A 44-year-old member asked:
Herniated disc at l4 and l5 causing sciatica, please help?
3 doctor answers • 5 doctors weighed in
Dr. Daniel Elskensanswered
37 years experience
Sciatica gets better: With such minimal info, it's hard to help. The length of time of symptoms is important. If there is any other associated symptoms such as numbness or weakness is also important. Time is the great healer. 70% of people with sciatica will get better despite anything the medical world does. Rest, stretching exercises, strengthening exercises and up being the vast majority of treatment options. Persis.
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
4.9k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
Dr. Soren Singelanswered
Neurosurgery 31 years experience
See your doctor: The doctor who ordered the scan which showed the disc herniations should be able to give advice regarding the next steps. Any numbness or weakness associated with the sciatica should be worked up by a neurosurgeon, who may recommend conservative management including injections, endoscopic or minimally invasive discectomy, laminectomy etc depending on the findings.
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
4.9k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
Dr. Qamar Khananswered
Pain Management 19 years experience
Spine Pain Options: This pain in the distribution as you suggested is the result of an irritated nerve or facet joints or other injury typically in the lumbar spine (low back) which are caused by herniated disks, spinal stenosis or degenerative disc disease, etc requiring further evaluation by a spine specialist and may be candidate for facet injections/radiofrequency ablation and epidural steroid injection.
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
3.9k viewsAnswered >2 years ago
Similar questions
PA
A 33-year-old female asked:
Is a torn disc the same as a herniated disc? What effects could an l4-l5 torn disc cause?
2 doctor answers • 3 doctors weighed in
Dr. Bennett Machanicanswered
Neurology 54 years experience
Maybe not: The cushions between our vertebrae are termed discs, and the jelly-like substance within is held together by a basket like device (nucleus fibrosis), which can get torn to a minor extent due to trauma. A full blown rent can be a fully herniated disc, which causes pain, numbness, weakness. A minor tear may be actually not noticed and asymptomatic, or cause lbp and stiffness.
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
5.6k viewsAnswered >2 years ago
Last updated Mar 27, 2019
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