Sciatic Nerve Damage

Sciatic nerve damage describes the unfortunate occurrence of structural injury to this largest of all bodily nerves. Nerve damage can be minor or catastrophic and when it comes to the sciatic nerve, may involve the entire structure or just one or more of the spinal nerve roots which eventually form the main nerve itself. Nerve damage is a much abused diagnosis in the medical system, often used to explain why some patients never find lasting relief from sciatica. However, when the diagnosis is accurate, results can be dire for the patient.

Sciatic Nerve Damage Injuries

The sciatic nerve itself can be damaged through traumatic injury. The most common sources of sciatic damage include car accidents, gunshot wounds and other serious puncturing traumas. Once damaged, the sciatic is likely to suffer lingering effects of the injury and may never rehabilitate 100%. More commonly, one of the 5 spinal nerve roots which eventually join to form the sciatic nerve are damaged. This can occur due to back injury, such as a traumatic event, but is most common as an unwanted side effect of failed back surgery. Surgical interventions are responsible for more spinal nerve damage than any single cause.

Sciatic Nerve Damage Answers

What can be done about nerve damage? This is a common question that I receive every week from your letters and emails. Well, the answer may surprise you… In cases of significant injury, sometimes damage is actual, structural and irreparable. The nerve may regenerate fully or partially on its own, or it may not. Proper rehabilitation will certainly help increase the likelihood for better functionality. Now, the surprising part… Most diagnosed cases of “nerve damage” do not exist. Some of these diagnoses are made after testing reveals diminished nerve function and the assumption is that damage has occurred. In the majority of these instances, there is no damage, just chronic and harmless (although often intolerably painful) ischemia which has caused functional impairment. In some of the remainder of the cases, the diagnosis is sometimes made to cover up the poor curative results of a doctor who simply has nothing left to tell a patient…

“Doctor, I have given you the chance to cure me with 9 different treatments. Why do I still have pain”

“I am sorry Mr. Jones, you obviously have nerve damage”.

This is the part that makes me sick, and yes, it happens often… God forbid a doctor may concede that their diagnosis may be flawed... And they may actually take accountability for their own failings. No, that cannot possibly be… It must be nerve damage…

Sciatic Nerve Damage Advice

Actual neurological damage is possible in many cases and may be just as bad as it sounds. However, in these cases, there is no doubt as to the findings, since the symptoms support the diagnostic theory 110%. In my experience, this rarely occurs. Far more often, the diagnosis is made when a condition simply does not respond as a doctor hopes and some excuse is needed. This is the ugliest face of modern medicine and the nocebo effect of the words “nerve damage” upon a patient cannot be described! I have worked with patients who were able to beat most of their physical pain in short order, but took years to dispel the undermining of their perceived health due to a literal curse cast upon them by a careless physician or chiropractor. They did not have nerve damage or any injury whatsoever. They had ischemia and found permanent relief despite the claimed damage!

Sciatic Nerve Damage to Sciatica Home
12/8/09