The inflammatory process in the sciatic nerve is called sciatica. It provokes severe pain, radiating to the lower back. This phenomenon occurs when the body is in an uncomfortable position for a long time, as well as with injuries to the pelvic part and during pregnancy. In the absence of proper treatment, pinching can transform into serious inflammation, so you need to start taking action as soon as possible. An important component of therapy is exercises for pinched sciatic nerves.
How are medications selected?
Back pain can occur at any age in all clinical groups of patients. Usually this is not an independent pathology. As a rule, pain is a concomitant symptom of certain disorders of the body.
Injections for pain in the back and lower back are prescribed by the doctor after collecting complete information for the medical history. After identifying existing diseases, you can prescribe treatment that will help stop pain, remove inflammation, relieve swelling and enhance recovery. What injections for back and lower back pain can alleviate the patient’s condition?
Exercises for acute back pain
With sciatica, lumbago (lumbago) often occurs . To relieve severe pain, there are two exercises that eliminate pain and restore motor activity.
- You need to stand at a horizontal surface, which should be at pelvic level. For example, a table or a couch. Slowly lie down on it with your body and relax well. While inhaling, inflate your stomach for 5 seconds, then exhale as much as possible. Repeat no more than 3 times.
- Take a position on all fours. The back should not bend. Relax your neck and lower your head. Inhale with your stomach (slow), hold for 5 seconds, exhale completely. After performing this breathing exercise 10 times, a person will notice how the pain recedes.
In order not to suffer from acute pain due to sciatica, it is advisable to visit the pool , take long walks, and ride a bicycle. I would recommend doing yoga, but with an experienced instructor.
Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs)
Most often, NSAID injections are used to relieve pain in the spine, because they extremely quickly affect the source of inflammation, removing unbearable pain, stiffness, swelling, and fever.
Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs are prescribed for the following pathologies:
- low back pain of a long-term and wave-like nature due to a pinched nerve;
- radiculopathy and osteochondrosis;
- intercostal neuralgia;
- traumatic syndromes in the back;
- intervertebral hernia, etc.
NSAID therapy is external in nature, while analgesic injections for back pain have a number of contraindications. To reduce side effects, it is recommended to use modern NSAIDs - COX-2 inhibitors.
Ketorol
This medicine is quite popular as injections for back and lower back pain. Its main component is ketorolac, which is a strong anti-inflammatory non-steroidal substance.
This medication should not be used if you are hypersensitive to ketorolac, as well as during pregnancy, breast lactation, and children under 16 years of age.
Ketoprofen
A medicine based on ketorolac trometamol. Ketoprofen has a strong analgesic effect. To avoid side effects, you should strictly follow the dosage shown in the annotation.
Xefocam
The main component of this medication is lornoxicam. Relieves pain in the lower back and back with a large number of side effects. Should be used only as prescribed by a doctor.
Texamen
This pain reliever contains tenoxicam with additional components. Injections are not recommended for patients with hypertension, diabetes, liver and gastrointestinal diseases.
Diclofenac
The so-called “golden mean” among similar drugs with analgesic activity. With one injection you can eliminate discomfort in the back and lower back associated with muscle contraction and overstrain. However, it has quite a few contraindications. Among them it is worth noting individual intolerance, gastrointestinal diseases, cardiac pathologies, etc.
Meloxicam
This product contains movalis. The medicine is of the latest generation, which means it has minimal side effects. It is believed that these are good injections for back and lower back pain. It is well tolerated and has a fairly long-lasting effect.
Dexalgin
The main component of this drug is dexketoprofen. Relieves back and lower back pain due to pinched nerves and various diseases of the musculoskeletal system. The course of injections is no more than 5 days.
Exercise technique
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If you perform the exercises correctly, gymnastics can completely replace drug therapy. All movements of the complexes are physiological and natural, so there will be no fatigue or sprains .
There are many exercises for inflammation of the sciatic nerve, and they are divided into certain groups.
In a lying position:
- Pulling your knees to your chest while lying on your back. Perform at least 10 times.
- Lying on your side, stretch your legs as far as possible. Then bend both legs and pull them towards your chest, then straighten. Do the same 10 times.
- Lie on your stomach. Palms near shoulders. Straightening your arms, stretch your back as much as possible, looking up. Make a short delay and return to your previous position. For beginners, 5 approaches will be enough, but over time you can increase to 15.
- Lie on your back. Pull your feet towards your buttocks. Arms crossed over chest. As you inhale, you should raise your torso, and as you exhale, lower it. Performed 15 times.
Sitting:
- Sit on the floor and stretch your legs forward. Spread your arms to the sides (at shoulder level) and bring them back, trying to connect your shoulder blades. Movements should be made smoothly, without jerking. Repeat at least 5 times.
- From a sitting position (arms extended upward), slowly lie on your back. Then raise your legs to a right angle. The lower back should not lift off the floor, as this will place excessive stress on the spine.
- Sit on a chair. Place your hands on the back of your head and make slow turns with your body.
Standing:
- Feet shoulder-width apart, back as straight as possible. Raise your right hand and lean to the left. The arm and torso should be parallel to the floor. Then return to the starting position and lean to the right.
- Hands on the belt. You need to take turns raising your straight leg. It doesn’t have to be high, you should focus on your feelings.
- Place your feet as wide as possible. Bend your knees (“rider pose”) and shift your weight to each leg in turn. This exercise improves blood circulation in the pelvic area.
Gymnastics for the prevention of sciatica
All exercises are an excellent way to prevent sciatica . Regular implementation of the complex will prevent the sudden onset of a painful attack.
Video: “Exercises for pinched sciatic nerve”
Muscle relaxants
Quite often, back pain occurs as a consequence of muscle spasms. There are usually two different types based on etiology:
- spasticity resulting from damage to brain activity;
- muscle pain and spasms due to musculoskeletal disorders.
Injections of muscle relaxants are prescribed to enhance the effect of NSAIDs and steroid medications. Injections should be carried out in full compliance with the dosage and administration rules.
Mydocalm
Relaxes the spinal muscles, blocks nerve endings and relieves back and lower back pain. Contains an active substance - tolperisone, which provides a local anesthetic effect. May cause allergies in patients intolerant to lidocaine.
Atarax
This drug is a piperazine derivative. Intramuscular injections relax the vertebral and smooth muscles of the back with a moderate effect on the gastrointestinal tract.
Contraindications: pregnancy, hypersensitivity to components, arrhythmia and renal failure.
Baclofen (Baklosan)
The main therapeutic component is baclofen, which helps reduce the excitability of sensitive nerve endings and impulses, relieving pain in the lower back and back. Contains contraindications for patients with Parkinson's disease, muscle cramps, epilepsy and intolerance to the components.
Hydroxyzine
The active ingredient is hydroxyzine. Injections help relieve muscle tone in the lower back and neurotic pain in the back. Its effects are similar to Atarax, since it is a piperazine derivative. Should be used with caution in patients with renal failure.
Tizanidine
The main substance in the composition is tizanidine. Reduces the aggravated tone of the skeletal muscles, removes spasms in the back, reduces muscle resistance during inert movements, and increases the power of free contractions. May have side effects at higher doses.
Sirdalud
Derived from tizanidine. Relieves various muscle tones, lower back pain of various etiologies, providing an analgesic effect.
In what cases is a sciatic nerve block prescribed?
A medication block for sciatic nerve pain is not a form of treatment for sciatica. Indications for the procedure are determined by the need for emergency blockade of severe pain caused by:
Kazieva Aminat Ziyavovna
Neurologist
Rostov State Medical University
Experience since 2012
- pronounced inflammatory process;
- development of local trophic disorders;
- constant aching pain along the affected nerve;
- physical overload of the ligamentous apparatus;
- muscle spasms and myogenic contracture.
The blockade is a highly effective procedure. It is indispensable when it is necessary to quickly eliminate swelling, relieve acute attacks of pain and in cases of severe clinical illness.
Steroid drugs
Hormonal drugs create a strong anti-inflammatory effect, but at the same time they have a large number of side reactions. Steroid injections for back and lower back pain are prescribed for the following diseases:
- spinal intervertebral hernias;
- progressive radiculitis;
- ankylosing spondylitis;
- rheumatoid arthritis.
Flosteron
It contains a glucocorticosteroid. Injections are used mainly for severe forms of musculoskeletal diseases, when non-steroidal medications do not have an effect. The dosage is selected individually, taking into account the severity of the disease and the patient’s response to treatment.
Diprospan
The potent substance in betamethasone is a broad-acting steroid hormone. It has a large number of side effects, which the attending physician should warn about. Negatively affects the functioning of the adrenal glands. May be addictive if used frequently.
Hydrocortisone
Intravenous injections are prescribed for back pain of any nature, in particular rheumatic and intervertebral hernia. The dosage should be determined by the doctor individually, comparing the patient’s health status with contraindications.
Prednisolone
A drug from the group of glucocorticosteroids. Prescribed for back and lower back pain, diseases of the spinal column of various types. It has a fairly large number of side effects. The dosage is prescribed by the doctor as prescribed.
Kenalog
Contains triamcinolone acetonide. It is used as injections for various arthrosis, relieving inflammation and back pain. Has side effects.
Diagnostics
If signs of sciatica appear, you should consult a doctor.
Before prescribing treatment, the doctor conducts a diagnosis.
The clinical picture of the disease is usually clear after examination.
The following activities are prescribed:
- X-ray of the lumbar spine and pelvis;
- Magnetic resonance imaging\computed tomography;
- Ultrasound examination;
- Myography.
The doctor will definitely prescribe a blood test to check for infections in the body.
If the attending physician suspects the presence of a tumor or neoplasm, the patient is prescribed a radioisotope scan.
Chondroprotectors
Medicines in this group are prescribed to quickly restore connective tissue, regenerate the structure of the spine and reduce inflammation in the back.
Chondroitin sulfate
The active substance in the form of chondroitin is used to eliminate destruction of bone and cartilage tissue. During the course of injections, inflammation and pain in the lower back go away, and joint mobility is normalized.
Alflutop
Injections are given intramuscularly to relieve pain in the back and lower back. Included in the list of the best chondroprotectors. It regenerates cartilage and fights intervertebral hernia.
Surgical intervention
When traditional treatment methods fail, leg pain when walking and other symptoms persist for more than 8 weeks, surgery is performed. The choice of a specific type of intervention depends on the root cause of the pathology.
When inflammation is caused by a herniated disc, microdiscectomy is prescribed. This is a minimally invasive intervention that is performed using a special microscope. The surgeon’s task is to remove the hernia without damaging healthy bone structures.
If the pathology is associated with trauma or narrowing of the spinal canal, laminectomy is recommended. With its help, it is possible to relieve compression of the roots and sciatic nerve. During the operation, the doctor makes an incision and moves away the muscles and fatty tissue. Then a part of the vertebral arch is excised. For decompression, it is necessary to additionally remove the formation compressing the root.
Combined painkillers
After completing a course of injections for back and lower back pain, the patient may be prescribed other forms of medications - ointments, tablets, suppositories. These drugs will have a supporting effect and prevent the development of possible complications.
The fight against back pain is a long-term and complex process. Anesthetic injections give a good and lasting result, but they should only be used under the supervision of a doctor.
General treatment recommendations
During the course of therapy and after its completion, the patient is recommended to:
- maintain bed rest during exacerbation of pathology;
- It is forbidden to lift weights or play sports;
- swimming is allowed if the water temperature is more than 20 degrees;
- You should not stay in one position for a long time;
- It's better to give up alcohol.
If a person has already caught a cold on the sciatic nerve, it is important to pay attention to the symptoms and begin treatment immediately. Prevention of relapses comes down to strengthening the back muscles, monitoring posture, and an active lifestyle.
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