Caused by pressure on a nerve that starts around the base of the spine and moves downward, sciatica affects an estimated three million people in the United States annually, causing radiating leg pain, numbness, and weakness. If you're living with this type of discomfort, it's safe to assume you want to know how long it will take for sciatica to heal or become less of a distraction in your daily life. We explore this topic below, since the answer depends on several factors.
Acute Sciatica
The best way to answer the question asked above is to break down sciatica pain and related symptoms by how this type of discomfort is typically experienced. Symptoms related to irritation of the sciatic nerve can be either acute (sudden) or chronic (long-lasting) in nature. Low back pain associated with acute sciatica comes on suddenly and tends to go away within a week or two. It's often related to temporary inflammation or sudden lower back trauma that puts pressure on the sciatic nerve. Acute sciatica is usually resolved with treatment involving:
• Brief rest followed by a gradual return to activities
• Therapeutic exercises
• Lifestyle adjustments related to your diet, sleeping habits and positions, and exercise habits
• Short-term use of anti-inflammatory and/or pain medication
Chronic Sciatica
According to Medical News Today, chronic sciatica refers to symptoms related to sciatic nerve irritation that last for three months or more. This type of sciatica is likely to last longer. It also tends to be more difficult to treat than acute or short-term sciatica. Symptoms associated with chronic sciatica usually come and go and vary in intensity. However, it's still possible for some patients to effectively manage chronic sciatica or reach a point where it's not as noticeable. Treatment geared toward achieving either goal may involve:
• Physical therapy
• The type of lifestyle adjustments mentioned above
• Corticosteroid injections to minimize inflammation within the affected area
• Chiropractic care
Getting an Accurate Diagnosis
You'll get a better idea of when to expect sciatica to heal once you get an accurate diagnosis. This is typically done with a physical exam, a review of your medical history, a discussion of your symptoms, and image tests. Nerve-based testing may also be performed.
Treating the Source of Sciatica
Sciatica is more likely to heal or be less disruptive for you if the actual source of nerve irritation is treated. In some cases, this means easing tissue swelling near the sciatic nerve. If a herniated lumbar spine disc is the culprit, a doctor may recommend discectomy surgery. The purpose of this procedure is to prevent disc material from irritating the sciatic nerve. With proper diagnosis and treatment, it's typical for patients to experience welcome relief within a reasonable time.
Patients who have had discectomies for herniated discs may experience sciatica if their discs become reherniated, which often occurs if there’s a large hole in the outer ring of the disc after surgery. Fortunately, there’s a new treatment shown to reduce the risk of reherniation by closing the hole in the disc after a discectomy. This treatment is done immediately following the discectomy—during the same operation—and doesn’t require any additional incisions or time in the hospital. Barricaid was proven 95 percent effective in a study of over 500 patients, meaning 95 percent of patients didn’t experience a reoperation due to reherniation in the 2-year study timeframe.
To learn more about the Barricaid treatment, ask your doctor or contact us at 844-288-7474.
For full benefit/risk information, please visit: https://www.barricaid.com/instructions.
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