Can sciatica patients walk?

Written by Guan Yu Hua
Orthopedic Surgery
Updated on December 16, 2024
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Sciatica can be managed with activities like walking, brisk walking, or jogging. It is best to walk or even walk backwards. It is important to avoid sitting for long periods, bending over, or carrying heavy objects. When the spine is bent, it can increase the pressure on the intervertebral discs, potentially worsening the nucleus pulposus, rupturing the annulus fibrosus, and causing a series of symptoms related to nerve root compression. This compression can cause local swelling, which can press on the nerves to varying degrees. It is recommended to strictly rest on a hard bed, and generally, with about ten days to two weeks of warming up the lower back, recovery is usually achievable. Gradual relief and disappearance of symptoms can occur, and it is advisable to avoid sitting for long periods, bending, or carrying heavy loads. Moderate walking is suitable.

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Written by Na Hong Wei
Orthopedics
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What Chinese medicine is taken for sciatica?

Sciatica is categorized under "Bi Syndrome" in traditional Chinese medicine. There are several Chinese herbal formulas to consider for treatment. The first is Xuan Bi Tong Bi Tang, which has an overall effectiveness rate of about 96%. The second herbal formula is Wu Tou Xi Xin Tong Bi Tang, which also has good therapeutic effects and is statistically shown to be superior to non-steroidal measures. The third medication is Du Huo Ji Sheng Tang, which also has a high effectiveness rate and significant results, but lacks large-scale clinical data. Additionally, in terms of diet, it is advisable to consume dishes such as Sichuan Duan stewed pig tail and other traditional Chinese medicinal foods that include old mulberry branches like Sang Ji Sheng.

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Written by Chen Hui
Orthopedic Surgery
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Where to treat sciatica?

Sciatica is relatively common among the general population. Its symptoms manifest as numbness, swelling, and weakness in one leg. The most common cause is herniation of the lumbar intervertebral disc, which compresses the nerve roots resulting in these symptoms. Therefore, when such symptoms occur, it is necessary to seek treatment at a formal medical institution. One could visit the orthopedics department, or if the hospital has specialized departments, it is best to consult the department of spinal surgery.

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Written by Lv Yao
Orthopedics
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What is the fastest way to treat sciatica?

When pain occurs in the sciatic nerve, the first thing we need to consider is whether it is caused by degeneration of the intervertebral disc. Accompanied by the rupture of the fibrous ring, it protrudes and compresses the nerve root, causing pain and numbness in the lower limbs, and even limited mobility. Once sciatic nerve pain occurs, it is essential to identify the cause so that treatment can begin as soon as possible. If it is due to degeneration of the intervertebral disc, early stages can involve back exercises and appropriate medication to alleviate these symptoms. For example, sleeping on a firm bed, wearing a lumbar support during activities, minimizing sitting time, or avoiding bending over to pick things up. Additionally, you can perform exercises like the "bird flying" and the "plank bridge" for back muscle training to help reduce pain symptoms. If these do not alleviate the pain, pain relief or anti-inflammatory medications may be prescribed for symptomatic treatment.

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Written by Xie Yi Song
Orthopedics
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What are the symptoms of sciatica?

Sciatica refers to the pain caused by the sciatic nerve due to various reasons, such as compression from spinal diseases or simply sciatica itself, and it is inherently a symptom. What are the characteristics of this symptom? Sciatica can occur on one side or both sides simultaneously. When it occurs, the pain is usually continuous and can have episodic exacerbations. The pain is often dull, stabbing, burning, or like a knife-cutting sensation. It radiates from the buttocks along the back of the thigh and the outer back of the lower leg toward the foot. Clinically, sciatica is divided into secondary and primary types. Secondary pain is due to compression of the sciatic nerve root, commonly seen in conditions like lumbar disc herniation and other spinal disorders. It often accompanies percussion pain in the lumbar spine, and the pain may worsen with coughing, sneezing, or bending, and severe cases may experience numbness in the skin of the lower limbs. Primary sciatica refers to simple inflammation of the sciatic nerve. This type generally presents pain in the buttocks and back of the thigh and usually does not involve percussion pain in the lumbar spine.

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Written by Na Hong Wei
Orthopedics
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Can you drink alcohol with sciatica?

Can people with sciatica drink alcohol? This question comes up often. In fact, sciatica is unrelated to drinking alcohol; people with or without sciatica can drink alcohol. However, it is best to drink less if you are suffering from sciatica. The reason is simple. After consuming alcohol, it might trigger an exacerbation of sciatica symptoms. Secondly, after drinking, the body's coordination and stability decrease, which may lead to uneven walking. At this time, if the sciatica has a specific cause, drinking may aggravate the factors that induce sciatica. Thirdly, excessive drinking is genuinely torturous and also harmful to health. Therefore, it is imperative to drink alcohol in moderation, and it is best to avoid excessive drinking. Otherwise, it is not good for the condition or the person.