ArizonaBackInstitute

The symptoms of Sciatica have often been difficult to treat, but a new option to this debilitating problem provides effective relief in most cases with little or no risk.

The term sciatica is often used to describe pain down the leg, however the true definition of sciatica is irritation of the sciatic nerve, which is a combination of several nerves as they leave the lower back .The majority of cases of sciatica are caused by herniated or bulging discs in the lumbar spine. These discs are soft cartilaginous structures that provide cushion between each vertebrae.

The inner portion of the disc has a much higher water content then the outer portion and as is much softer in consistency. One the outer fibers become weaker or are damaged the softer material begins to move it’s way outward because of the positive pressure on the disc itself. As it moves out it begins to create a bulge or what’s called a herniated causing the disc to protrude outwards and narrowing the hole where the nerve exits. The narrowing can cause direct pressure on the nerve itself or create inflammation that can then irritate the nerve creating symptoms of pain, numbness or weakness down the leg.

Traditional treatment programs for sciatica typically consist of pain medication, injections and in severe cases surgery. These approaches may work in the short term to reduce inflammation and decrease the pain somewhat, however they also carry with them significant risk. The risk to reward benefit is often not worth it long term as most of these treatment are only temporary. If the problem becomes more severe and the nerve is actually compressed then these treatments may offer no relief at all.

Lets look at steroid injection in specifically now as a common sciatica treatment. The goal with an epidural steroid injection is to reduce inflammation to the nerve root and surrounding structures. While these types of injections can bring temporary relief, they can also cause what’s called a rebound effect, where the pain comes back much more intense. They can spike blood sugar in diabetics and over time can lead to other potential side effects. If the pain is severe however, the benefit of some pain relief may in fact be worth the risk, but the key is to do something proactive while the the pain is decreased.

If sciatic pain becomes unbearable then surgical intervention may be recommended. In a small number of sciatica cases this treatment may provide relief, at least temporarily. The problem is that surgical outcomes on the spine are low with about a 50% success rate and it brings with it significant risk factors. A common condition called failed back surgery syndrome is associated with spinal surgery and can the result of excessive scar tissue formation, spinal instability after surgery and increased stress on other spinal structures. The risk is also there for the need for a repeat surgery down the road.

Fortunately a new treatment exists that is highly effective and doesn’t bring with it the risk of side effects associated with other treatments. Spinal Decompression is a new, advanced form of spinal traction with a patented computer monitoring device. This device allow a gently and logarithmic pull of the spine safely bypassing the guarding reflex muscle contraction associated with traditional traction. Bypassing this muscle response allows a therapeutic negative pressure to develop inside the disc space drawing in nutrition and fluid to help the disc heal, but also reducing herniated or bulging material and relieving the sciatica nerve. The treatment is safe and gentle and brings with it a very high success rate in the high 80 percentile and because it physically treats the cause of sciatica the problem is not likely to return.

As research continues to pour in on spinal decompression, the benefits of this technology are more and more evident. It represents a real option for many suffering from sciatica to truly correct the problem and remain pain free. Although there are some that spinal decompression is not indicated for, many will find long lastly and highly effective relief from spinal decompression.

Dr. Randall Pruitt is a board certified chiropractic neurologist. He was a pioneer in the use of Spinal Decompression In Phoenix Arizona. He utilizes the DRX9000 in his practice to achieve results for the treatment of Sciatica In Phoenix

This entry was posted on Tuesday, December 30th, 2008 at 8:13 am and is filed under Spinal Decompression. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.