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 Na Hong Wei
Orthopedics
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How should one sleep with sciatica?

Sciatica is a very painful condition. Paying attention to some details when resting and sleeping can alleviate sciatica to a certain extent. Specifically, the first point is to sleep on a hard bed, preferably a solid wooden bed. If the bed is too soft, consider placing a wooden board on it. Second, lying on your back is better than lying on your side. This is because lying on your back can maintain the stability of the lumbar spine, thereby reducing the pressure on the discs. Third, maintain a moderate flexion of the hips and knees while sleeping. To do this, place a small soft pad under the lower back and a small soft pillow under the knee joints to keep the hip joints in a slightly flexed position. The purpose is to let the muscles of the lower back relax optimally, thus stabilizing the lumbar spine and reducing the burden on the lumbar discs. Therefore, for sciatica, if you sleep on a harder bed in a supine position, and maintain proper knee and hip flexion, it can be very beneficial for recovery.

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Written by Na Hong Wei
Orthopedics
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Which department should I register for sciatica?

Sciatica is divided into primary and secondary types. Primary sciatica is caused by inflammation of the sciatic nerve itself, thus one should visit the Department of Neurology. Secondary sciatica is more common and usually stems from spinal conditions, so initially one should visit the Department of Spinal Surgery. Alternatively, one can visit the Department of Orthopedics, which deals with broader orthopedic issues. If experiencing severe acute pain, a visit to the Pain Management Department can provide rapid and effective pain relief. For frequent episodes of sciatica and interest in rehabilitation, the Rehabilitation Department can be considered. Additionally, traditional Chinese medicine has unique approaches to treating sciatica, so visiting the Department of Traditional Chinese Medicine to try treatments with Chinese herbs and methods is also an option.

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Written by Na Hong Wei
Orthopedics
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Can sciatica be cured completely?

Sciatica is difficult to cure completely. If it is primary sciatica, which is caused by inflammation of the sciatic nerve, there is a possibility of complete cure after medical treatment. However, secondary sciatica is generally difficult to completely cure because it is usually caused by spinal diseases, such as herniated discs, spinal stenosis, or even spondylolisthesis. In such cases, even after solving the primary disease, some problems may persist, continuing to stimulate the sciatic nerve, making it difficult to cure completely. If the sciatica is caused by spinal tuberculosis or a spinal tumor, the situation is even more complicated. Even if the primary lesion is resolved, it cannot guarantee that it will not recur. Therefore, sciatica is difficult to cure completely.

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Written by Cheng Bin
Orthopedics
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Is moxibustion effective for sciatica?

First of all, it must be affirmed that moxibustion can promote local blood circulation, thereby effectively improving the edema of the sciatic nerve and alleviating symptoms of sciatic nerve pain. Thus, moxibustion is effective. In addition to moxibustion for patients with sciatic nerve pain, other treatments such as acupuncture, electrical stimulation, traction, massage, and cupping can also be combined with very good effects. For those with severe pain, oral administration of non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs and blood-activating and stasis-removing drugs can be used. For those with severe spinal nerve compression that cannot be improved through conservative treatment, it is necessary to actively consider surgical treatment to relieve the pressure on the spinal nerves and create conditions for the recovery of sciatic nerve pain.

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Written by Na Hong Wei
Orthopedics
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Sciatica belongs to which department?

Sciatica mostly falls under the category of orthopedics. It is a common orthopedic disease, with primary and secondary causes. The secondary type is often caused by compression at the exit point of the lumbar spine and sciatic nerve, so sciatica can be treated in orthopedics or spinal surgery. Primary sciatica, generally caused by inflammation of the sciatic nerve, is managed by neurology. To address sciatica, many hospitals now have departments of pain management. Therefore, sciatica can be treated by four departments: orthopedics, spinal surgery, neurology, and pain management.