If you are experiencing uncontrollable sciatica, you have one thing in mind; how to get fast and lasting relief. The sciatic nerve is the longest nerve in your body, exiting the spine’s base and branching into your legs. When the nerve becomes inflamed or irritated, it causes pain that can be confused with back or leg pain. For some people, the condition may become chronic. However, innovative practices from Las Vegas sciatica specialists can help you get the long-term pain relief you’ve been seeking. Since sciatica affects over 40% of the adult population, knowing your treatment options and how to spot sciatica is imperative.

Why won’t my sciatica go away?

It is natural to be worried if your sciatica lingers. Sciatic nerve pain usually resolves within 4-6 weeks without medical intervention. Lifestyle adjustments and moderate-intensity exercises ease the pain. However, for some people, sciatica may return after a month or so of respite from pain. Here’s why your sciatica may not be going away:

Reinjury

Sustained injuries worsen sciatic nerve damage. The symptoms may dissipate initially and then reappear later, indicating that you aggravated the nerve.

Herniated discs

The most common cause of sciatic nerve damage is disc herniation. When a disc slips out of position or bulges out and presses on the sciatic nerve, it causes sciatica. If the disc does not heal independently, sciatica won’t fade away.

Risk factors

Obesity, high blood pressure, smoking, prolonged sitting, and alcoholism are risk factors that aggravate sciatica.

Spinal misalignment

Spinal misalignment exerts pressure on the sciatic nerve. You may need surgery or chiropractic adjustments to correct an improperly aligned spine.

Infection

Apart from trauma, infections around the spine area usually cause chronic sciatica. An abscess is an infected lump that needs treatment to lessen sciatic nerve pain.

What to do if the pain won’t go away

If you’ve tried home remedies for sciatica without relief, then seeking medical attention is mandatory. You must first be sure you are dealing with sciatica. An accurate diagnosis at a reputable spine center will pinpoint the cause and recommend a treatment plan.

Among your treatment plans are cold and heat therapy. Apply an ice pack over the painful area, followed by a heating pad. Extreme temperatures aid in easing inflammation. You can combine heat and cold therapy with physical therapy. Practice gentle stretches and yoga to improve muscle strength.

A more advanced option is chiropractic care. Chiropractic adjustments realign your spine and ease inflammation to relieve pressure on the sciatic nerve and ease pain. Only a qualified chiropractor can employ the required spinal adjustments.

If nonsurgical methods do not provide pain relief, the doctor may recommend spinal surgery. There are multiple surgery options to treat sciatic nerve damage. Spinal surgery has become less invasive than open surgery methods that carry significant risks.

Maintain a healthy weight

Obesity is a risk factor for many diseases and conditions. If obese, trim your weight to ease pressure on the sciatic nerve. The doctor may recommend weight loss surgery before applying more aggressive sciatica treatments.

Sciatica disrupts the quality of life. Although in most cases, sciatica goes away without medical intervention, not everyone is lucky enough. If you struggle with sciatica that won’t respond to home remedies, then your best bet is a spine center. Accurate diagnosis is the basis for relevant treatment. Before you begin exercising or taking liver-damaging pain meds, talk to a spine specialist.