Stop Believing the Hype: Your Guide to Smarter Sciatica Management

“Sciatica” is one of the most common terms patients use when they have back or leg pain — but it’s also one of the most misunderstood. As a pain physician, I often see patients who have lived with pain for months because of misinformation they read online or heard from friends.

Let’s clear the confusion today. Here are the top myths about sciatica — busted with medical truth and experience.

Myth : Prolonged rest helps in sciatica

Truth: Infact prolonged inactivity for long period of time worsens sciatica and associated back pain by weakening back muscles and leading to their atrophy/fatty infiltration. Healthy back muscles are important in letting you you to stand , to bend, to take turns in bed effortlessly. Once they are inactive, vicious loop of pain and immobility start. So it is best to consult your doctor and seek awareness about challenges in mobility with sciatica pain.

In most patients, engaging in gentle stretching exercises on a routine basis after 2-7 days will actually promote healing and recovery.

Myth : All sciatica patients need surgery

Truth : Surgery is rarely necessary and emergency for sciatica. Most patients’ pain resolves with non invasive treatments like medication, exercises and non surgical minimally invasive interventions including nerve root blocks, neuromodulation and regenerative therapy. Surgery is considered only for severe neurological symptoms like loss of bladder and bowel control or worsening strength of leg muscles.

Myth : Al leg pain is sciatica

Truth : This is one of the biggest misconception. Yes, sciatica because of spine related issues is a source of leg pain but other problems can also cause similar symptoms e.g. tight muscles in your buttock, sacroiliac joint dysfunction due to weak ligaments, hip arthritis or capsule/labral tears and even peripheral nerve damage with diabetes/chemotherapy. So the bottomline is thorough evaluation is necessary to pinpoint the actual cause. Treatment of this actual cause of sciatica is beneficial in long term and brings a painfree back and leg much earlier.

You can watch this video where our pain specialist describes the case history of a patient who suffered from sciatica like pain but actual cause being different.

Sciatica can be distressing, but you don’t have to live in pain or fear surgery. With the right diagnosis and timely interventional care, most patients recover completely and return to their normal lives.

If you’re suffering from back or leg pain that hasn’t improved with routine care, consult a qualified pain physician. Early intervention can make all the difference.

Category: Sciatica Pain Treatment in West Delhi

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