A warning to cell phone devotees: The ubiquitous “butt-dial” is not the only complication of slipping your iPhone into your back pocket.
Though evidence to date has been only largely anecdotal, more neurologists are reporting patients with sciatica, a nerve inflammation that presents with radiating pain in your lower back that ranges down your hips and legs. And more doctors are tracing the affliction to cell phones or thick wallets placed in back pockets, where patients sit on them creating an awkward sitting position.
The same doctors are also finding more sciatica cases in younger patients, implicating cell phones as a cause, according to the American Chiropractic Association.
In the past, sciatica has typically presented in patients ranging in age 30-50. While not a primary diagnosis in itself, sciatica is often a symptom of a herniated spinal disc, a degenerative spinal disease or spinal stenosis, a narrowing of the spinal canal that puts pressure on nerves.
Symptoms slowly appear as that radiating pain or a burning sensation that can be felt in the lower back and down the back of your legs. It usually manifests in only one side of the body.
Early warning signs of the condition can also exhibit as a pins-and-needles sensation in your feet, accompanied by leg numbness or weakness. The sensation usually starts slowly and progresses gradually if left untreated.
Diagnosis usually comes when symptoms force you to see a doctor. The ACA advises you to seek medical help if symptoms persist longer than a week or is appreciably worsening. Or if symptoms directly follow a violent injury like an auto accident.
Immediate help is in order if symptoms are accompanied by caudal equine syndrome – changes that affect bowel or bladder control.
How is it diagnosed?
When you finally consult a doctor, the process will usually begin with a complete patient history. Your doctor will ask you to describe the pain and other symptoms. He will ask about other medical conditions that may contribute to the malady. A neurological exam will likely follow, and tests to determine your sensory levels in your legs and muscle strength.
In some cases, your doctor may order diagnostic imaging like an MRI or CT scan.
Treatment
When it is diagnosed, sciatica treatment depends on its cause and severity. Mild cases will fade over time, if exacerbating causes are removed. Chiropractics offer a non-invasive, drug-free option for more serious cases, while ultrasound and physical therapy can also be employed. Surgery to physically widen the spinal canal or fix herniated discs may be required for extreme cases.
Sciatica may only be a symptom of a more serious problem, however. A spinal tumor causing pressure on the nerve is a possibility, as is diabetic neuropathy. With that in mind, it’s important to keep your doctor apprised of your suspicions.
And while you’re at it, move your cell phone to your front pocket!
