A painful back is the greatest nightmare someone can have. Acute back pain should be addressed as soon as possible to prevent it from becoming more severe. The most crucial step in treating back pain is determining what is causing it. It’s possible that Sciatica or Spinal Stenosis is to blame.
We’ll go through the basics, the similarities between Sciatica and Spinal Stenosis, and treatment options for both in this post.
Back Pain Could Be Caused by Two Factors
According to experts, up to 80% of the population will suffer from back discomfort at some point in their life. [Epidemiology and Risk Factors for Spine Pain, Rubin Dl.]
What is Spinal Stenosis and How Does It Affect You?
Spinal Stenosis refers to the pinching of nerve roots as a result of space loss in the spinal canal. This problem can occur in any part of the spine, although it is most common in the lumbar area (lower back). Wear and tear or osteoarthritis can induce spinal stenosis. As a result, the discs in the spine expand or turn into bone spurs. It forms an obstruction, limiting the nerves’ ability to travel through the spine.
What is Sciatica and how does it affect you?
Sciatica is a type of pain that originates in the lower back, travels down the hips and buttocks, and eventually reaches the legs. Only one side of the body is affected by this discomfort. Sciatica is caused by a herniated disc or a bone spur on the spine squeezing a portion of the nerve (Spinal Stenosis). You now understand the connection between Sciatica and Spinal Stenosis.
In most situations, the pain caused by Sciatica is severe and may be adequately managed with oral medicines such as Gabapin 300. However, if a patient has severe Sciatica that is accompanied by significant weakness in the legs, bladder, or intestines, surgery may be advised.
Sciatica Signs and Symptoms
• If you notice any of the following indications, your medical condition is Sciatica: • The pain begins in the lower back (lumbar area) and spreads to the buttocks and back section of the leg. Sciatica is characterized by this symptom.
• The patient is always in pain everywhere the nerve branches cross. The pain travels from the lower back to the buttocks, then to the thighs and calves, causing discomfort.
• Sciatica pain might be moderate or severe, but it is always accompanied by inflammation. It might also feel like a jolt or an electric shock. Coughing or sneezing may aggravate the discomfort. Additionally, activities such as prolonged sitting hours may exacerbate symptoms.
• In the afflicted limb, the patient may have numbness, muscle weakness, or tingling feelings.
What are the similarities and differences between Sciatica and Spinal Stenosis?
Both Sciatica and Spinal Stenosis induce pain, inflammation (burning feeling), and irritations, as mentioned above. Because of age-related wear and tear, spinal stenosis is most common among the elderly. On the other hand, certain persons who are born with narrower spinal canals may have Stenosis symptoms sooner.
Both types of spinal disorders cause discomfort in the lumbar area, buttocks, and legs. It’s simply because sciatic discomfort is caused by spinal stenosis.
How can you treat sciatica and spinal stenosis at the same time?
The most important goal in treating Sciatica or Spinal Stenosis is to relax the spine. Oral drugs like Gabapin 300 mg could be provided as a common treatment for both to achieve this. It’s possible that some traditional treatments will be suggested first. This contains heat and cold packs for lumbar pain alleviation.
If traditional treatments aren’t working, it’s time to seek the advice of a professional. Steroid injections into the spine may be required. They have a six-month duration of action. Acupuncture and chiropractic treatments are two other therapeutic options.
Doctors favor non-operative therapies most of the time, but if the pain persists, surgery is recommended.
Spinal Stenosis Surgery
Surgery is a preferable alternative if the pain from Spinal Stenosis or Sciatica is hurting your quality of life despite trying oral medications. According to the reason for pain, the doctor prefers surgery treatments.
For example, if a herniated disc is the cause of back pain, the surgeon will conduct a microdiscectomy.
Alternative Methods of Treatment
If surgery is not an option for you, your doctor may recommend Gabapin or other oral drugs. In addition, various lifestyle adjustments may be recommended in conjunction with oral medications to improve their efficacy. Several approaches for decreasing muscular spasms, maintaining posture, avoiding heavyweight lifting, and more that are beneficial to your spine may be recommended. You might ask your therapist for advice on how to reduce spine overload.
Bringing things to a close
Your quality of life will be impacted whether you have Spinal Sciatica or Stenosis. Don’t put off seeing a doctor until you’ve figured out what’s causing your back pain. If your doctor verifies one of the spinal disorders, your treatment will begin.
