Is it sciatica?

Written by Cheng Bin
Orthopedics
Updated on September 04, 2024
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It should be noted that the incidence of sciatic nerve pain is still very high in clinical settings, and there are many causes which can lead to severe pain when it occurs. Common causes of sciatic nerve pain include conditions like sciatic neuritis, which can result in patient discomfort, as well as lumbar disc herniation, lumbar spondylolisthesis, lumbar spinal stenosis, and lumbar tumors. Compression of the spinal nerves can also lead to sciatic nerve pain. Additionally, piriformis syndrome can cause sciatic nerve pain in patients. Determining the specific cause requires a physical examination along with some auxiliary tests to make a clear diagnosis, after which active symptomatic treatment can be completely effective.

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Written by Zhang Hui
Neurology
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Causes of Neuralgia

Neuralgia is extremely painful, with patients often experiencing severe, unbearable pain. The causes of neuralgia mainly include the following types. The first type to note is viral infection, such as herpes zoster virus infection, which can leave postherpetic neuralgia. In such cases, it is crucial to actively use antivirals and employ neuropathic pain medications for treatment. The second scenario may relate to nerve compression, such as trigeminal neuralgia, which may be associated with local vascular compression causing abnormal nerve discharges. Surgical treatment might be necessary to relieve the compression. Sciatica is also caused by compression of the sciatic nerve. The third case might be due to nonspecific inflammatory responses. For example, Guillain-Barre syndrome can also cause neuralgia, and treatment should be directed at the underlying cause.

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Dentistry
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Symptoms of tooth nerve pain

Symptoms of tooth nerve pain include pain triggered by cold, hot, sour, sweet stimuli, spontaneous pain, secondary pain, and nighttime pain, as well as unlocalized pain. These are also the main symptoms of pulpitis. Among them, pain triggered by cold, hot, sour, and sweet stimuli is more obvious. Sometimes the pain may intensify with temperature changes, such as cold and hot stimuli. If the pulpitis reaches the acute suppurative stage, there may also be pain that worsens with heat and is relieved by cold. It is common to see patients coming to the clinic holding cold water, indicating that cold water may provide temporary pain relief. In addition, severe nighttime pain might occur, where there is no pain during the day, but intense pain at night, sometimes making it difficult to sleep or waking from sleep due to the pain. Sometimes tooth nerve pain can also be unlocalized, potentially causing pain in the temporal area or affecting both upper and lower jaw teeth.

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Written by Liu Shi Xiang
Neurology
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How to relieve neuralgia

Neuropathic pain can be relieved through treatments such as medication, physical therapy, and surgery. Medications used primarily include antiepileptic drugs and non-steroidal anti-inflammatory analgesics, such as carbamazepine, oxcarbazepine, gabapentin, pregabalin, sodium diclofenac, ibuprofen, and celecoxib. Physical therapy mainly involves localized heat application, massage, manipulation, and acupuncture. Surgical treatment is mainly suitable for patients who do not respond well to medication and physical therapy. Currently, the surgical approach mainly involves minimally invasive surgery to relieve nerve compression, thereby alleviating the symptoms of neuropathic pain. Beyond symptomatic treatment, it is important to identify and treat the underlying cause of the neuropathic pain, such as tumors, trauma, diabetes, etc. These causes can lead to neuropathic symptoms, so it is crucial to actively control these underlying diseases to potentially relieve neuropathic pain at its root. (Medications should be used under the guidance of a doctor.)

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Written by Zhang Hui
Neurology
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How is neuralgia treated?

Neuralgia can cause severe pain and significantly impact a patient's life. Treatment for neuralgia primarily focuses on the following aspects: First, treatment should be based on the cause of the pain. For instance, if the patient suffers from trigeminal neuralgia, antiepileptic drugs may be prescribed. Surgery may be necessary in some cases. If the neuralgia is caused by a viral infection, active antiviral treatment is required. If tumor cells invade and cause the neuralgia, tumor treatment should be administered. The second type of treatment involves symptomatic management. This mainly includes medications to relieve neuralgia, commonly comprising tricyclic antidepressants and antiepileptic drugs, which can be effective in alleviating the pain and should be taken under the guidance of a doctor.

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How long does an intercostal neuralgia attack last?

Under normal circumstances, an episode of intercostal neuralgia usually requires about a week to improve. During this period, actively cooperating with treatment can lead to a quick recovery. Treatment typically involves orally administered non-steroidal anti-inflammatory and nerve-nourishing drugs, and it is necessary to reduce physical activity and minimize local irritation. It is crucial not to be exposed to the cold; local heat application is recommended. Commonly, a salt bag or toasted bran is used for heat application, which is quite sufficient. Applying heat twice a day, each time for more than half an hour, can enhance the effects significantly. Moreover, combining this with some physiotherapy methods, such as acupuncture, infrared therapy, and cupping, can yield very good results.