Sciatica Information Resources
Resources
Degenerative disc disease is in fact not a disease but, rather, a degenerative condition that can be painful and can greatly affect the victim’s quality of life.
Being fairly common in young adults and older people, bulging disc can affect just about anyone.
Bone spurs are formed as the body tries to repair itself by building bone. Bone spurs are usually formed in response to pressure, rubbing or stress continuing over a long period of time.
Although ruptured disc surgeries are rarely required, surgery will become a treatment option for about one in twenty people.
Many people will not show symptoms of leg or back pain associated with a herniated disk and therefor are unaware that they have one
Treatments
A laminotomy is also a procedure used to remove the ligamentum flavum, a ligament in the spinal canal that can thicken to the point where it is actually compressing on the spinal cord, attributing to spinal stenosis.
A foraminotomy is performed to relieve the symptoms of nerve root compression in cases where the foramen is being compressed by bone, disc, scar tissue, or excessive ligament development and results in a pinched nerve.
Percutaneous Endoscopic Discectomy is a procedure to relieve certain spinal conditions.
A Facet Thermal Ablation is a procedure very similar to a root canal a dentist performs. The surgeon uses a laser to clean the facet joint and deaden the nerve that innervates the joint and causes painful symptoms.
Unfortunately, for the patient who has a fusion, recuperation is long and painful and fusions may cause other spine conditions down the road
Symptoms
Symptoms of sciatica can include shooting pain that makes it difficult for the patient to stand up.
Symptoms of sciatica can also include pain in the buttocks or leg that grows worse when you are sitting.
Loss of bowel and bladder control can be associated with Cauda Equina syndrome. This rare and serious condition requires immediate emergency care. If you are feeling any of these symptoms, you should seek emergency medical attention immediately.
When this symptom is associated with sciatica, it is most often felt in the foot and sometimes in the toes.
Weakness can be felt along the path the nerve follows, down the leg and often into the foot.