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Suggest Treatment For Severe Sciatica Pain
Question: How can I alleviate symptoms of sciatica that are especially painful at night when I am in bed?
Brief Answer:
physiotherapy, other pain meds, amitriptyline
Detailed Answer:
HI, thanks for using healthcare magic
Short answer:(1)physiotherapy- there are exercises that your doctor or physiotherapist can go through with you that may be able to help
(2) may need combination treatment of: (1) a NSAID if you can use one of these eg naproxen, ibuprofen
(3)combine with a medication such as amitriptyline, cymbalta or effexor- these medications were originally only intended for patients with depression or anxiety but they are used in persons who have NO depression or anxiety to treat nerve related pain
They are very effective in nerve related pain and may help you
Anti seizure medications can used instead or along with. Again originally used only in persons with seizures but also found to be very helpful in nerve related pain such as this. EG gabapentin, tegretol, lyrica
(4)muscle relaxants- if there is any spasm of the associated muscles then using a muscle relaxant especially at night may also help
Explanation
Sciatica refers to pain, numbness and other altered sensations that can affect the back, hip and legs.
It is due to problems of the sciatic nerves . It can be due to different causes, some of which are: (1) degeneration of the discs between the vertebra that cause the vertebra to then compress the nerves
(2)arthritis of the back
(3)spinal stenosis
(4)trauma or fracture
(5)diabetes and other neurological conditions
The antidepressants and anti seizure medications help reduce nerve related pain by possibly modifying transmission of the pain along the nerves.
In some cases there may be accompany spasm of associated muscles, this is where the muscle relaxant would come in.
I hope this helps, feel free to ask any other questions
physiotherapy, other pain meds, amitriptyline
Detailed Answer:
HI, thanks for using healthcare magic
Short answer:(1)physiotherapy- there are exercises that your doctor or physiotherapist can go through with you that may be able to help
(2) may need combination treatment of: (1) a NSAID if you can use one of these eg naproxen, ibuprofen
(3)combine with a medication such as amitriptyline, cymbalta or effexor- these medications were originally only intended for patients with depression or anxiety but they are used in persons who have NO depression or anxiety to treat nerve related pain
They are very effective in nerve related pain and may help you
Anti seizure medications can used instead or along with. Again originally used only in persons with seizures but also found to be very helpful in nerve related pain such as this. EG gabapentin, tegretol, lyrica
(4)muscle relaxants- if there is any spasm of the associated muscles then using a muscle relaxant especially at night may also help
Explanation
Sciatica refers to pain, numbness and other altered sensations that can affect the back, hip and legs.
It is due to problems of the sciatic nerves . It can be due to different causes, some of which are: (1) degeneration of the discs between the vertebra that cause the vertebra to then compress the nerves
(2)arthritis of the back
(3)spinal stenosis
(4)trauma or fracture
(5)diabetes and other neurological conditions
The antidepressants and anti seizure medications help reduce nerve related pain by possibly modifying transmission of the pain along the nerves.
In some cases there may be accompany spasm of associated muscles, this is where the muscle relaxant would come in.
I hope this helps, feel free to ask any other questions
Note: For further queries, consult a joint and bone specialist, an Orthopaedic surgeon. Book a Call now.
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
Answered by
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