Dispelling common myths about sciatica

Millions of working adults suffer from pain in the lower back due to prolonged sitting or carrying heavy loads. However, if the pain reaches their buttock up to the leg, the sciatic nerve, the longest nerve in the body, could already be inflamed, producing a type of pain called sciatica.

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Because many people don’t really understand what sciatica is even though they are experiencing it, there have been several misconceptions about it. The following are some of the most common:  

Sciatica is an illness.  Many people mistake sciatica as a medical condition, but it is actually a set of symptoms, such as pain from the lower back up to the leg or foot and a tingling sensation in those areas.  
 

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A herniated disc is the cause of sciatica.  Though this can be true, it is not the only cause. According to Mayo Clinic, in rare situations, sciatica can be caused by a damaged nerve or a nerve compressed by a tumor.  

Physical activities should be avoided when one has sciatica.  Bed rest is recommended for the first couple of days, but lack of physical activity for a long time actually worsens the pain. Stretching exercises help strengthen the back muscles and prevent the occurrence of sciatica.  

Localized leg pain isn’t sciatica.   Though this is rare, leg pain without back pain can still be sciatica. It is advisable to get checked if one has leg pain that doesn’t go away, as this could be originating from the lower back instead.

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There are still a lot of myths surrounding sciatica that people need to know about in order to seek the right treatment and take the right steps in preventing the recurrence of this type of pain.  

Dr. Michael Steuer of MidSouth Pain Treatment Center is a board-certified educator and author of several works in pain management. Follow this Twitter account for more information on this field of medicine.

The procedure for bursal injections and how they mitigate pain from bursitis

Bursae are small, fluid-filled sacs located between any two muscles, bones, skin, and tendons, allowing these structures to slide against each other, and cushioning points of contact from the impact of friction. There are over 150 bursae in the human body, each enabling smooth joint operation and the full range of natural physical movement.

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When a joint is overused, sustains prolonged repetitive stress, or experiences sudden but intense injury, a nearby bursa can swell and fill up with excess fluid. This condition is called bursitis, and is marked by tenderness in the area where the bursa is swollen, and a severe, often unbearable pain even at rest.

Bursitis usually occurs at the shoulders, hips, elbows, and knees. When left undiagnosed and untreated, it can cause debilitating pain and discomfort, reduced movement, decreased performance at work, and fitful, erratic sleep.

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Bursal injections of local anesthetic and a corticosteroid into the inflamed bursa reduce the inflammation and pain symptoms. Through ultrasound imaging, the specific coordinates of the offending bursa is located, and a fine needle is passed into the point where tissue is most tender.

Many experience redness or flushing of the face or even the rest of the body as a reaction to the absorption of the injected corticosteroid. This is normal and harmless, and lasts a few days before fading.

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It takes anywhere from 24 hours to three days for a bursal injection to take effect. When the corticosteroid sets in, however, the resulting reduced swelling and pain relief lasts from a few weeks to up to several months.  

Dr. Michael Steuer at MidSouth Pain Treatment Center helps individuals overcome bursitis to lead productive, fulfilling lives. Learn more about Dr. Steuer or his clinic by visting this website.