Brain Tumour, Sciatica, Back Pain, Backache, Headache, Migraine, sciatica both legs Brain Tumour, Sciatica, Back Pain, Backache, Headache, Migraine, sciatica both legsBrain Tumour, Sciatica, Back Pain, Backache, Headache, Migraine, sciatica both legs
Brain Tumour, Sciatica, Back Pain, Backache, Headache, Migraine, sciatica both legsBrain Tumour, Sciatica, Back Pain, Backache, Headache, Migraine, sciatica both legs Brain Tumour, Sciatica, Back Pain, Backache, Headache, Migraine, sciatica both legs Brain Tumour, Sciatica, Back Pain, Backache, Headache, Migraine, sciatica both legs
Brain Tumour, Sciatica, Back Pain, Backache, Headache, Migraine, sciatica both legs
Brain Tumour, Sciatica, Back Pain, Backache, Headache, Migraine, sciatica both legs
Brain Tumour, Sciatica, Back Pain, Backache, Headache, Migraine, sciatica both legs
Brain Tumour, Sciatica, Back Pain, Backache, Headache, Migraine, sciatica both legs
Brain Tumour, Sciatica, Back Pain, Backache, Headache, Migraine, sciatica both legs
Brain Tumour, Sciatica, Back Pain, Backache, Headache, Migraine, sciatica both legs
Brain Tumour, Sciatica, Back Pain, Backache, Headache, Migraine, sciatica both legs
Brain Tumour, Sciatica, Back Pain, Backache, Headache, Migraine, sciatica both legs
Brain Tumour, Sciatica, Back Pain, Backache, Headache, Migraine, sciatica both legs
Brain Tumour, Sciatica, Back Pain, Backache, Headache, Migraine, sciatica both legs
Brain Tumour, Sciatica, Back Pain, Backache, Headache, Migraine, sciatica both legs
Brain Tumour, Sciatica, Back Pain, Backache, Headache, Migraine, sciatica both legs
Brain Tumour, Sciatica, Back Pain, Backache, Headache, Migraine, sciatica both legs
Brain Tumour, Sciatica, Back Pain, Backache, Headache, Migraine, sciatica both legs
Brain Tumour, Sciatica, Back Pain, Backache, Headache, Migraine, sciatica both legs
Brain Tumour, Sciatica, Back Pain, Backache, Headache, Migraine, sciatica both legs
Brain Tumour, Sciatica, Back Pain, Backache, Headache, Migraine, sciatica both legs
Brain Tumour, Sciatica, Back Pain, Backache, Headache, Migraine, sciatica both legs
Brain Tumour, Sciatica, Back Pain, Backache, Headache, Migraine, sciatica both legs
Brain Tumour, Sciatica, Back Pain, Backache, Headache, Migraine, sciatica both legs
Brain Tumour, Sciatica, Back Pain, Backache, Headache, Migraine, sciatica both legs
BRAIN TUMOR, SCIATICA, BACK PAIN, BACKACHE, HEADACHE, MIGRAINE
 


spine model showing slipped disc causing scaiticaSciatica is extremely common. Most people have a 80-90% chance of having back pain in their life time. Of these patients 1-3% go on to have sciatica. Sciatica usually occurs when a disc in the back "slips" and presses on the nerves that run down to the legs. The symptoms may start with mild back pain, however the most disturbing symptom is pain running down the leg. Although the pain is usually down the back of the leg it may occur in the front of the leg. Patients often describe sciatica as the worst pain imaginable. Most people with sciatica find it hard to get comfortable in any one position for more than 10 minutes. As well as causing sciatica, a "slipped" disc can also cause tingling, pins and needles and numbness in the leg. In rare instances the nerve being pressed upon can stop working, causing weakness in the foot.

A disc usually slips to one side of the nerves or the other, however if the disc slips straight back into the middle it can press on the spinal cord and cause pain in both legs at the same time, problems with the bladder, bowels and sexual function. If any of these symptoms occur the patient need to be seen as an emergency, so as to preserve bladder and bowel function. 

Investigations a MRI scan of the back will show the discs and nerves

mri scan showing prolapsed disc causing scaiticathis MRI scan shows a large prolapsed disc pressing on the S1 nerve root. 

Treatment of Sciatica 

Initially it is reasonable to try simple pain killers such as paracetamol or brufen, maintaining an good posture and ensuring one's weight is acceptable. These measures may relieve symptoms over the course of a few weeks.

If symptoms continue or progress a neurosurgical opinion should be sought, with an MRI after examination. A large disc pressing on the nerve root may need removing surgically if the symptoms are persistant.

Medical studies have shown that 75-80% of patients are free of leg pain after surgery, and 65-70% remain pain free after 5 years. Tingling may also improve, it is however unusual for numbness or weakness to resolve.

PATIENTS WITH PAIN IN BOTH LEGS OR CHANGE IN BLADDER, BOWEL OR ERECTILE FUNCTION MUST SEEK AN URGENT NEUROSURGICAL OPINION. ALMOST ALL PATIENTS NEED URGENT SURGERY.

Complications of surgery for sciatica

1% suffer a wound infection, 5-10% of patients may have a recurrence of symptoms, the rare risks include a csf leak, meningitis, damage to the spinal cord or nerve roots, leaving a patient weak, paralysed or incontinent.




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