Where to treat sciatica?

Written by Chen Hui
Orthopedic Surgery
Updated on September 02, 2024
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Sciatica is relatively common among the general population. Its symptoms manifest as numbness, swelling, and weakness in one leg. The most common cause is herniation of the lumbar intervertebral disc, which compresses the nerve roots resulting in these symptoms. Therefore, when such symptoms occur, it is necessary to seek treatment at a formal medical institution. One could visit the orthopedics department, or if the hospital has specialized departments, it is best to consult the department of spinal surgery.

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Written by Ai Bing Quan
General Surgery
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How to treat sciatica?

Patients with sciatic nerve pain must rest in bed, especially those whose pain is caused by nerve compression. They must pay close attention to keeping warm and resting regularly, and use heat application on the waist and buttocks. For medicinal treatment, the drugs are mainly divided into Western medicine and traditional Chinese medicine. Western medicine primarily uses non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs and neurotrophic drugs. Traditional Chinese medicine mainly uses drugs that invigorate the blood to promote the repair of nerve edema and surrounding tissue swelling. Treatment can also include acupuncture and physical therapy, particularly ultrashort wave therapy and direct current iontophoresis during the acute phase, combined with acupuncture, which can effectively promote the alleviation of sciatic nerve pain.

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Written by Chen Hui
Orthopedic Surgery
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Where to treat sciatica?

Sciatica is relatively common among the general population. Its symptoms manifest as numbness, swelling, and weakness in one leg. The most common cause is herniation of the lumbar intervertebral disc, which compresses the nerve roots resulting in these symptoms. Therefore, when such symptoms occur, it is necessary to seek treatment at a formal medical institution. One could visit the orthopedics department, or if the hospital has specialized departments, it is best to consult the department of spinal surgery.

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Written by Cheng Bin
Orthopedics
47sec home-news-image

Can sciatica be treated with acupuncture?

Regarding whether acupuncture can be used for sciatica, it should first be clarified that acupuncture is feasible for treating sciatic nerve pain. Acupuncture can promote the recovery of nerves, thereby effectively alleviating the symptoms of sciatic nerve pain. However, it is important to note that it is best to undergo acupuncture in the acupuncture and massage department of a formal hospital. Formal hospitals are more professional, have a better grasp of indications, and tend to provide more satisfactory results. Additionally, for patients with sciatic nerve pain, it is crucial to minimize local irritation. It is essential not to expose the area to cold, apply local heat, and combine treatment with some neuro-nourishing medications, such as mecobalamin, which is quite effective.

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Written by Na Hong Wei
Orthopedics
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How to treat sciatica?

For sciatica, conservative treatment methods should first be adopted, which include the following five points: The first is general treatment; as soon as sciatica appears, immediately rest in bed, and the bed should be relatively hard. Second, you can apply heat to the lumbar area, use physical therapy, or acupuncture. Third, lumbar traction can be performed, which has a very clear effect in alleviating sciatica. Fourth, consider performing an intradiscal injection or sacral injection therapy, and chemical nucleolysis can also be performed. After the above treatments, if the symptoms and pain are reduced, you can start functional exercises for the lower back muscles. Functional exercises of the lower back muscles play a significant role in enhancing the stability of the lumbar spine. If the effect of the aforementioned treatments is not significant, or if the symptoms worsen, then surgical treatment may be necessary at this time.

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Written by Na Hong Wei
Orthopedics
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What to check for sciatica

Sciatica is divided into primary sciatica and secondary sciatica. Secondary sciatica is very common and is mainly due to diseases of the spinal canal, including herniated lumbar discs, lumbar spinal stenosis, or spinal tumors compressing the spinal cord and nerve roots. Another condition is piriformis syndrome, where the sciatic nerve exits; if there is narrowing here, it can also cause sciatica. Therefore, clinically, one starts with secondary sciatica, conducting either a lumbar spine CT scan or an MRI, which can basically clarify the location causing the compression. Another type is called primary sciatica, which is caused by inflammation of the sciatic nerve, and is an internal medicine disease, not an orthopedic disease. This requires an electromyography (EMG). After completing the EMG, the diagnosis can generally be made based on the injured muscle or the muscle with abnormal electromotor conduction. Thus, the routine examinations for sciatica are X-rays, CT, MRI, and the non-routine examination is the EMG.