Sciatica - the defeat of the spinal cord of an inflammatory nature, a kind of neuritis.
General Information
The front part of the human spinal cord contains nerve cells responsible for movement, and back - for sensitivity. Accordingly, in front of him out front, or motor, roots, and the rear - rear, or sensitive. They go right or left side of the spinal canal through the holes, and then connected to each other, turning into a vertebral nerves. Vertebral nerves form a plexus and branch throughout the body.
When sciatica occurs defeat the anterior and posterior spine. And therefore suffer from motion and sensitivity. In accordance with the affected spinal cord, distinguish cervical, thoracic, sciatica.
Causes of sciatica
Inflammation of the spinal roots can develop as a result of the following reasons:
Malformations of the spine. This can be extra vertebrae, hemivertebrae underdeveloped, extra ribs, vertebrae nonunion parts together. All this leads to compression of roots and development of the inflammatory process.
Osteochondrosis - a disease in which there is a premature aging of the spine, the destruction of the intervertebral discs.
Spinal injuries and their consequences: a bruised spine fractures and subluxations of the vertebrae.
Hypothermia - most often it is not the direct cause of sciatica, a factor that provokes attacks.
Herniated discs. Especially if there is a displacement of an intervertebral disc side: in this case, it compresses the spinal cord.
Infections: influenza and colds caused by other viruses, syphilis, tuberculosis, and so on.
Most often, the first attack of sciatica occurs after hypothermia, transferred colds, exercise, weight lifting.
Symptoms of sciatica
The main manifestations of sciatica - pain, impaired sensitivity and muscle weakness in the affected spine. More specific manifestations depend on which part of the spine was amazed.
When lumbar sciatica, pain occurs in one of the three types of attacks:
Backache. This is a strong pain that crops up during hypothermia, weight lifting, heavy load. It is so strong that the patient often can not walk or move, frozen in position, which was accepted before.
Lumbar ischialgia - chronic back pain, which may be given in one or both legs. In this tense muscles waist, and the patient regularly takes a certain posture in which pain is not yet strong (usually leans towards). In the area of the affected spine felt numb. Decreased muscle tone legs, they become weaker and may eventually shrink in size (atrophy).
Cervical sciatica manifested as pain in the neck, typically initially on one side only. It increases during any movement, sneezing and coughing. Neck muscles become tense, the patient tilts his head to the side to reduce pain. If cervical sciatica caused by herniated discs, the pain gradually spreads to the shoulder, arm, chest. It is rising in the night, so that people can not fall asleep for a long time.
Chest sciatica is manifested in the form of back pain, which can give a hand. Disturbed sensitivity and movement in the wrist, forearm, upper arm. Decreased muscle tone. On the hand may be swelling (it becomes thicker than on the healthy side), excessive sweating of the skin, numbness, tingling.
What can you do?
If you experience symptoms of sciatica is necessary as soon as possible address to the neurologist. There are many folk treatments, but none of them has 100% efficiency. It is necessary to establish the cause of the defeat of spinal roots and hold the right treatment. If you do not, then eventually violations will increase and lead to disability.
What can the doctor do?
Treatment of sciatica engaged neurologists, surgeons (if compression roots occurred as a result of surgical diseases). Appointed by the survey, which includes the following studies:
Radiography. It helps identify low back pain and other spinal pathology.
Radiography with the introduction of a contrast agent - myelography. Contrast that with a needle inserted, paints over the roots of the spinal cord and allows better to consider them.
Magnetic resonance imaging and computed tomography - more accurate studies in comparison with X-ray, which allow to obtain layered and three-dimensional images.
The study of cerebrospinal fluid. Appointed on the grounds.
Treatment of sciatica depends on its cause. All patients prescribed painkillers and anti-inflammatories, irritants and heat (heating pads, pepper patch, wearing a woolen shawl on the lumbar region). When severe pain of the affected area of the spine cut away anesthetics. To restore nerve function used vitamins B, tools to improve blood flow.
When herniated discs and some other diseases, if, despite treatment, the pain persists, surgery is prescribed.
After treatment to prevent recurrence of sciatica appointed spa treatment.
Forecast
If treatment is initiated in a timely manner, the prognosis is favorable. Perhaps complete freedom from pain and restore all functions. If you already have a pronounced spinal cord lesions, the prognosis is serious, patients usually receive a disability, recovery does not occur.
General Information
The front part of the human spinal cord contains nerve cells responsible for movement, and back - for sensitivity. Accordingly, in front of him out front, or motor, roots, and the rear - rear, or sensitive. They go right or left side of the spinal canal through the holes, and then connected to each other, turning into a vertebral nerves. Vertebral nerves form a plexus and branch throughout the body.
When sciatica occurs defeat the anterior and posterior spine. And therefore suffer from motion and sensitivity. In accordance with the affected spinal cord, distinguish cervical, thoracic, sciatica.
Causes of sciatica
Inflammation of the spinal roots can develop as a result of the following reasons:
Malformations of the spine. This can be extra vertebrae, hemivertebrae underdeveloped, extra ribs, vertebrae nonunion parts together. All this leads to compression of roots and development of the inflammatory process.
Osteochondrosis - a disease in which there is a premature aging of the spine, the destruction of the intervertebral discs.
Spinal injuries and their consequences: a bruised spine fractures and subluxations of the vertebrae.
Hypothermia - most often it is not the direct cause of sciatica, a factor that provokes attacks.
Herniated discs. Especially if there is a displacement of an intervertebral disc side: in this case, it compresses the spinal cord.
Infections: influenza and colds caused by other viruses, syphilis, tuberculosis, and so on.
Most often, the first attack of sciatica occurs after hypothermia, transferred colds, exercise, weight lifting.
Symptoms of sciatica
The main manifestations of sciatica - pain, impaired sensitivity and muscle weakness in the affected spine. More specific manifestations depend on which part of the spine was amazed.
When lumbar sciatica, pain occurs in one of the three types of attacks:
Backache. This is a strong pain that crops up during hypothermia, weight lifting, heavy load. It is so strong that the patient often can not walk or move, frozen in position, which was accepted before.
Lumbar ischialgia - chronic back pain, which may be given in one or both legs. In this tense muscles waist, and the patient regularly takes a certain posture in which pain is not yet strong (usually leans towards). In the area of the affected spine felt numb. Decreased muscle tone legs, they become weaker and may eventually shrink in size (atrophy).
Cervical sciatica manifested as pain in the neck, typically initially on one side only. It increases during any movement, sneezing and coughing. Neck muscles become tense, the patient tilts his head to the side to reduce pain. If cervical sciatica caused by herniated discs, the pain gradually spreads to the shoulder, arm, chest. It is rising in the night, so that people can not fall asleep for a long time.
Chest sciatica is manifested in the form of back pain, which can give a hand. Disturbed sensitivity and movement in the wrist, forearm, upper arm. Decreased muscle tone. On the hand may be swelling (it becomes thicker than on the healthy side), excessive sweating of the skin, numbness, tingling.
What can you do?
If you experience symptoms of sciatica is necessary as soon as possible address to the neurologist. There are many folk treatments, but none of them has 100% efficiency. It is necessary to establish the cause of the defeat of spinal roots and hold the right treatment. If you do not, then eventually violations will increase and lead to disability.
What can the doctor do?
Treatment of sciatica engaged neurologists, surgeons (if compression roots occurred as a result of surgical diseases). Appointed by the survey, which includes the following studies:
Radiography. It helps identify low back pain and other spinal pathology.
Radiography with the introduction of a contrast agent - myelography. Contrast that with a needle inserted, paints over the roots of the spinal cord and allows better to consider them.
Magnetic resonance imaging and computed tomography - more accurate studies in comparison with X-ray, which allow to obtain layered and three-dimensional images.
The study of cerebrospinal fluid. Appointed on the grounds.
Treatment of sciatica depends on its cause. All patients prescribed painkillers and anti-inflammatories, irritants and heat (heating pads, pepper patch, wearing a woolen shawl on the lumbar region). When severe pain of the affected area of the spine cut away anesthetics. To restore nerve function used vitamins B, tools to improve blood flow.
When herniated discs and some other diseases, if, despite treatment, the pain persists, surgery is prescribed.
After treatment to prevent recurrence of sciatica appointed spa treatment.
Forecast
If treatment is initiated in a timely manner, the prognosis is favorable. Perhaps complete freedom from pain and restore all functions. If you already have a pronounced spinal cord lesions, the prognosis is serious, patients usually receive a disability, recovery does not occur.
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