Before proceeding with any medical treatment, it is called upon the Doctor to ask for a detailed patient history, physical examination and laboratory investigation in order to identify the exact cause of the Lumbar sciatica and which nerve roots are causing the pain.
The main causes are:
- The herniated intervertebral disc (slipped disc) 70%
- Degenerative spondylitis
- Traumatic injuries
- Psychosomatic disorders
- Organic causes including inflammatory bacterial infections, malignancies. congenital anomalies, diseases of neighboring organs, osteoporosis etc.
- Difficulty moving that can be severe enough to prevent walking or standing
- Pain that does or does not radiate down the leg or pain that also moves around to the groin, buttock or upper thigh, but rarely travels below the knee;
- Pain that tends to be achy and dull
- Muscle spasms, which can be severe
- Local soreness upon touch
In all cases there is a reduction of strength and an inability to perform certain movements without pain. The pain is aggravated by coughing or sneezing.
Lower back pain treatment:
Treatment for lower back pain depends upon the patient's history and the type and severity of pain. The vast majority of lower back pain cases get better within six weeks without surgery, and lower back pain exercises are almost always part of a treatment plan.
If pain persists or worsens, more involved diagnostic and surgical procedures may be recommended.
Conservative Treatment:
- Medication
- Rest: Ceasing activity for a few days allows injured tissue and even nerve roots to begin to heal, which in turn will help relieve lower back pain.
- Elastic waistband
- Physiotherapy and exercise to strngthen the muscles of the body
- Acupuncture
How acupuncture works:
Research has shown that acupuncture causes the body to produce natural steroids and promote the production of natural endorphins. Steroids decrease inflammation, while endorphins are produced by the body to kill pain. Both substances can play an integral part in the breaking up of the pain cycle.
By reducing acute back pain, acupuncture may also reduce the chances of chronic back pain from occurring. It can help avoid the need for costlier and more invasive surgical procedures. And if back pain can be significantly reduced with acupuncture, it also lowers the need for painkillers or other medications that can either cause unwanted side-effects or prolong a patient's condition.
Many styles of acupuncture may help ease back pain. Electroacupuncture at several points on the body simultaneously may also be employed. In general, the longer the pain has been present, the longer it will take for acupuncture to produce a response.
Whereas in acute back pain treatment should be repeated daily until partial improvement of the symptoms, and then three times per week, until complete mobilization of the patient (usually 15 days).