Radicular Pain or Sciatica
What is
Radicular pain, also commonly known as sciatica, is pain that appears as an electric shock, numbness, numbness or unpleasant tingling sensation that manifests itself in the legs.
       Causes
This pain occurs when the nerves that provide sensation and ability to move the legs are compressed. They can be compressed by:
- Protrusion or herniation of the disc: an alteration of the shape of the disc.
 - Narrowing of the bony canal through which the nerves exit (known as the intervertebral foramen).
 
Symptoms
Appearance of symptoms such as:
- Low back pain.
 - Numbness or numbness.
 - Sensation of electricity (known medically by the terms paresthesia and dysesthesia).
 
Approach protocol
Diagnosis and assessment
A correct medical evaluation will be necessary by means of a good anamnesis, physical examination and, in case of being necessary, support of image tests. Focusing especially on Detecting the factors that have produced the cause of the sciatica-type pain will be fundamental. In addition, it will be very important to assess whether the lesion is present exclusively at one vertebral level or affects several. Finally, it is not uncommon for this type of pain to overlap with other forms of pain that occur in the lumbar spine (such as facet or myofascial syndrome) and it is therefore essential to have a correct medical visit with an adequate anamnesis and physical examination of the patient to evaluate each symptom in detail.
Complementary tests
MRI and/or CT scan.
Treatment
Treatment will depend on the physician’s diagnosis and may be applied:
- Drugs for pain relief
 - Physiotherapy: the combination of osteopathic manual technique treatments with invasive neuromodulation/electrolysis techniques associated with technologies such as Magnetolith, superinductive systems, MBST and therapeutic exercise.
 - Interventional treatments: interventional techniques may be applied such as: 
- Lumbar epidural
 - Radiofrequency of the dorsal root ganglion of the spinal nerve.
 - Neurostimulation of posterior cords
 - Intradiscal treatments with regenerative medicine. 
- Platelet-rich plasma: the compound extracted from the patient’s own blood has a concentrate of anti-inflammatory factors and cytokines that make it very useful for this pathology.
 - Cytokine-rich serum: this is a different process to platelet-rich plasma in which a compound rich in anti-inflammatory cytokines is also obtained from the blood.
 - Stem cells: originating from the patient’s bone or fat, they have a regenerative and anti-inflammatory power that makes them a unique treatment for pain relief.
 
 - Radiofrequency.
 
 
       Our customers say
Muy buenos profesionales, Dr. Duca y su equipo.
Gracias por mejorarme mi vida.
Desde que llegué fui muy bien atendido, primero por Atanay quien me preparó para el procedimiento y por Erika quien asistió al Dr. Santiago y Patricia en el quirófano. Me ofrecieron un gotero para ponerme en el brazo, con un sedante para mantenerme relajado, ya que el procedimiento se iba a realizar con anestesia local, en lugar de ponerme a dormir.
Sin embargo, rechacé el sedante porque las sonrisas de bienvenida y las garantías de todos los involucrados me tranquilizaron y no tenía ninguna preocupación. Realmente hace una gran diferencia ser tratado por estas personas tan profesionales, que me mantuvieron tranquila y relajada durante todo el tiempo que estuve allí.
Realmente no puedo elogiarlos lo suficiente y la buena noticia es que lo que hicieron fue muy exitoso y mi dolor de espalda se ha reducido considerablemente.
I recently underwent a procedure to relieve substantial pain in my back, after falling down a flight of stairs and damaging my spine in three places. This procedure was carried out by Dr Santiago with the assistance of Patricia Rodriguez Mederos of Mivi Salud Tenerife, in an operating room in the Quiron Hospital in Adeje, Tenerife, which was much more convenient for me, rather than having to go up to Sta Cruz.
From the moment I arrived, I was very well taken care of, firstly by Atanay, who prepared me for the procedure and by Erika who assisted Dr Santiago and Patricia in the operating room. I was offered a drip to be put in my arm, with a sedative to keep me relaxed, as the procedure was to be done using a local anaesthetic, rather than putting me to sleep.
However, I declined to have the sedative because the welcoming smiles and assurances from all concerned put me perfectly at ease, and I had no concerns whatsoever. It really makes a huge difference when being treated by these very professional people, who kept me calm and relaxed throughout the whole time I was there.
I really cannot praise them enough, and the good news is that what they did was very successful, and my back pain has been greatly reduced.
Insurance companies
Ask your MIVI centre for information on the agreements with insurance companies.