Sciatica Treatment

Do I Have Sciatica?

Sciatica refers to symptoms of leg pain, tingling, numbness and weakness that start in the lower back, through the hip and buttock, going down the sciatic nerve in the back of the leg.

It can be caused when the sciatic nerve is irritated.
This can happen in conditions such as lumbar herniated disc (slipped disc), degenerative disc disease, spinal stenosis and irritation from the piriformis muscle.

Do I Need To Do an X-ray or MRI?

Most cases of a sciatica can be diagnosed by a doctor based on your history, symptoms and a clinical examination.

In cases where the initial treatments have not been effective, X-rays are a cost effective way to rule out serious underlying problems such as tumors, infections and fractures.

In selected cases, an MRI is recommended.
An MRI uses powerful magnets and computer technology to produce three-dimensional images of the spinal cord, nerve roots, and surrounding areas and usually provides the most accurate diagnosis for the cause of sciatica.

How Can Sciatica Be Treated?

For many patients, doctors will likely prescribe rest and medications for a short period of time. Long term medications are less favored due to potential side effects.

Physiotherapy when properly applied is another well accepted option.

Using techniques such as manual therapy and spinal decompression, physiotherapy can have a good result in many cases. Some doctors may also offer spinal injections.

Why Are My Treatments Not Working?

When the previous treatments are not successful, we often find a few common factors:

• The previous diagnosis was not precise. Imaging scans and clinical experience can often be very helpful in these cases.
• Treatment that was prescribed took into account only one aspect of the condition, for example treating only muscle spasm with massage and muscle relaxants while not helping the underlying nerve compression.
• Limited available options available. Patients were only offered painkillers and exercise instead of newer medical solutions.
• Patients were offered impractical treatment plans which they could not accept. Common examples include being offered expensive and frequent treatments for extended periods.

Is Surgery Necessary?

In cases where all less invasive options have not helped, and in rare instances of medical emergency, your doctor may recommend surgery.
In most other cases, even where pain, stiffness, weakness and even numbness are severe or have been present for a long time, there are multiple non-surgical options that a patient should first consider.
As surgery can have significant risks and cost, it is important to discuss this carefully with your doctor.

What New Treatment Options Can The Pain Relief Clinic Offer For My Sciatica?

At The Pain Relief Clinic, we adopt a biomedical targeted approach that addresses how the multiple component causes of pain affect you.
This allows us to provide treatment strategy that targets the root cause of your condition using medical technology in a comprehensive and cost-effective way.
Depending on your specific condition, some of the useful options that can give very good results include:

• Dietary Correction
• Specialized Physiotherapy
• Indiba Therapy which gives rapid and long lasting recovery
• Rehabilitative Electromedical Stimulation

Non-Invasive Indiba Therapy For Sciatica

The Pain Relief Clinic is proud to be one of the few clinics in Asia (outside Japan) to offer INDIBA® ProRecovery:

• An internationally established method of treating pain and inflammation through stimulating tissue repair
• Supported by multiple medical studies, and used by top tennis player Rafael Nadal, football club Barcelona, the French Tennis Federation, as well as multiple national teams in the 2012 London Olympics
• Achieves rapid relief and long lasting recovery

If you are suffering from a sciatica, or if your condition has not improved despite other treatments, we are able to help.