerbation of the inflammatory process and without consulting a doctor - it is forbidden!

Also, the lumbosacral type of sciatica is treated with burdock, birch or linden leaves scalded with boiling water. They are applied in a thick layer on the focus of pain, tied with a woolen scarf for 1-2 hours in the morning and in the evening before going to bed.

Traditional medicine can be a good complementary therapy to the main treatment. But only a specialist after conducting the necessary research can answer how to effectively treat sciatica.

In order to get rid of unpleasant pain symptoms as much as possible, it is necessary to fight the pathology with all accessible ways. Most effective way prevention is proper nutrition.

A diet for sciatica and some other diseases of the musculoskeletal system, in combination with a physically active lifestyle, the diet can reduce the risk of recurrence of the pathology by almost half.

To do this, remember the following rules:

• Reduce salt and sugar intake as much as possible. These products contribute to water retention in the body. Any inflammation is accompanied by swelling, which inevitably causes pain, water retention in the body only exacerbates the situation. For the same reason, it is worth giving up hot spices, strong coffee and tea, etc.;
• For the process of repairing damaged tissues, it is necessary to consume a sufficient amount of protein. This includes the following products: chicken breast, low-fat cottage cheese, milk;
• To restore the nervous system, we increase the consumption of foods containing B vitamins and magnesium. These foods include: leafy greens, green vegetables: bell pepper, cucumbers, white cabbage.

Also, do not forget about adequate calorie intake per day and maintaining a normal body weight. Excess kilograms lead to an extra load on the spinal column.

Remember - Sciatica is not a disease. What it is? This is a symptom, and the causes of the pathology can be different. What to do if you often began to pursue back pain?

There is only one answer - immediately consult a doctor to find out the reasons, especially if pain syndrome gives in the leg. This may indicate a pinched sciatic nerve, inaction in this situation can lead to disability.

Video about the symptoms and causes of sciatica:

Radiculitis is one of the most common diseases of the peripheral nervous system.
Radiculitis is inflammatory process, which involves bundles of nerve fibers extending from the spinal cord. Nerve roots can be pinched as a result of careless movement or injury. This is also sciatica.

Sciatica (or radiculopathy) is not a disease, but a term. Im designates a set of symptoms: pain in cervical region spine, feeling of numbness, tingling, muscle weakness.

Causes of radiculitis.

In 95% of cases, sciatica is a manifestation of untreated osteochondrosis, and in the remaining 5% it is the result of an old spinal injury, it is possible that intervertebral hernia, wear of the spinal column, and especially intervertebral discs, squeezing or infringement of the roots of the spinal nerves by the vertebrae between which they are located. The cause of such compression is various spinal deformities, which, in turn, may be the result of osteochondrosis.
Stress, infection, metabolic disorders, heavy lifting and awkward movements can provoke an attack of sciatica.

Symptoms of sciatica.

The main symptom is pain. The location of the pain directly depends on the location of the injury to the spine.
Sciatica is characterized by severe pain in the back and neck, which persists both during movement and at rest.

The cause of radiculitis can be osteochondrosis, hypothermia, spinal injuries, sudden movements, and even intoxication of the body as a result of an infectious disease.

There are three types of sciatica:

• cervical,
• chest and
• lumbar.

cervical sciatica characterized by severe pain in the back of the head and neck. Pain is aggravated by any movement of the head, for example, when coughing. There were cases when patients had nausea, hearing loss, change in gait.

With cervicobrachial sciatica there are severe pains in the shoulders, neck and arms. With chest - pain encircles the chest.

sciatica- This is the most common type of sciatica.
It is also called sciatica. This causes pain in the hip, foot, buttocks. Occurs against the background of arthritis, compression fractures, hernias, stenosis of the spinal canal, etc.

Diagnosis of sciatica.

Diagnosis of the syndrome is usually complex. It includes:
- a study at the doctor's office of reflex activity and sensitivity,
- radiography, which makes it possible to establish the degree of changes in the spine,
- MRI, CT determines the presence of root compression,
- electromyography (EMG) - determination of the degree of damage to nerve fibers
Radiculitis can only be diagnosed by an enemy neuropathologist based on an x-ray.

TREATMENT OF RADICULITIS.

Medical treatment .
The task of drug treatment is to relieve inflammation, reduce swelling of the underlying tissues and reduce pain.

• Painkillers and anti-inflammatory drugs in the form of tablets and injections.
  For example, from the group of non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs): Movalis, Ortofen, Nimesulide, Voltaren, Ibuprofen, etc.
• Painkillers, anti-inflammatory and warming agents.
  Can be applied locally ointments, creams:
  Bee or snake venom, Hot pepper tincture, "Sustamed" with bear fat, "Viprosal", containing gyurza poison with the addition fir oil, camphor and other substances , B vitamins etc.
  After applying the medicine, you can carefully wrap the sore spot with a woolen scarf.
  Within 1-2 days it is important to observe complete rest. But don't abuse them.

Facilities local application, painkillers and warming ointments with sciatica, they cannot be effective enough, since they do not penetrate into the joints and do not reach the nerve endings.

• Give good result physiotherapeutic procedures, baths, heating and massages, however, they should be used with extreme caution and only on the advice of a doctor.

It all depends on the cause of the sciatica. If the pain is caused by muscle spasm, a warm bath can alleviate the condition, and in the case of an inflammatory process, on the contrary, it will worsen. Massage in some cases can also do more harm than good, especially massage done by a non-professional.

Physiotherapy.
There are many physiotherapy techniques that improve blood circulation in the tissues adjacent to the root, reduce pain, and improve the conduction of impulses along nerve fibers.

Manual therapy and massage .
Helps relieve muscle blocks and muscle spasms.

IRT.
Acupuncture with the help of influence on biologically active
point helps to restore the process of conducting impulses along the nerve
fibers.

exercise therapy .
Dosed physical exercise help restore
normal biomechanics of the spine and a normal stereotype of movements. With the help of exercises, it is often possible to relieve root compression due to the redistribution of load vectors.
Orthopedic products are of particular importance in the treatment and prevention of radiculopathy. It's about about fixators of the lumbar spine, chest and lumbar corsets and orthopedic collars.

Prevention of sciatica is to prevent injuries of the spine, hypothermia and drafts, timely treatment infectious diseases. Physiotherapy, playing sports within reasonable limits also contribute to the health of the back and serve as a prevention of sciatica.

A set of therapeutic exercises for radiculitis.

1. Put your feet together. Take your hands in the "castle" in front of the body. Raise your hands up, bend - inhale. Return to the starting position - exhale. Repeat 8-10 times.
2. Legs apart, lower your arms. Bend over with your cool leg and touch your knee - inhale. Straighten up - exhale. Repeat 5 times.
3. Legs apart, hands on the waist. Tilt the torso to the left, bending the right leg at the knee - exhale. Return to the starting position - inhale. 5 times in each direction.
4. Legs apart, on the width of the foot. Sit down. Stretch your arms forward - exhale. Straighten up, arms down - inhale. Repeat 8-10 times.
5. Lie on your back, arms along the body. Raise your left leg and arm at the same time - exhale. 6-7 times with each leg.
6. Kneel down, resting your palms on the floor. Raise up the straightened left leg, bend in the lower back - exhale. Lower - inhale. 5-6 times with each leg.
7. Legs together, arms along the body. Step gently and smoothly from toe to heel, and then stand on the whole foot. Hands simultaneously go one forward and up, the other back. Repeat 40-50 s.
8. Stand facing the chair, put the straight left leg on the seat, hands on the belt. Bend the left leg at the knee - exhale, unbend - inhale. Repeat 5 times in a row, then switch legs.
9. Sit on the edge of a chair, lean your hands on seat I from behind, do not bend your knees. Do "scissors" - moving your legs up and down without stopping.

Despite the development modern medicine, people continue to face severe various diseases. Some are treated quickly and effectively, others can even be fatal. Today, such an ailment as sciatica affects the nerve endings that are located throughout the spine. It used to be thought that the elderly were at risk, but over the past few years the trend has changed, this problem also affects young people. This article will explain in detail what this disease is, how to treat it, and most importantly, attention will be paid to preventive measures.

Radiculitis, what is this disease

Radiculitis is serious illness spine, which affects the nerve endings of the spinal cord. The disease never appears on its own, it is a complication of various back problems. In 95%, the disease is a complication of osteochondrosis, and the remaining 5% are considered the result of a former injury, a variety of hernias and simply wear of the intervertebral discs and the spine itself. To avoid the appearance of sciatica, it is necessary to consult a doctor at the first pain in the back.

Exacerbation of sciatica can also provoke other problems, such as severe stress, heavy physical exertion, a sedentary lifestyle, a variety of sports, sudden movements. The disease can take two forms:

• acute stage, occurs suddenly after a serious injury or a large overexertion. Accompanied by sharp and severe pain in the area of ​​the affected area. If you take care of personal health in a timely manner, then sciatica can be quickly and effectively cured;
• the chronic stage appears after the acute one, if drug treatment was not carried out in a timely manner. The disease proceeds with regular pain, which intensifies during the period of exacerbation.

Severe pain manifests itself in places where the inflammatory process occurs and the nerve roots are pinched. As a rule, radiculitis is felt by the elderly, as well as young people. The latter suffer from an illness due to a sedentary lifestyle, as well as poor posture, which is distorted while working at a computer.

Important! According to the results of international studies, it turned out that every 8th inhabitant of our planet suffers from radiculitis.

The disease is always manifested by severe back pain, which is especially felt with sudden movements. However, sciatica may not affect the entire spine, but only some part of it. That is why doctors recognize several varieties of this disease.

lumbosacral

Often such a disease is chronic, with periodic exacerbation that continues different amount time. It appears due to heavy physical exertion on the spine, as well as due to incorrect climatic conditions(draught, cold). Lumbosacral sciatica is manifested by the following symptoms:

• severe back pain, with sudden movements and physical exertion;
• an increase in pain when coughing, sneezing and tension of muscle fibers;
• difficulty in moving the body
• a person cannot stand on his toes and bend his toes.

Pain can be felt in one side of the lower back, also discomfort appear in the buttocks, thighs, and also in the muscles of the lower leg. Acute pains last for 10-14 days, then gradually the pain decreases. In any case, you should consult a doctor for advice.

Lumbar

As a rule, sciatica affects the lumbar spine, since it is subjected to the most physical exertion. The disease never appears on its own, it is a complication after osteochondrosis and other spinal defects. Lumbar sciatica has the following symptoms:

• pain in the lower back, they are different in duration and strength. This symptom is the main one, it indicates that the nerve endings are pinched;
• sensitivity is lost, as the free passage of nerve signals is disturbed;
• violated normal work muscular system, in the damaged area of ​​the back;
• there is a backache that appears after strong physical exertion.

On the early stages the disease is perfectly treatable, but if it is started, it will take a chronic form, which is difficult to cure completely.

thoracic

This form of sciatica is very insidious, since the disease can perfectly disguise itself as diseases of internal organs, such as the heart. The disease manifests itself abruptly, it is characterized by severe pain that lasts at least 10 days. After that, it gradually subsides, but this does not mean that you need to neglect your own health. A patient with this diagnosis feels such unpleasant symptoms:

• pain in the ribs, which is aggravated by squeezing, sneezing or coughing;
• sensitivity decreases, on the arms, as well as in the chest and back;
• over time, muscle activity decreases significantly, which can lead to atrophy;
• sometimes rises in body temperature;
• nausea and heartburn appear;
• swallowing function is impaired.

All of the above symptoms worsen the quality of life of a person, so it is important to start treatment in a timely manner.

cervical sciatica

People are at risk young age up to 40 years old, it is they who often work at a computer and move little, which provokes incorrect posture and inflammation of the nerve roots. Such people feel unpleasant symptoms in their body:

• sharp and cutting pain in the neck, shoulders and arms;
• headaches, especially acute in the back of the head;
• dizziness;
• loss of sensation in the affected areas of the body;
• Difficulty in moving the neck and shoulders
• weakness and malaise appear;
• body temperature rises;
• nausea occurs.

Therapy of the disease should be carried out as early as possible. If after 2 months the patient's condition does not improve, then the doctors will recommend surgery.

Causes of the disease

As already mentioned, sciatica is not a separate disease, but these are only the consequences of more serious problems with health. That is why many factors can influence its appearance. Radiculitis appears due to inflammation or damage to the nerve endings located in the spinal cord. All these nerve roots are responsible for the proper movement and coordination of the entire body. As soon as their work is disrupted, then there is a sharp pain, which can become chronic.

There are many reasons for the appearance of sciatica, doctors distinguish the main ones:

• sedentary lifestyle;
• intervertebral hernia;
• the appearance of bone growths on the surface of the spine;
• oncological diseases;
• arthritis;
• changes in the spine provoke diseases of internal organs, such as the cardiovascular and genitourinary systems;
• transferred stressful situation;
• lifting heavy objects;
• metabolic disease;
• hormonal disbalance;
• weakness of the muscular system;
• infectious diseases (FLU, acute respiratory infections);
• excessive salt intake.

Obviously, there are many reasons for the appearance of sciatica, so it is important to make efforts to avoid the onset of the disease.

If a person feels pain in any part of the spine, he needs to urgently consult a doctor, namely a neurologist. Initially, the doctor will carefully listen to the patient and find out his complaints. Then the specialist will examine the patient and give a referral to X-ray. Based on the data obtained, the doctor will be able to accurately establish the diagnosis, in addition, the picture will show how advanced the disease is and which part of the spine is affected. Based on the data received, the doctor will be able to make the correct appointment.

Sometimes, for a clearer diagnosis of the disease, an additional examination is required. In this case, the doctor recommends doing the following procedures:

• take blood and urine tests;
• do an MRI;
• undergo computed tomography;
• scintigraphy (radionuclide scanning);
• Ultrasound of the abdominal cavity;
• x-ray of the respiratory system;

All additional tests and studies will allow you to see a clear picture and the patient's condition. Radiculitis is a serious disease that requires immediate treatment. It is important to establish a diagnosis in a timely manner and start therapy.

Medical treatment

For more effective treatment the patient needs to be kept quiet to reduce his activity. The first days a person must observe bed rest to avoid any physical exertion. At the same time, the mattress must be rigid so that it does not bend under a person. As a rule, the patient is put on special corset which will restrict its movement. To relieve pain, the patient is prescribed painkillers. On the early stages I use tablets, ointments or suppositories. For acute pain, droppers and injections are prescribed. In addition to these medicines appointed special preparations that restore the functioning of the spine.

Modern pharmacology provides many effective drugs that restore health. As a rule, doctors prescribe the following remedies for sciatica.

Special medicinal tablets, which perform different functions:

• relieve inflammation (Ketoprofen, Diclofenac, Movalis);
• analgesics (Analgin);
• antibiotics;
• diuretic drugs (Trifas, Hygroton, Lasix);
• muscle relaxants (Mydocalm, Scutamil);
• B vitamins.

Also may be assigned:

• ointment, which contains snake venom (Viprosal, Vipratoks, Alvipsal);
• medical patch (Nano PatchGS, Nanoplast, Voltaren, Versatis, Ketonal);
• radiculitis balm (Semgen);
• Chinese ointment ( white tiger, Hong Lin Kyot);
• injections from sciatica (Xefocam, Novocain, Hydrocortisone, Dexamethasone, Milgamma).

Drug treatment is perfectly complemented by special procedures that allow you to quickly adjust the work of the spine and relieve pain. Among modern means, doctors often prescribe such:

• physiotherapy procedures;
• manual therapy, that is, flexion and extension of the spine with the help of a special massage;
• acupuncture;
• ultrasound therapy;
• warm paraffin;
• laser therapy;
• radon baths;
• warming up;
• mud wrap;
• exercises for radiculitis of the lumbar and other affected areas.

Comprehensive treatment is carried out for several months, the exact period depends on the individual characteristics of the patient and the severity of the disease. If after a certain time the patient's health does not return to normal, then doctors may recommend surgical intervention. Specialists to improve the general condition of the patient offer two operations:

• microdiscectomy, a small operation in which one intervertebral disc is removed;
• laminectomy is recommended only if stenosis of the spinal canal has been diagnosed.

During the chosen operation, doctors remove the part of the bone that is putting pressure on the nerves. However, surgery is resorted to only in extreme cases, when the situation is already very neglected.

How to cure sciatica at home quickly

Before self-medicating, it is important to consult a doctor. The specialist knows exactly the condition of the patient, so he can give good recommendations.

Elder

For the treatment of sciatica, elderberry is excellent, it is prepared from decoction. Take 2 tbsp. spoons of dried flowers of the plant, and pour 0.5 liters hot water, bring to a boil and boil for 5 minutes. The decoction is allowed to infuse for about an hour, and then taken 100 mg before meals.

With an exacerbated form of the disease, it is forbidden to warm up the sore spots, as this can only aggravate the patient's condition. However, treatment at home can be carried out with a warming corset or scarf, tying it on a sore spot. It’s good to just stroke your back, such a procedure will restore blood circulation.

Consequences of the disease and prevention

Timely treatment will effectively overcome the disease. However, if personal health is neglected, then sciatica will acquire a chronic form that is incurable. The quality of a person's life will deteriorate significantly, as he will constantly feel back pain, which will increase with physical exertion. In addition, over time, sciatica provokes a spinal cord infarction and paralysis of the bones, which leads to disability.

In order to prevent a person should regularly do gymnastics, which will relax the muscles. Many wear a special corset that maintains the tone of muscle tissue. With sciatica, it is useful to swim, but it is important to ensure that you do not overcool, otherwise the disease will worsen.

Correct and balanced diet. It is necessary to reduce the amount of salt, and increase the intake of fiber. Try to avoid fried, fatty or smoked foods. By following simple rules, you can improve personal health and restore the functionality of the spine.

back pain modern man you won't be surprised. Sometimes they occur periodically and disappear without a trace, but often such painful sensations torment a person with an enviable frequency. It could be sciatica. What kind of disease is this, why does it occur, and what symptoms can a person have - this is what I want to talk about.

Terminology

First of all, you need to understand the concepts. So, radiculopathy or sciatica - what is it? These are severe pains that a person can feel not only in the back, but also in the cervical region. They can appear not only during movement, but also in calm state body. It must be said that this is not an independent disease, but a complex of symptoms that are provoked by irritation or pinching. A neuropathologist deals with these problems.

Causes

Having understood the concept of "sciatica", what it is and how else this disease is called in medicine, it is necessary to talk about the reasons for its occurrence. So, at the very beginning it should be noted that this is the scourge of the elderly. Statistics show that approximately 10% of people over 40 know firsthand what it is. And the thing is that with age, the most important minerals are washed out of the body. And this is main reason various problems with the spine and paravertebral nerves. It should be noted that even a slight overload of the body or a small draft can cause a disease such as sciatica in older people.

But most often sciatica is caused various forms osteochondrosis. According to statistics, this happens in 95% of all cases. Reasons for this - dystrophic changes intervertebral discs and various complications of this disease. Also, sciatica can be the result of a spinal injury, tumors, diseases of internal organs.

Doctors also say that sciatica is one of the symptoms of an intervertebral hernia. Spinal stenosis (narrowing of the spinal canals) can also cause such irritation of the nerve roots.

Main symptoms

So, sciatica. What is it - it is clear. Now you need to talk about what symptoms accompany this disease.

1. Pain. With this disease, the pain can be both acute and dull. Very rarely, it is localized in one place, most often it gives to different parts of the spine.
2. Violation of sensitivity. With this disease nerve fibers damaged, which can lead to numbness in some parts of the body. Loss of sensation is often accompanied by a tingling or burning sensation.
3. Often with this disease nerve impulses are interrupted, because of which the muscles simply stop working normally. Muscle atrophy may even occur.

Type 1. Cervical sciatica

There are three types of radiculopathy. The first of them is cervical sciatica. From one name you can understand that it is localized in the cervical region. Symptoms are standard. The pain can be in any part of the neck, depending on where the affected nerve roots are located.

Type 2. Radiculitis of the thoracic region

The next type of radiculopathy is thoracic sciatica. From the name, we can make a simple conclusion that it is localized in the middle of the spine. Characterized by tingling, pain with irradiation, muscle weakness and numbness of the affected areas. It is worth saying that thoracic sciatica is extremely rare. This is due to the slight flexibility of this section of the spine. Potential causes are most often degenerative changes in the discs, herniated discs, stenosis, etc.

Type 3. Lumbar sciatica

So, radiculitis of the lumbar. In this case, the disease is localized in the lower back, in its lumbar part (this is where the center of gravity of the human body is located). Therefore, the problem may also be called sacral sciatica. Symptoms for this type of disease are the same as for the rest. It is important to note that this subspecies of the disease in medicine is called sciatica. Most clear symptom with this subspecies of the disease is pain that spreads to the hips and buttocks. Lumbar sciatica occurs most often as a result of diseases such as arthritis, hernia, or degenerative changes in the vertebrae, and other problems.

Diagnostics

As mentioned above, sciatica is a set of symptoms, not a separate disease. However, with such problems, it is best to seek help from a doctor. So, the complex of his actions will be as follows:

1. Clarification of symptoms. The doctor will need to learn about the nature, intensity of the pain, its duration and distribution.
2. Next, the doctor will examine the patient. The procedure will take place with palpation of the affected areas. So the doctor will be able to determine the range of motion of the patient and the weakness of his muscles.
3. A neurological examination may be needed. In this case, the doctor will check the sensitivity and reflex activity of the muscles.
4. The doctor may also refer the patient for x-rays. This is necessary in order to identify degenerative changes in various parts of the spine.
5. Sometimes the patient is sent for a CT scan or MRI. These studies perfectly visualize the presence of root compression.
6. EMG. This study makes it possible to determine the degree of damage to nerve fibers.

Treatment

At the very beginning, it must be said that the treatment will depend on what kind of symptoms are manifested in this disease. And also from what caused sciatica. So, initially it is necessary to cope with the cause of the disease. As far as symptoms are concerned, medication will be aimed at relieving pain, inflammation and reducing possible swelling.

1. techniques are primarily aimed at along its entire axis. They also help to perfectly relieve spasm and pain, which is very important for the patient.
2. exercise therapy. Dosed physical activity is important for the body. They can help restore the biomechanics of the spine, as well as the normal pattern of movement.
3. Acupuncture. There is an impact on the biological active points human using special needles.

Massage

One of the most effective methods is precisely massage for sciatica. So, it's good if professionals can do it. However, otherwise, any member of the family can carry out these actions.

1. Stroking. This is First stage(takes about 3-5 minutes), is carried out in order to stretch the muscles and prepare them for more serious exercises.
2. Kneading. By time this stage takes about 20 minutes. With these movements, blood flow and metabolism are accelerated. It also reduces swelling and muscle spasm. There are a lot of workout options. You need to choose the one that helps the patient the most.
3. Trituration. These movements should be carried out for approximately 5 minutes. They help eliminate stagnation and blockages in blood vessels, restore muscle tone. These movements are made with the fingertips, more intense than stroking, but not as active as kneading.
4. Stroking. The first and last stages are the same. However, in this case, the goal of the action is to bring nervous system in order.

So, the massage for sciatica is over. However, the patient is not recommended to get up. You need to lie down for half an hour, covered with a blanket. After that, the diseased area should be wrapped with a warm scarf for two hours.

Medicines

You can get rid of some of the symptoms of sciatica with the help of medications.

1. Painkillers. Tablet forms: preparations "Nimesulide", "Ibuprofen". Injectable drugs: "Ketanov", "Dexalgin". Also very active is the Olfen patch.
2. Ointments for sciatica. Ointment "Bystrum Gel", "Fastum Gel", "Voltaren", "Diklovit".

Folk remedies

Such a problem as sciatica (symptoms) has already been almost completely considered. Treatment with folk remedies - that's what is also important to talk about.

1. Sheep's wool. Specialists traditional medicine they say that clothing made of sheep's wool helps a lot. To cope with the problem, you need to soak a piece of woolen cloth in brine and apply to the back. Wool with salt is able to "pull out" the pain.
2. Bath. You can help to cope with sciatica with the help of a bath. So, you need to go to the bathhouse, steam well, then you need to rub the affected area thoroughly with black for 5 minutes. laundry soap. After that, you need to wrap yourself up and go to bed as soon as possible. The next day the pain is completely gone.
3. Garlic. You need to put three garlic heads in a saucepan, pour half a liter of boiling water, simmer for a couple of minutes on fire. From garlic you need to make gruel and put it all on the affected area. Attention: on the skin after this, there may be burns.
4. Rosemary. An ointment from this plant will relieve sciatica. To prepare it, put two tablespoons of dry ingredients in a saucepan, pour five tablespoons exactly sunflower oil, then everything is heated (oil should not be brought to a boil). After everything is poured into a jar, it is infused for 10 hours. Everything is filtered through gauze. The ointment is rubbed into the affected area in the morning and evening.

Good day, dear readers!

In today's article, we will consider with you - sciatica, as well as its symptoms, causes, types, diagnosis, medical treatment and at home, medicines, folk remedies and prevention of sciatica. So…

What is sciatica?

Radiculitis – pathological condition, or a symptom that is characterized by back pain.

Other names for the symptom are radiculopathy.

The main cause of radiculitis is a disease of the spine, which is expressed by a degenerative-dystrophic lesion of the intervertebral discs, and then the tissues of the vertebrae themselves. Other causes include back injuries, herniated discs and other pathologies.

The above reasons contribute to pinching or inflammation of the nerve root, which is part of the spinal nerve, which extends beyond the spinal column through the intervertebral foramina, which is why a person with sciatica feels back pain.

The localization of the spinal pain depends on the place where the inflammation of the nerve occurs, based on this, radiculitis of the lumbar, thoracic and cervical types is distinguished. In some cases, the pathology extends to more areas of the spine, which adds additional types of radiculopathy to the classification. In most cases, it is lumbar sciatica that occurs.

In addition to sharp, sudden pain in the back, symptoms of sciatica often become stiffness in movement and impaired sensitivity in the inflamed area.

The most frequent patients with sciatica are pensioners, professional athletes, as well as people with a sedentary lifestyle - office workers. Moreover, if earlier radiculopathy was observed mainly in people over 45 years old, now this pathology is “getting younger”, which indicates an increase in “sedentary ways of earning money, for example, at a computer.

Development of sciatica

To understand the principles of sciatica development, let's deviate a little towards human anatomy, in particular, to the structure of the spine.

The spinal column, or as we usually call it - the spine, is a flexible formation, consisting mainly of 33-34 vertebrae. All vertebrae are interconnected by intervertebral discs, arches, processes and ligamentous apparatus. Along the entire spine, between the bodies of the vertebrae, their arcs and processes emanating from the arcs, the spinal cord passes. Through the intervertebral foramina, located on the sides of each vertebrae, the spinal nodes and roots exit. Nerve endings emerge from the roots. To make it easier to understand, below you can see a picture that shows the structure of the spinal canal.

Now let's move on to considering the development of the sciatica itself.

With osteochondrosis, the destruction of the intervertebral discs occurs, resulting in a decrease in the distance between the vertebrae and direct contact between them. Over time, osteophytes grow on the edges of the vertebral bodies, developing as a result of friction against each other. This reduces the intervertebral foramen.

As a result of the above processes, osteophytes, when moving, begin to contact the spinal nodes, roots and nerve endings extending from them, infringing on them, because of which a person feels sharp pain with recoil to other parts of the body (leg, shoulder, etc.), numbness and other unpleasant signs of sciatica. Over time, the roots become inflamed, and signs of sciatica accompany a person more and more often.

It should be noted that this process of development of sciatica is superficial, but the essence of the pathology, I think, is now becoming clearer for many.

Of course, there are cases when, instead of osteochondrosis, infringement of the roots and nerve endings occurs with injuries, intervertebral hernias and other violations, so for accurate diagnosis and the correct method of treatment is best to consult a doctor.

Radiculitis - ICD

ICD-10: M54.1;
ICD-9: 729.2.

Pain with sciatica- the main symptom of this pathology. Often, she appears suddenly, and by strength she is even able to squeeze tears into her eyes. Sometimes the pain dulls, for example, when bending the legs at the knees, when the body is in a supine position, but after a short period of time it can worsen again and not go away until the person drinks an anesthetic.

The manifestation of pain occurs mainly with a certain movement, and the localization and character - from the place where the pathological process occurs. About the nature of the pain different types we will talk about radiculitis a little later, in the classification of radiculopathy, but now let's look at other signs of radiculitis.

Signs of sciatica

• Stiffness of movements, violation of normal gait;
• Reflex (unauthorized) bending of the leg at the knees when a person sits down or lies down;
• Numbness (loss of sensation) at the site of the inflammatory process;
• Burning and tingling sensation in soft tissues near inflammation;
• increased sweating;
• faces;
• Weakening of muscle tissue;
• Increased pain at night.

Other signs of sciatica include

• Hearing loss;
• Deterioration visual function;
• Violations of the activity of the organs of the gastrointestinal and genitourinary systems.

Complications of sciatica

Complications of sciatica should be considered more as a complication of the disease that is the cause of sciatica.

Complications of sciatica include:

• Chronic back pain;
• Strokes of parts of the spinal cord;
• ischemia;
• Atrophy of the limbs;
• Paralysis of the lower extremities;
• Disability.

The main cause of sciatica is - and how this disease of the spine affects the development of radiculopathy, we said in the paragraph "Development of radiculitis".

Other causes of sciatica include:

• Herniated discs;
• Spinal injury;
• Spinal stenosis;
• Bone neoplasms (osteophytes) on the vertebrae;
• Rachiocampsis - , ;
• tumors;
• Presence in the body;

If we talk about the factors that contribute to the development of sciatica, we can distinguish:

• Sedentary lifestyle;
• Frequent dehydration of the body;
• Sleeping on an uncomfortable surface or position;
• Weight lifting.
• Violations metabolic processes in the body;
• Hormonal changes;
• Eating a large number salt as well.

Classification of sciatica

The classification of sciatica is as follows:

With the flow:

Sharp form. Pain occurs spontaneously and develops at lightning speed. Often only pain medication helps to get rid of pain. It usually occurs with overexertion or back injury.

Chronic form. Usually develops when ignored acute form when the treatment consists only in the use of painkillers.

By localization:

cervical sciatica- characterized by pain in the cervical region, the back of the head. Especially the pain intensifies with sudden movements of the head - coughing. Due to the close distance to the head, inflammation or pinching of the nerve root can cause dizziness, deterioration in auditory or visual function, as well as impaired gait and coordination of movement.

Neck and shoulder sciatica- characterized by the same symptoms as cervical radiculopathy, only pain and numbness of the shoulders, shoulder blades and arms are added here. In the hands of the patient may also feel a burning sensation and tingling. Increased pain occurs when turning the head, hands.

Cervical-thoracic sciatica- characterized by the above symptoms, as well as back pain in the upper part of the thoracic region.

Thoracic sciatica- characterized by the back and intercostal space, with a return to the front of the chest. It occurs quite rarely.

Lumbar sciatica- manifests itself in the form of pain in the lumbar region, causing a certain stiffness in movement. May be accompanied by lumbago (lumbago).

sciatica- characterized by severe pain in the lower back, aggravated by walking or bending over, as well as the development of sciatica. Sciatica, in turn, is accompanied by pain when walking, which radiates to the buttock, back of the thigh, lower leg, and heel. Additionally, a person may feel numbness and "goosebumps" in lower limb. May be accompanied by lumbago (lumbago).

Diagnosis of sciatica

Diagnosis of sciatica includes the following examination methods:

• Examination of the patient;
• Collection of anamnesis;
• Electromyography (EMG);
• Scintigraphy;
• Analysis of urine.

Treatment of sciatica

How to treat sciatica? Treatment of sciatica begins with a thorough diagnosis and precise determination of the causes and localization. pathological process. Next, the doctor prescribes all the necessary funds and drugs.

Treatment for sciatica usually includes the following therapies:

1. Restriction of movement;
2. Drug treatment;
3. Physiotherapy;
4. Manual therapy;
5. Therapeutic exercise (exercise therapy);
6. Surgery(if necessary).

Important! Before use medicines Be sure to consult with your doctor!

1. Restriction of movement

During the treatment of an acute form of sciatica, or its chronic form in the acute stage, it is very important to provide the patient with the maximum restriction motor activity. In some cases, splints or bandages are even applied for this, limiting his movements. It is also necessary that the patient is at rest. Rest should be on a flat surface, for which modern world orthopedic mattresses are great. If the mattress is wadded, in order to prevent sagging, a flat hard surface is placed under it, for example, a thick sheet of plywood. To fix a place with a damaged spine, if this is the cause of sciatica, the use of a special fixing corset is indicated.

2. Drug treatment of sciatica

Painkillers. Appointed at severe pain to buy them. Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) are commonly used as pain relievers for sciatica.

Among NSAIDs, one can single out: Ambene, Dicloberl, Diclofenac, Dimexidum, "", "", "Ketonal", "Ketorol", "Milgamma", "Naproxen", "Nimesulide", novocaine blockade.

Among other painkillers can be identified: "Xefocam".

With severe pain, drugs are administered intravenously and intramuscularly.

An external anesthetic is an ointment for sciatica, which is usually based on bee or snake venom. To do this, rub the aching place well with this remedy and wrap it with a woolen scarf.

It is very important after stopping the pain syndrome to continue the treatment of sciatica and its causes, because. long-term use painkillers can cause a number of complications -, and, etc.

Antispasmodics. They are prescribed to relieve tension in muscle tissues, as well as to relieve spasms of the back muscles. However, it must be remembered that certain doses of antispasmodics can completely stop muscle activity, while a person will not even be able to fully breathe on his own.

Among antispasmodics, one can distinguish: Baclofen, Drotoverin, Myolastan, Sirdalud, Tubocurarine.

Antidepressants. Appointed at long course disease state and deterioration of the mental and emotional components of the patient.

Among antidepressants, one can single out Azafen, Clomipramine, Trimipramine, Doxepin.

3. Physiotherapy

Physiotherapeutic procedures are aimed at eliminating tissue swelling in the spine, improving blood circulation, reducing pain and improving the functioning of the nerve channels of the spinal cord.

Among the physiotherapeutic procedures for sciatica, laser therapy, reflexology, ultrasound treatment (phonophoresis), the use of galvanic current, radon baths, mud applications, hot paraffin and other warm-ups.

4. Manual therapy

Manual therapy is massotherapy, the purpose of which is to relieve muscle spasms, improve blood circulation, increase intervertebral foramens and release nerve roots from clamping, and, if necessary, align displaced vertebrae. As a result of massage, not only the pain syndrome is reduced, and sometimes eliminated, but also normalizes. general state damaged parts of the spine, which, together with other methods of therapy, contributes to the recovery of the patient.

5. Therapeutic exercise

Therapeutic exercise (LFK) is aimed at normalizing motor function spine. Usually, the doctor chooses the exercises, and their goal is to redistribute the load vectors on the spine. A set of exercises also increases the elasticity of muscle tissue and strengthens the human muscle corset. For exercise therapy, exercise equipment or special gymnastics are usually used.

Often the doctor recommends traction (traction) of the spine, which helps to increase the intervertebral foramina and, accordingly, release the spinal roots and their nerves from clamping. However, remember that stretching the spine yourself, for example, on a horizontal bar, is highly discouraged, since you can only worsen the general condition of the patient.

6. Surgical treatment

Surgical treatment of sciatica is usually prescribed after 4 months conservative therapy if it did not lead to the desired result, as well as in cases where the patient has movement coordination disorders, severe pain with low physical activity and loss of bowel and bladder control.

Among operational methods therapy can be distinguished:

Microdiscectomy - is used to remove the intervertebral disc, which presses on the vertebral nerve.

Laminectomy - used to remove bone formations that pinch a nerve

Important! Before use folk remedies against sciatica, be sure to consult your doctor!