A sciatica prognosis is typically pessimistic, as per usual for most chronic back pain syndromes. Prognosis is a medical term which means how a condition will change in the future; basically, an outlook or prediction. Doctors may believe that their many treatments are effective, but objective curative statistics for chronic sciatica tell another tale entirely. Therefore, the prognosis for any patient who endures pain for more than a year is grim since many will never recover.
This essay will detail the prognosis for acute and chronic versions of lower back and leg pain. We will also investigate why many patients can not find relief and continue to suffer, often for life.
Acute Sciatica Prognosis
Acute sciatica can come on fast and furious. Luckily, there are statistics which show that sudden, severe back and leg pain can resolve just as fast, especially if the patient does not pay it too much attention.
Patients who panic and allow the condition to dictate life on its own terms are far more likely to wind up with ongoing, recurrent and chronic sciatica issues. Dr. John Sarno cites European studies actually show that patients who do not seek medical attention for any type of back pain get better faster and more completely than patients who do seek any variety of care. This is a particularly frightening statistic.
It certainly makes me wish that I had all that money back that I spent on ineffective therapies over many years. It would amount to over a hundred thousand dollars. Compound that with 25 years of interest and I would be happily retired.
Prognosis for Chronic Sciatica
Once a pain syndrome becomes chronic, there is little hope for a cure. This is a disturbing fact which has contributed greatly to sciatica’s fearsome reputation. Most of these unfortunate patients endure years of conservative care, suffering a huge drain on their energy and finances. Having not found relief, they often agree to eventual surgery, even though that option is not typically required and may not even be indicated for their diagnosis.
Sciatica surgery demonstrates abysmal curative statistics for many conditions and often makes the symptoms far worse and seemingly irreparable.
Even for patients who do not have surgery, little hope remains, except learning to cope with sciatica and live life in pain. I ask you, when there is no hope and no happiness, is this truly life or just existence? I know that I have questioned this in my own case countless times.
Collective Sciatica Prognosis
I tried almost everything for my pain, but received no lasting or significant relief. Interestingly, there was always great diagnostic diversity when it came to the reasons for my pain, as well as my future prognosis. Some care providers originally tended to look at my 2 herniated discs and advanced degenerative disc disease, while others focused on muscular issues or a minor spinal curvature and lack of normal lordosis as the source.
At this stage, with osteoarthritis added to the mix and a total of 12 herniations, there is even more diversity of opinion. The point here is simple. Prognosis often depends on whom you ask. Each doctor will have a different opinion. Some will be upbeat, but unrealistically deluded in their beliefs, while others may be pessimistic, based on antiquated and incorrect information about the true source of symptoms. A few might be more confused than you are.
As we speak, diagnostic guidelines for all varieties of back, neck and sciatica pain are being revised worldwide, as the medical establishment is finally getting some the facts straight for the first time. My recommendation is to research your diagnosis and find treatment statistics from independent sources before acquiescing to care. This way, you will have more than a smile and a handshake to back up your decision to undergo (insert treatment choice here).
