Overview:

● According to the National Library of medicine, injuries of the sciatic nerve are common
causes of pain and limitation in the lower limbs. Due to its particular anatomy and its long
course, the sciatic nerve is often involved in diseases of the pelvis or leg.
● In recent years, magnetic resonance neurography has become established as an
important tool for the study of peripheral nerves and can be widely applied to the study
of the sciatic nerve.
● Therefore, detailed knowledge of its anatomy and of the most prevalent diseases
affecting it is essential to maximizing the accuracy of diagnostic imaging.
● Clinically, lesions or diseases of the sciatic nerve manifest as pain of varying intensity in
the lower lumbar region, with irradiation to the gluteal region and to the posterior region
of the ipsilateral lower limb. Those manifestations can be accompanied by changes in
sensitivity or motor deficits. That can cause muscle spasms etc.

Common Complaints:

● Pain or tenderness, redness or bruising, pain in buttocks to leg
● Limited motion, muscle spasms, sciatica nerve pain, swelling
● Muscle weakness, swelling, limited ability to move the muscle

Treatments Plans:

Medications:
● NSAIDs (drink plenty of fluids too)
● Include ibuprofen (Motrin, Advil) naproxen (Aleve) and diclofenac (Voltaren, others).

Short term prescriptions if recommended by the provider:
● Medrol dose packs (steroids)
● Celebrax, indomethacin if not contraindicated
● Muscle relaxers (cyclobenzaprine for muscle strains and sprains)
● TCAs, such as low dose Amitriptyline short term

Non-pharmacological treatments can be used in conjunction:
● Immobilization, or exercise based on the etiology and severity

● Application of heat or ice, keep the sites elevated, use compression
● Transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation (TENS), Massage

 

Retrieved from:
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK499895/