Your legs consist of a nerve called the sciatic nerve. This nerve is the biggest of all, and it runs from your buttocks down to the leg. Due to spinal cord complications such as degenerated disks, herniated disks, and fractures, the sciatic nerve can be affected resulting in a condition called sciatica. Sciatica is a nerve pain caused by an inflamed, irritated, compressed, or diseased sciatic nerve. Sciatica can be prevalent to many people since every person can incur spinal complications. Since the pain can limit you from doing your daily work, Mason sciatica is the best health center that can treat and manage sciatica disorder. Below is how sciatica is diagnosed.
How is sciatica diagnosed?
Sciatica is diagnosed in several ways which depend on how you acquired it. This is because, apart from spinal complications, there are other factors that can lead to sciatica. Obesity, diabetes, pregnancy, smoking, and arthritis are some of the factors that can lead to sciatica. First, your doctor will take you through a full body examination to check some of the underlying factors of sciatica. If an underlying factor is diagnosed, you will receive treatment for it first. However, sciatica can also be diagnosed through:
- X-ray. An X-ray produces images showing the position of herniated or degenerated spinal disks. The disadvantage of x-ray over other imaging tests is that it does not show the affected tissues and tendons, which may cause sciatica.
- Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). Magnetic resonance imaging is a recent technology that produces high-quality images using magnetic fields and computer technology. Through the images generated, your doctor is capable of observing the herniated spinal disks. Moreover, magnetic resonance imaging shows the infected or inflamed tissues and tendons, which also causes sciatica. MRI is much more advanced than X-ray in terms of clarity and efficiency.
- Electromyography (EMG). This is a technology that measures the energy of your nerves using muscle response. After testing, your doctor can make a judgment whether you have some compressed nerves around your spinal cord.
Sciatica can hinder you from doing many things because of pain and discomfort. It is vital to seek treatment before sciatica develops further. Below are ways sciatica can be treated.
Methods of treating sciatica
- Medication. You can be prescribed drugs such as narcotics, muscle relaxants, anti-inflammatories, and antidepressants. These drugs relieve pain, repair affected nerves and tendons, and reduce inflammation.
- Surgery. You can undergo traditional or invasive surgery. The type of surgery to undergo depends on the severity of the disease. However, surgery is done when your condition is not responding to other treatments such as medication, steroid injection, exercises, and therapy. During surgery, your doctor removes the infected tendons and tissues that result in nerve inflammation.
Nerves require professional doctors to diagnose and treat since they are very sensitive. If you are suffering from sciatica, visit Elite Physical Medicine where they will perform the best nerve treatment with no chances of side effects. Contact them today, book an appointment, and enjoy getting your comfort back.
