As Adele opens up about sciatica – experts reveal the 5 best ways to treat it
SINGER Adele revealed how spinal condition sciatica left her in terrible pain while performing in Las Vegas.
Speaking during her Weekends With Adele at Caesars Palace, the Brit singer told fans: “I have got really bad sciatica in my left leg.”
But what is sciatica?
Neil Orpen, a specialist at Swindon’s Ridgeway Hospital, said: “It describes pain stretching down the sciatic nerve in the leg.
“It refers to a nerve as the source of pain which, most commonly, means a problem originating in the spine.”
Up to 40 per cent of people may experience sciatica in their lifetime but it is rarely seen in children or teens.
Neil said: “Leg pain can be anything from mild and manageable to unbearable, which often doesn’t respond to over-the-counter medication.
“It is common for presentation to either be very sudden, with extreme pain, or to start gradually or intermittently, progressing to severe pain. We get more concerned if it is accompanied by weakness or numbness.”
In younger patients, sciatica is typically caused by a prolapsed disc and some 90 per cent of sufferers improve with rest over eight to ten weeks.
Over 60, spinal narrowing is a more common cause and pain can relapse without medical intervention.
Neil added: “Over-the-counter anti-inflammatory medication can be helpful and, if this is inadequate, a medical practitioner can provide stronger alternatives. A good physiotherapist or osteopath can provide an assessment.
“When medication is not offering adequate improvement, doctors may suggest a steroid-based injection or even surgery, which is typically very successful.”