title: Management of severe pain due to lumbar disk protrusion.
abstract: Lumbar intervertebral disk protrusion can cause excruciating pain in severe cases, which can be exacerbated by activity such as sitting down and straining at stool. Acute sciatica due to disk rupture will improve within 1 to 3 months. The efficacy of drugs used for the management of sciatica in primary care is unclear. Severe cases can require opioid analgesia, however people taking opioids for pain relief frequently present with opioid-induced bowel dysfunction. The use of transforaminal steroid injections is a controversial issue and repeat steroid injections should be considered in light of the risk-benefit profile of the individual patient.
authors: Dr. Liam Conroy is Director, Department of Pain Medicine, Mercy University Hospital , Cork , Ireland.
authors: Liam
authors: L
authors: Conroy
mesh_terms: D000208:Acute Disease; D000328:Adult; D000701:Analgesics, Opioid / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D006801:Humans; D007405:Intervertebral Disc Displacement / Q000150:complications*; D008159:Lumbar Vertebrae; D008297:Male; D012585:Sciatica / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000209:etiology; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D013256:Steroids / Q000008:administration & dosage
chemical_list: D000701:Analgesics, Opioid; D013256:Steroids
keywords: disk; opioids; pain; protrusion; sciatica; steroids