Medicare Medical Center

03/10/2024

13/06/2024

Visit us at Medicare Medical Centre and get your flu vaccinations.
About flu
Flu (influenza) is a common infectious viral illness spread by coughs and sneezes. It can be very unpleasant, but you'll usually begin to feel better within about a week.
You can catch flu all year round, but it's especially common in winter, which is why it's also known as seasonal flu.
Flu isn't the same as the common cold. Flu is caused by a different group of viruses and the symptoms tend to start more suddenly, be more severe and last longer.
How you catch flu
The flu virus is contained in the millions of tiny droplets that come out of the nose and mouth when someone who is infected coughs or sneezes.
These droplets typically spread about one metre. They hang suspended in the air for a while before landing on surfaces, where the virus can survive for up to 24 hours.
Anyone who breathes in the droplets can catch flu. You can also catch the virus by touching the surfaces that the droplets have landed on if you pick up the virus on your hands and then touch your nose or mouth.
Everyday items at home and in public places can easily become contaminated with the flu virus, including food, door handles, remote controls, handrails, telephone handsets and computer keyboards. Therefore, it's important to wash your hands frequently.
You can catch flu many times because flu viruses change regularly and your body won't have a natural resistance to the new versions.
Preventing the spread of flu
You can help stop yourself catching flu or spreading it to others with good hygiene measures.
Always wash your hands regularly with soap and warm water, as well as:
regularly cleaning surfaces such as your computer keyboard, telephone and door handles to get rid of germs
using tissues to cover your mouth and nose when you cough or sneeze
putting used tissues in a bin as soon as possible
You can also help stop the spread of flu by avoiding unnecessary contact with other people while you're infectious. You should stay off work or school until you're feeling better.
In some people at risk of more serious flu, an annual flu vaccine or antiviral medication may be recommended to help reduce the risk of becoming infected.

01/06/2024

Contact us and get your flu vaccine

19/07/2023

What Is Tonsillitis?
Tonsillitis is an infection of your tonsils, two masses of tissue at the back of your throat.

Your tonsils act as filters, trapping germs that could otherwise enter your airways and cause infection. They also make antibodies to fight infection. But sometimes, they get overwhelmed by bacteria or viruses. This can make them swollen and inflamed.

Tonsillitis is common, especially in children. It can happen once in a while or come back again and again in a short period.

There are three types:

-Acute tonsillitis. These symptoms usually last 3 or 4 days but can last up to 2 weeks.
-Recurrent tonsillitis. This is when you get tonsillitis several times in a year.
-Chronic tonsillitis. This is when you have a long-term tonsil infection.

Tonsillitis Symptoms
The main symptoms of tonsillitis are inflamed and swollen tonsils, sometimes severe enough to make it hard to breathe through your mouth. Other symptoms include:

-Throat pain or tenderness
-Fever
-Red tonsils
-A white or yellow coating on your tonsils
-Painful blisters or ulcers on your throat
-Headache
-Loss of appetite
-Ear pain
-Trouble swallowing
-Swollen glands in your neck or jaw
-Fever and chills
-Bad breath
-A scratchy or muffled voice
-Stiff neck

Tonsillitis Symptoms in Children
In children, symptoms may also include:

-Upset stomach
-Vomiting
-Stomach pain
-Drooling
-Not wanting to eat or swallow

Tonsillitis Causes and Risk Factors
Bacterial and viral infections cause tonsillitis. A common cause is Streptococcus (strep) bacteria, which can also cause strep throat. Other common causes include:

-Adenoviruses
-Influenza virus
-Epstein-Barr virus
-Parainfluenza viruses
-Enteroviruses
-Herpes simplex virus

Some things may put you at greater risk of getting tonsillitis:

-Age: Children tend to get tonsillitis more than adults. Kids who are between the ages of 5 and 15 are more likely to get tonsillitis caused by bacterial infections. Tonsillitis from viral infections are more common in very young children. Elderly adults are at higher risk for tonsillitis too.

-Germ exposure: Children also spend more time with other kids their age in school or camp, so they can easily spread infections that lead to tonsillitis. Adults who spend a lot of time around young children, such as teachers, may also be more likely to pick up infections and get tonsillitis.

Tonsillitis Diagnosis
Your doctor will do a physical exam. They’ll look at your tonsils to see if they’re red or swollen or have pus on them. They’ll also check for a fever. They may look in your ears and nose for signs of infection and feel the sides of your neck for swelling and pain.

You might need tests to find the cause of your tonsillitis. They include:

A throat swab:Your doctor will test saliva and cells from your throat for strep bacteria. They’ll run a cotton swab along the back of your throat. This might be uncomfortable but won’t hurt. Results are usually ready in 10 or 15 minutes. Sometimes, your doctor will also want a lab test that takes a couple of days. If these tests are negative, a virus is what caused your tonsillitis.

A blood test:Your doctor may call this a complete blood cell count (CBC). It looks for high and low numbers of blood cells to show whether a virus or bacteria caused your tonsillitis.

Rash:Your doctor will check for scarlatina, a rash linked to strep throat infection.

Tonsillitis Complications
Complications usually happen only if bacteria caused your infection. They include:

-A collection of pus around your tonsil (peritonsillar abscess)
-Middle ear infection
-Breathing problems or breathing that stops and starts while you sleep (obstructive sleep apnea)
-Tonsillar cellulitis, or infection that spreads and deeply penetrates nearby tissues

Tonsillitis and Strep Infection
If you have strep bacteria and don’t get treatment, your illness could lead to a more serious problem, including:

-Rheumatic fever
-Scarlet fever
-Sinusitis
-A kidney infection called glomerulonephritis

Tonsillitis Treatments
Your treatment will depend in part on what caused your illness.

Medication

If your tests find bacteria, you’ll get antibiotics. Your doctor might give you these drugs in a one-time injection or in pills that you’ll swallow for several days. You’ll start to feel better within 2 or 3 days, but it’s important to take all of your medication.

If you have a virus, antibiotics won't help, and your body will fight the infection on its own.

Tonsillectomy surgery

Tonsils are an important part of your immune system, so your doctor will try to help you keep them. But if your tonsillitis keeps coming back or won’t go away, or if swollen tonsils make it hard for you to breathe or eat, you might need to have your tonsils taken out. This surgery is called tonsillectomy.

Tonsillectomy used to be a very common treatment. But now, doctors only recommend it if tonsillitis keeps coming back. That means you or your child has tonsillitis more than seven times in one year, more than four or five times a year for the past two years, or more than three times a year for the past three years.

Usually, your doctor uses a sharp tool called a scalpel to take out your tonsils. But other options are available, including lasers, radio waves, ultrasonic energy, or electrocautery to remove enlarged tonsils.

Discuss your options with your doctor to decide the best treatment for you.

Tonsillectomy recovery

Tonsillectomy is an outpatient procedure, meaning you won’t need to stay in the hospital. It usually lasts less than an hour. You can probably go home a few hours after surgery.

Recovery usually takes 7 to 10 days. You may have some pain in your throat, ears, jaw, or neck after the surgery. Your doctor can tell you what drugs to take to help with this.

Get plenty of rest and drink lots of fluids while you’re recovering. But don’t eat or drink any dairy products for the first 24 hours.

You might have a low fever and see a little blood in your nose or mouth for several days after the surgery. If your fever is high or you have bright red blood in your nose or mouth, call your doctor right away.

Tonsillitis Prevention
The best way to prevent tonsillitis is through good hygiene, including:

-Washing your hands often
-Not sharing food, drink, utensils, or personal items like toothbrushes with anyone
-Staying away from someone who has a sore throat or tonsillitis

18/07/2023

Vaginal Candidiasis

Candidiasis is an infection caused by a yeast (a type of fungus) called Candida. Candida normally lives on skin and inside the body such as in the mouth, throat, gut, and va**na, without causing any problems. Candida can cause an infection if conditions change inside the va**na to encourage its growth. Things like hormones, medicines, or changes in the immune system can make infection more likely. The common term for candidiasis in the va**na is a va**nal yeast infection. Other names for this infection are va**nal candidiasis, vulvova**nal candidiasis, or candidal vaginitis.

Symptoms
The symptoms of va**nal candidiasis include:

-Vaginal itching or soreness
-Pain during s*xual in*******se
-Pain or discomfort when urinating
-Abnormal va**nal discharge

Vaginal candidiasis is often mild. However, some women can develop severe infections involving redness, swelling, and cracks in the wall of the va**na.

Contact your healthcare provider if you have any of these symptoms. These symptoms are similar to those of other types of va**nal infections. A healthcare provider can tell you if you have va**nal candidiasis and how to treat it.

Risk & Prevention

Vaginal candidiasis is common. Women who are more likely to get va**nal candidiasis include those who:

-Are pregnant
-Use hormonal contraceptives (for example, birth control pills)
-Have diabetes
-Have a weakened immune system (for example, due to HIV infection or medicines such as steroids and chemotherapy)
-Are taking or have recently taken antibiotics

How to prevent va**nal candidiasis?

-Wearing cotton underwear might help reduce the chances of getting a yeast infection.
-Because taking antibiotics can lead to va**nal candidiasis, take these medicines only when prescribed and exactly as your healthcare provider tells you. Learn more about when antibiotics work and when you do not need them.

Diagnosis & Testing
Healthcare providers usually diagnose va**nal candidiasis by taking a small sample of va**nal discharge. They examine the sample under a microscope in the medical office or send it to a laboratory for a fungal culture. However, a positive fungal culture does not always mean that Candida is causing symptoms. Some women can have Candida in the va**na without having any symptoms.

Treatment
If you have va**nal candidiasis, likely you will use antifungal medicine to treat it. Often, the treatment is an antifungal medicine applied inside the va**na or a single dose of fluconazole taken by mouth. You may need other treatments if your infection is:

-more severe
-Doesn’t get better
-Keeps coming back after getting better
These treatments include:

More doses of fluconazole taken by mouth
Other medicines applied inside the va**na,

13/07/2023

Gastritis

Gastritis is inflammation (irritation) of the stomach lining. This may be caused by many factors including infection, alcohol, particular medications and some allergic and immune conditions. Gastritis can be either acute (with severe attacks lasting a day or two) or chronic (with long-term appetite loss or nausea). In many cases, gastritis has no symptoms (asymptomatic).

Some forms, including chronic atrophic gastritis, have been associated with an increased risk of stomach cancer. Treatment options include avoiding exposure to known irritants and taking medication to reduce the amount of gastric juices.

Symptoms of gastritis
In many cases, gastritis has no symptoms. Common symptoms can include:

-loss of appetite
-pain in the upper abdomen just under the ribs
-nausea or indigestion
-hiccups
-vomiting
-blood in the vomit
-blood in the bowel actions, if the stomach lining has ulcerated (this turns stools ---black and is called melaena)
-weight loss.
-The stomach

*The stomach is an organ of the digestive system, located in the abdomen just below the ribs. Swallowed food is mixed with gastric juices containing enzymes and hydrochloric acid. The lining of the stomach, called the epithelium, is layered with multiple folds. The epithelium is coated with mucus (gastric mucosa) secreted by special glands. Inflammation caused by gastritis occurs in this lining.

Causes of gastritis
Gastritis can be caused by many different factors, including:

-medication such as aspirin and non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDS)
-infection with the Helicobacter pylori bacteria, the organism responsible for the majority of stomach and duodenal ulcers
-alcohol
-protracted vomiting
-overproduction of gastric juices, which is a stress response in some people
the backflow of bile from the small intestine (duodenum)
-some allergic and immune conditions – for example, pernicious anaemia
-exposure to radiation.

Diagnosis of gastritis
Diagnosing gastritis involves a variety of tests, including:

Endoscopy – a thin flexible tube is threaded down the oesophagus into the stomach. The endoscope is fitted with a small camera so the physician can look at the stomach lining. If the gastric mucosa is reddened, this may indicate gastritis. A biopsy is needed for confirmation.

Biopsy – small tissue samples are taken during an endoscopy and tested in a laboratory. The pathologist will look for changes, including the presence of inflammatory cells and epithelium damage.

Treatment for gastritis
Treatment for gastritis may include:

Identifying the cause – once the cause is identified, steps can be taken to avoid exposure. For example, if alcohol is triggering the inflammation, you can abstain or reduce the amount of alcohol you drink.

Anti-inflammatory drugs taken to help manage other conditions may need to be stopped or replaced with an alternative.

Medication – tablets are available to reduce the acid content in the gastric juices. You may need to take these medications for a few weeks or months, depending on your situation.

Dietary modifications – such as limiting or avoiding alcohol and caffeine, which can irritate the stomach lining.

No treatment – often gastritis is found by chance during an endoscopy. If Helicobacter pylori is not present, and there are no other features seen on biopsy, there is usually no need to treat the gastritis.

*Helicobacter pylori infection
The Helicobacter pylori bacterium causes gastritis and is also responsible for most peptic ulcers. A peptic ulcer is a hole in the lining of the stomach, duodenum or oesophagus. Helicobacter pylori bacterium is thought to be a cause of indigestion and a contributing factor in the development of stomach cancer.

The germs live in the lining of the stomach and the chemicals they produce cause irritation and inflammation. Diagnosis includes a special breath test to check for gaseous by-products of the bacteria. Treatment includes a combination of different antibiotics, followed by breath tests to make sure the medication has worked.

10/07/2023

Dysmenorrhea

Dysmenorrhea is the medical term for painful periods (menstruation) or menstrual cramps. In addition to cramping, you might have other symptoms, such as nausea, fatigue and diarrhea. It’s most common to have menstrual cramps the day before or the day you start your period. For most people, symptoms subside after about two or three days.

Mild to moderate menstrual cramping is normal. But some people have such severe pain during their period that it interferes with their day-to-day life and prevents them from doing things they enjoy. Medication and other treatments can help with painful periods.

Types of dysmenorrhea
There are two types of dysmenorrhea: primary and secondary.

Primary dysmenorrhea
Primary dysmenorrhea is the name for menstrual cramps that come back every time you have get period, but aren’t due to another medical condition. Pain usually begins one or two days before you get your period or when the bleeding actually starts. You may feel pain ranging from mild to severe in your lower abdomen, back or thighs. The pain usually subsides within two or three days. Primary dysmenorrhea is the more common type of dysmenorrhea.

Secondary dysmenorrhea
If you have painful periods because of a condition or an infection in your reproductive organs, it’s secondary dysmenorrhea. Pain from secondary dysmenorrhea usually begins earlier in your menstrual cycle and lasts longer than typical menstrual cramps. For example, you may experience cramping several days before your period and the pain may last until the bleeding completely stops. Secondary dysmenorrhea is less common.

Is having dysmenorrhea normal?
It’s normal to have some pain during menstruation. About 60% of people with a uterus have mild cramps during their period. About 5% to 15% of people report period pain that’s so severe that it affects their daily activities. However, this number is likely higher, as healthcare providers believe many people don’t report menstrual pain.

In most cases, painful periods become less painful as you get older. They may also improve after giving birth.

What is the main cause of painful periods?
Menstrual cramps happen when a chemical called prostaglandin makes your uterus contract (tighten up). During menstruation, prostaglandin levels are higher, which means your uterus contracts more strongly. This is the cramping and discomfort you feel. These contractions help shed your uterine lining, which is the blood and tissue that comes out of your va**na during your period. Prostaglandin levels rise right before menstruation begins. Levels decrease once you get your period, which is why cramping tends to ease up after a few days.

Why are period cramps so painful?
What you’re feeling is a tightening and relaxing of your uterus. The muscles in your uterus contract in order to shed your uterine lining. Experts aren’t entirely sure why some people have more painful periods, but they think it may be because they have higher levels of prostaglandins. There also may not be a clear explanation other than everyone’s body is different.

What are the symptoms of painful menstrual cramps?
If you have painful periods, you may feel:

Aching, throbbing pain in your abdomen (pain may be severe at times).
Feeling of pressure in your abdomen.
Pain in your hips, lower back and inner thighs.
Other symptoms like nausea, dizziness and headaches.
In most cases, the pain begins in the 24 to 48 hours before your period and subsides within 48 hours of getting your period.

How does secondary dysmenorrhea cause menstrual cramps?
Menstrual pain from secondary dysmenorrhea is a result of a condition affecting your reproductive organs. Conditions that can cause cramping include:

Endometriosis: A condition where the tissue lining your uterus (the endometrium) grows outside of your uterus. Because these pieces of tissue bleed during your period, they can cause swelling, scarring and pain.

Adenomyosis: A condition where the lining of your uterus grows into the muscle of your uterus. This condition can cause your uterus to get much bigger than it should be, along with abnormal bleeding and pain.

Fibroids (benign tumors): Noncancerous growths on the inside, outside or in the walls of your uterus.

Pelvic inflammatory disease (PID): An infection caused by bacteria that starts in your uterus and can spread to other reproductive organs. PID can cause pain in your stomach or pain during s*x.

Cervical stenosis: A condition where your cervix narrows due to surgery, treatment or other condition.

Congenital conditions: Certain conditions you’re born with can cause painful menstruation. This may include an irregularly shaped uterus or other conditions affecting your ovaries or fallopian tubes.

Who is more likely to have dysmenorrhea?
You may be more likely to have painful periods if:

You got your first menstrual period before age 12.
You’re younger than 20.
Your periods are heavy or last longer than seven days.
You smoke ci******es.
You have a biological parent who has dysmenorrhea.
Can there be complications of painful periods?
Menstrual cramps themselves usually don’t cause complications, other than disrupting your daily life. But if a medical condition is causing painful periods, there can be complications. For example, conditions like endometriosis or pelvic inflammatory disease can lead to infertility or ectopic pregnancy. This is why it’s important to see a healthcare provider so they can rule out an underlying cause for your period pain.

How do I tell the difference between normal cramps and dysmenorrhea?
If you have severe or unusual menstrual cramps or cramps that last for more than three days, contact a healthcare provider. Both primary and secondary menstrual cramps are treatable, so it’s important to get checked.

First, your healthcare provider will ask you to describe your symptoms and menstrual cycles. They’ll perform a pelvic exam by placing gloved fingers into your va**na. During this exam, your provider will also insert a speculum into your va**na. This allows them to get a better look at your va**na and cervix. They may take a small sample of va**nal fluid for testing. The goal of the exam is to determine if a medical condition is causing painful periods. If there isn’t an apparent cause, your provider will diagnose you with primary dysmenorrhea.

However, if your provider thinks you may have secondary dysmenorrhea (caused by another health condition), you may need additional tests. Imaging and other diagnostic tests allow your provider to get a better look at your uterus and other reproductive organs. Your provider may recommend:

Ultrasound: Ultrasound uses sound waves to create images of your uterus, ovaries and other reproductive organs.
Hysteroscopy: Your provider uses a thin, lighted device to see inside your uterus. The device transmits images of your uterus to a screen.
Laparoscopy: Your provider makes tiny incisions in your abdomen and then uses a laparoscope (a thin tube with a light and camera at the end) to view your pelvic organs.
If those tests show you have a medical condition causing painful menstruation, your healthcare provider will discuss treatment with you.

How can you relieve menstrual cramps?
There are several things you can do to help relieve painful periods.

NSAIDs and other pain relievers
Pain relievers called nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) are often the first treatment for dysmenorrhea. These include medications like ibuprofen or naproxen, which you can buy at your local drug or grocery store. They work by reducing the amount of prostaglandins in your body. It’s best to take these as soon as cramping begins. If you can’t take NSAIDs, you can take another pain reliever like acetaminophen.

Your healthcare provider can also prescribe medications for you, including ibuprofen or another anti-inflammatory medication at a higher dose than is available over the counter.

Hormonal medications
Your healthcare provider might also suggest hormonal birth control as a treatment. People who take hormonal medications tend to have less menstrual pain. This could include birth control options like the pill, patch or va**nal ring.

Other ways to reduce menstrual cramps
There are several treatments for menstrual cramps that don’t involve medication. Some of these are:

Using a heating pad or hot water bottle on your lower back or abdomen when you have cramps.
Getting extra rest.
Avoiding foods that contain caffeine.
Avoiding smoking ci******es and drinking alcohol.
Massaging your lower back and abdomen.
Exercising regularly. People who exercise tend to have less menstrual pain.
If testing shows that you have secondary dysmenorrhea, your provider will discuss treatment for the condition causing you pain. This might mean oral contraceptives, other types of medications or surgery.

What types of alternative therapies help with period cramps?
People who have painful periods often try to find natural ways of dealing with the pain. Studies on alternative or complementary methods haven’t been conclusive about results. Some natural methods for relieving period pain include:

Yoga.
Acupuncture and acupressure.
Relaxation or breathing exercises.
Eating anti-inflammatory foods like leafy green vegetables, ginger and nuts, and drinking green tea.
Taking supplements like vitamin D or magnesium, which may help reduce inflammation.

Can I prevent dysmenorrhea?
No, you can’t prevent it. However, eating a balanced diet and getting regular exercise may help stop cramps from being as intense.

When should you contact your healthcare provider about menstrual cramps?
Contact your healthcare provider if you have painful periods that prevent you from doing your normal tasks. Mild cramps are normal. But severe cramping and pain that prevent you from going to school or work may mean you need treatment.

It may be helpful to keep track of your periods and the days on which pain is the worst so you can tell your provider. If you notice other symptoms, like headaches or heavy bleeding, you should keep track of those, too.

Your provider will probably ask you when you started getting your period, how long your symptoms last, if you’re s*xually active or if other people in your biological family have problems with their periods.

07/07/2023

What is sciatica?
Sciatica is nerve pain from an injury or irritation to your sciatic nerve. In addition to pain, it can involve tingling or numbness in your back or butt that may also radiate down your leg. More severe symptoms are also possible.

Your sciatic nerve is the longest and thickest nerve in your body. It’s up to 2 centimeters wide. Despite its name, it’s not just one nerve. It’s actually a bundle of nerves that come from five nerve roots branching off from your spinal cord.

You have two sciatic nerves, one on each side of your body. Each sciatic nerve runs through your hip and buttock on one side. They each go down the leg on their side of your body until they reach just below your knee. Once there, they split into other nerves that connect to parts farther down, including your lower leg, foot and toes.

Having sciatica means you can experience mild to severe pain anywhere with nerves that connect to the sciatic nerve. The symptoms can affect your lower back, hips, buttocks or legs. Some symptoms may extend as far down as your feet and toes, depending on the specific nerve(s) affected.

Types of sciatica
There are two types of sciatica. Regardless of what type you have, the effects are the same. The types are:

True sciatica. This is any condition or injury that directly affects your sciatic nerve.

Sciatica-like conditions. These are conditions that feel like sciatica, but happen for other reasons related to the sciatic nerve or the nerves that bundle together to form it.

Healthcare providers tend to refer to both types as just “sciatica.” The differences between them usually only matter when your healthcare provider determines how to treat it.

What are the symptoms of sciatica?
Sciatica symptoms can include:

Pain. Sciatica pain happens because of pressure on the affected nerve(s). Most people describe sciatica pain as burning or like an electric shock. This pain also often shoots or radiates down the leg on the affected side. Pain commonly happens with coughing, sneezing, bending or lifting your legs upward when lying on your back.
Tingling or “pins and needles” (paresthesia). This is similar to the feeling you have when a leg falls asleep because you sat cross-legged.

Numbness. This is when you can’t feel sensations on the skin in the affected areas of your back or leg. It happens because signals from your back or leg are having trouble reaching your brain.

Muscle weakness. This is a more severe symptom. It means that muscle command signals are having trouble reaching their destinations in your back or legs.

Urinary incontinence or f***l incontinence. This is a very severe symptom. It means signals that control your bladder and bowels aren’t reaching their destinations.

What causes sciatica?
Sciatica can happen because of any condition that affects the sciatic nerve. It can also happen because of conditions affecting any of the five spinal nerves that bundle to form the sciatic nerve.

Conditions that can cause sciatica include:

-Herniated disks.
-Degenerative disk disease.
-Spinal stenosis.
-Foraminal stenosis.
-Spondylolisthesis.
-Osteoarthritis.
-Injuries.
-Pregnancy.
-Tumors, cysts or other growths.
-Conus medullas syndrome.
-Cauda equina syndrome

What are the risk factors for sciatica?
Because sciatica can happen for so many reasons, there are many potential risk factors, which include, but aren’t limited to:

Having a current or previous injury. An injury to your spine or lower back increases your risk of developing sciatica.

Normal wear-and-tear. As you get older, normal wear-and-tear on your spine can lead to pinched nerves, herniated disks and other conditions that can cause sciatica.

Age-related conditions like osteoarthritis can also play a role.

Having excess weight or obesity. Your spine is like a construction crane when you stand upright. The weight you carry in the front of your body is what your spine (crane) has to hoist. Muscles in your back are like the winch and cable, pulling to keep you vertical. The more weight you have, the more your back muscles have to work. That can lead to back strains, pain and other issues.

Having insufficient core strength. Your “core” is the term for the muscles of your back and abdomen (stomach area). Like in the crane analogy, having a stronger core is like upgrading the crane’s components to handle a heavier load. The muscles of your abdomen are important because they help anchor your back muscles.

Your job. Jobs that require heavy lifting, a lot of bending, or working in awkward or unusual positions may increase your risk of low back problems. However, jobs with prolonged sitting — especially without proper back support — may also increase your risk of low back problems.

Not using good posture and form when lifting. Even if you’re physically fit and active, you can still be prone to sciatica if you don’t follow proper body form during weight lifting, strength training or similar activities.

Having diabetes. Type 2 diabetes increases your risk of diabetes-related peripheral neuropathy. That damages your nerves, including any of the nerves that can cause or contribute to sciatica.

Physical inactivity. Sitting for long periods and a lack of physical activity can contribute to an increased risk of sciatica.

Using to***co. Ni****ne use can affect circulation and increase your risk of chronic pain. That includes conditions like sciatica.

Unknown causes. Many cases of sciatica don’t have a cause that healthcare providers can find.

What are the complications of sciatica?
Most people recover fully from sciatica. However, a possible complication of sciatica is chronic (long-term) pain.

If there’s serious damage to an affected nerve, chronic muscle weakness, such as a “drop foot,” might happen. That’s when nerve damage causes numbness in your foot, which makes normal walking difficult or even impossible.

Sciatica can also potentially cause permanent nerve damage, resulting in a loss of feeling in the affected legs.

How is sciatica diagnosed?
A healthcare provider can diagnose sciatica using a combination of methods. They’ll review your medical history and ask about your symptoms. They’ll also do a physical examination. That exam will include:

Walking. Sciatica often causes visible changes in how you walk. Your provider will watch for those changes as part of diagnosing sciatica.

Straight leg raise test. This involves having you lie on an exam table with your legs straight out. They’ll slowly raise your legs one at a time toward the ceiling and ask when you start to feel pain or other symptoms. These can help pinpoint the cause of sciatica and how to manage it.

Other flexibility and strength checks. These can help your provider determine if any other factors are causing or contributing to your sciatica.

What tests will be done to diagnose this condition?
Several tests can help with diagnosing sciatica and ruling out similar conditions. The most common or likely tests include, but aren’t limited to:

-Spine X-rays or computed tomography (CT) scans.
-Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scans.
-Nerve conduction velocity studies
-Electromyography.
-Myelogram.

How is sciatica treated, and is there a cure?
Treating sciatica usually involves trying to decrease pain and increase mobility. Many treatments are things you can do yourself.

There are several treatment options if you have sciatica that won’t go away or is more severe. Surgery might be an option if your case is severe or other treatments don’t help.

Is sciatica preventable?
Some causes of sciatica are preventable, but others happen unpredictably or for unknown reasons. For the causes that aren’t preventable, it may still be possible to reduce your risk of developing them.

The following can help prevent sciatica or reduce the risk of it happening:

Maintain good posture. Follow good posture techniques while you’re sitting, standing, lifting objects and sleeping.

Quit (or don’t start) using to***co products. Ni****ne from any source (including va**ng) reduces blood supply to your bones, which can weaken your spine and its various components.

Reach and maintain a weight that’s healthy for you. Your primary care provider can guide you on how to eat and get physical activity. Make sure you get enough calcium and vitamin D for bone health, too.

Stay active. Physical activity can include everything from stretching to strength training. Increasing core strength and flexibility can improve back pain. Other forms of activity, such as aerobic exercise, can also help you reach and maintain a weight that’s healthy for you.

Protect yourself from falls. Wear shoes that fit and keep stairs and walkways free of clutter to reduce your chance of a fall. Make sure rooms are well-lit, and there are grab bars in bathrooms and rails on stairways.

Take time to recover if needed. Don’t try to work through back pain. That can lead to even worse injuries. Back pain doesn’t have to keep you from being active, either. You can still participate in low-impact activities such as swimming, walking, yoga or tai chi.

What can I expect if I have sciatica?
Milder cases of sciatica generally go away on their own with time and self-treatment. Most people (between 80% to 90%) with sciatica get better without surgery.

If your sciatica pain doesn’t improve after a few weeks of self-treatment, or you have concerns that you aren’t recovering as quickly as hoped, you should talk to a healthcare provider.

How long does sciatica last?
Sciatica often doesn’t last longer than six weeks. When it does, your healthcare provider may recommend more involved treatments, including surgery.