What medicine should be taken to relieve sciatica pain?
Sciatica is a common pain symptom, usually caused by lumbar disc herniation, spinal stenosis, or piriformis syndrome. Patients often present with radiating pain in the buttocks, hamstrings, or calves. Medication for sciatica is one of the important ways to relieve symptoms. The following is a compilation of hot topics and hot content about sciatica in the past 10 days across the Internet for your reference.
1. Common drugs for sciatica
Medication treatments for sciatica mainly include nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), muscle relaxants, neurotrophic drugs, and analgesics. The following are the classification and functions of common drugs:
drug type | Representative medicine | Mechanism of action | Things to note |
---|---|---|---|
Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) | Ibuprofen, diclofenac, celecoxib | Inhibits prostaglandin synthesis, reducing inflammation and pain | Long-term use may cause gastrointestinal discomfort, please follow medical advice |
muscle relaxants | metoclopramide, tizanidine | Relieve muscle spasms and improve local blood circulation | May cause drowsiness, avoid driving or operating machinery |
neurotrophic drugs | Vitamin B1, B12, methylcobalamin | Promote nerve repair and improve nerve function | Long-term use is required and the effect is slow |
analgesics | Acetaminophen, tramadol | Acts directly on the central nervous system to relieve pain | Avoid overuse and beware of addiction |
2. Hot topics in the past 10 days: New developments in drug treatment of sciatica
1.Choice of NSAIDs: What has been much discussed recently is the comparison between celecoxib (COX-2 inhibitor) and traditional NSAIDs. Celecoxib causes less irritation to the gastrointestinal tract and is suitable for patients with long-term pain management.
2.Combined use of neurotrophic drugs: Compound preparations of vitamins B1, B6 and B12 (such as Micoba) have been shown to have a good auxiliary treatment effect on sciatica in recent clinical studies.
3.Rational use of analgesics: The use of weak opioids such as tramadol in acute pain has attracted attention, but attention should be paid to its addictiveness and side effects.
3. Precautions for drug treatment
1.Take medication as directed by your doctor: Medication selection for sciatica needs to be customized based on the cause and severity. Do not self-medicate.
2.Avoid long-term dependence on analgesics: Long-term use of analgesics may mask the condition and delay treatment.
3.Drug side effects management: NSAIDs may cause gastrointestinal discomfort and can be used with gastric mucosal protective agents; muscle relaxants may cause drowsiness, so the medication time needs to be adjusted.
4. Other auxiliary treatment methods
In addition to medication, physical therapy (such as heat compresses, acupuncture), rehabilitation exercises, and lifestyle adjustments are also important ways to relieve sciatica. The following are the most popular auxiliary treatments recently:
Adjuvant treatment modalities | Specific methods | Effect evaluation |
---|---|---|
physical therapy | Hot compress, low frequency electrical stimulation, ultrasound treatment | Relieve pain in the short term and improve local blood circulation |
Acupuncture | Acupuncture at Ashi, Huantiao and Weizhong points | Some patients report that the effect is remarkable and require multiple treatments. |
Rehabilitation exercises | Stretch the piriformis and strengthen the core muscles | Long-term persistence can reduce the recurrence rate |
5. Summary
The drug treatment of sciatica needs to be based on the patient's specific situation and the drug type and dose should be selected reasonably. Hot topics recently focus on the optimal use of NSAIDs, the combined use of neurotrophic drugs, and the rational management of analgesics. In addition, auxiliary treatment modalities such as physical therapy and rehabilitation exercises have also received widespread attention. It is recommended that patients develop a personalized treatment plan under the guidance of a doctor to achieve the best analgesic effect.
If you are experiencing sciatica, seek medical attention promptly to avoid delays in your condition. I hope this article can provide you with valuable reference information!
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