Lumbar Spine Arthritis And Sciatica

Sciatica, or sciatic nerve pain, is actually more like a symptom than a condition. The sciatic nerve can be pinched by numerous different mechanisms at several different locations culminating in a pinched sciatic nerve. The likely pain pattern for a pinched sciatic nerve would include pain down the posterior leg, either the thigh, or the calf, or both, and oftentimes into the foot.

Arthritic changes in the low back are a common cause of sciatic pain and can include degeneration of the lumbar vertebra, the disc that cushions the vertebra, the joints between the vertebra, and changes like bone spurs and bulging discs. The final result of the aforementioned is the decrease in space available for the spinal cord and nerve roots to run their course unimpeded . Oftentimes , a disc protrusion can put pressure on the nerve roots inside the spinal canal or where they leave the spine and result in sciatic pain (or what is called a radiculopathy). There is a similar condition known as pseudosciatica where irritation of the lumbar facet joints causes lumbosacral pain and pain in the back of the thighs .

Several non-invasive treatments exist and are effective. Chiropractic therapy , massage therapy, and certain exercises can offer some relief from low back problems and sciatic nerve pain. Home therapy devices known as transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation machines can give some pain relief options as well. One of the most effective treatment options is inversion therapy or decompression therapy. The home inversion tables such as the Teeter Hang-ups provide patients an effective and affordable option to back surgery for some people. Because it counteracts the normal compressive force of gravity, it allows the vertebra, discs, and joint spaces to decompress or open up in many cases relieving the irritation of the sciatic nerve or nerve roots.