Research |
What I need to know
Reflecting on my childhood, my life was never filled with the responsibilities of an adult. I imagined that simple things such as back pain is an excuse adults make to get rid of work. However, as I witnessed one of Dr. Finley's patients screaming and crying as they entered the waiting room, my heart sunk.. After learning it was her sciatic nerve causing her pain through an impairment known as a sciatica I wanted to treat not only this mild case of this painful disease but I wanted to treat rare forms of this disease as well. this is what drove me to want to reach out and delve into the research process in order to look into potential technological innovations to aid and facilitate recovery from this excruciating pain. My current research question is: How can the implementation of the sciatica nerve in current neuro-robotics allow doctors to pursue a novel solution to the extreme back pain epidemic.With all of these questions in my mind, I also wonder if the work I am doing now at my internship job and committing to colleges such as Georgia Tech for biomedical engineering may bring me a step closes to close the gap in this research and find a cure.
What I know or assume
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Before all of my research was done, I had no background knowledge about the sciatica nerve and the relationship it has with the L3 and L4 column of the spine. However, I could minimally infer what it pertains to and the effects of the nerve. The sciatic nerve is the largest single nerve in the human body; it runs from each side of the lower spine through the back of the thigh and all the way down to the foot according to the Mayo Clinic. The sciatic nerve is connected to the back portion of the L4 and L5 part of the human body as the nerve wraps around the back to the thigh and ends in the foot. Sciatica (the medical term for the pain of the sciatic nerve) occurs due to a pinched nerve in the lower back. The pain begin in nerve roots located on either side of the lower spine, then through the sciatic nerve. In the end, I do not know if their is a device that can allow for a solution to the problem at hand or initially what even sciatica was. However, I assume that this is indeed a real issue that needs a real solution.
The Search
My internship is at a basic clinic with a primary care physician, so she did not have extensive knowledge about current sciatica neuro-robotic procedures. She initially defined the term and then proceeded to explain to me the location of the nerve and how basic treatment for mild cases can be found. To begin, I started conducting my research online and looked for some scientific journals about the sciatic nerve and how surgeries have taken place to reduce the overall pain, but none included neuro-robotics. After delving into Google Scholar, which led me to find the articles including radio frequency denervation a process where a radio frequency is injected into the spinal column in order to create a heat lesion to disrupt the signal from the brain to the spine in extreme cases. I have thoroughly read through them and annotated them in order to fully understand the sciatic nerve. Since each source was peer reviewed or published through a scholarly medium all the sources Through that, I believe that I have become an amateur expert in the sciatic nerve and the implications of the nerve. Finally, I consulted my aunt who was a neurologist in India which allowed for an interview between me and her over Skype. This interview comprises of 45% of my evidence and research. The following transcript outlines what occurred in that conversation.
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1. What is the sciatic nerve?
A) The sciatic nerve is the largest single nerve in the human body; it runs from each side of the lower spine through the back of the thigh and all the way down to the foot.
(Reflection): This definition confirms how essential the nerve is in the human body and how and to what degree pain is a factor in analyzing the problem.
2. How does the sciatic nerve lead to intense back pain in patients?
A) When something injures or puts pressure on the sciatic nerve, it can cause pain in the lower back that spreads to the hip, buttocks, and leg.
(Reflection): This length of the nerve helps me identify the length of the nerve in the body. A professional response was helpful, but in order to further my research, I should seek a specialist in neuro-robotics to ask questions for this novel solution I intend to study.
3. How do you treat such a pain?
A) Usually certain over the drug treatments such as Advil and other aspirins can lower the pain of the symptoms (naproxen), but there is no wonder drug that can solve this pinching. In extreme cases steroids are injected in the spinal column in order to bring moderate relief.
(Reflection): This again solidifies my research question in order to seek new and novel solutions in the biomedical industry for a rapid recovery in the patients. This novel solution will help aid these people who are relying on such over the counter drugs in which simple therapy or a mix of both can solve this issue.
4. What is a personal anecdote of an experience you have had in assessing this problem inpatients?
A) A tell sign is when patients are limping or pointing towards the area of the pain. Also describing the pain such as if its sharp or dull or if it is throbbing can give a clear indicator of the symptoms.Usually the patients can point out the sciatic nerve allowing for a swift diagnosis.
(Reflection): I was present during this diagnosis and I witnessed how the patient was standing at this awkward angle. She started to cry as she could not bear the pain even if she shifted a few degrees. In order to solve for this, my research is going to be looking into a new form of prosthetics that can ease the pain of the pinched nerve or sciatica that occurred in this women.
5. How is the sciatic nerve connected to the spine?
A) The sciatic nerve is connected to the back portion of the L4 andL5 part of the human body as the nerve wraps around the back to the thigh and ends in the foot.
(Reflection): This image helped me a lot visualizing where exactly the nerve is connected to the spine and where it runs in the human body.This image also allowed me to show others what I am talking about.
6. How does a sciatica occur?
A) Sciatica is leg pain caused by a pinched nerve in the lower back. The pain begin in nerve roots located on either side of the lower spine, then through the sciatic nerve.
(Reflection): My reflection on this response is the pinched nerve connection to the sciatic nerve leads to sciatica. I did not understand the concept fully as I read it online, but it was better explained to me in person through words.
7. How long does a sciatica usually last?
A) If the symptoms of sciatica are mild and do not last longer than 4-8 weeks, it is probably acute sciatica, and medical attention is not usually necessary. If longer seeing a doctor sooner will be necessary. Usually it is up to how fast a patient can recover through therapy.
(Reflection): My goal is to treat the sciatic nerve for the extreme and for the minor uses. The research will target intense sciatic pain in extreme case conditions as the targeted focus group.
8. Can sciatic nerve pain be permanent?
A) It is extremely rare but it can be possible and usually involves spinal issues as well.
(Reflection): Sciatic nerve pain damage is also another scope that I would like to involve in my research but the scope is out of what I can do in the limited time and resources given.
9. Which leg does sciatica affect?
A) Sciatica usually affects only one side of the lower body. Sciatica does not discriminate and can affect either leg.
(Reflection): This interesting fact makes me want to research into why it does not affect both legs simultaneously. This tidbit helped me personally narrow down my topic and scope of my research
10. What does the sciatic nerve pain feel like?
A) Sciatica symptoms includes numbness, tingling, weakness, it is usually highly variable.(Reflection): The ability to feel the pain will also give the people a sense of understanding and education as feeling the exact sensations can help treat such issues. This research of cause is what I will pursue after I satisfy the first condition that I set in my research question and topic
A) The sciatic nerve is the largest single nerve in the human body; it runs from each side of the lower spine through the back of the thigh and all the way down to the foot.
(Reflection): This definition confirms how essential the nerve is in the human body and how and to what degree pain is a factor in analyzing the problem.
2. How does the sciatic nerve lead to intense back pain in patients?
A) When something injures or puts pressure on the sciatic nerve, it can cause pain in the lower back that spreads to the hip, buttocks, and leg.
(Reflection): This length of the nerve helps me identify the length of the nerve in the body. A professional response was helpful, but in order to further my research, I should seek a specialist in neuro-robotics to ask questions for this novel solution I intend to study.
3. How do you treat such a pain?
A) Usually certain over the drug treatments such as Advil and other aspirins can lower the pain of the symptoms (naproxen), but there is no wonder drug that can solve this pinching. In extreme cases steroids are injected in the spinal column in order to bring moderate relief.
(Reflection): This again solidifies my research question in order to seek new and novel solutions in the biomedical industry for a rapid recovery in the patients. This novel solution will help aid these people who are relying on such over the counter drugs in which simple therapy or a mix of both can solve this issue.
4. What is a personal anecdote of an experience you have had in assessing this problem inpatients?
A) A tell sign is when patients are limping or pointing towards the area of the pain. Also describing the pain such as if its sharp or dull or if it is throbbing can give a clear indicator of the symptoms.Usually the patients can point out the sciatic nerve allowing for a swift diagnosis.
(Reflection): I was present during this diagnosis and I witnessed how the patient was standing at this awkward angle. She started to cry as she could not bear the pain even if she shifted a few degrees. In order to solve for this, my research is going to be looking into a new form of prosthetics that can ease the pain of the pinched nerve or sciatica that occurred in this women.
5. How is the sciatic nerve connected to the spine?
A) The sciatic nerve is connected to the back portion of the L4 andL5 part of the human body as the nerve wraps around the back to the thigh and ends in the foot.
(Reflection): This image helped me a lot visualizing where exactly the nerve is connected to the spine and where it runs in the human body.This image also allowed me to show others what I am talking about.
6. How does a sciatica occur?
A) Sciatica is leg pain caused by a pinched nerve in the lower back. The pain begin in nerve roots located on either side of the lower spine, then through the sciatic nerve.
(Reflection): My reflection on this response is the pinched nerve connection to the sciatic nerve leads to sciatica. I did not understand the concept fully as I read it online, but it was better explained to me in person through words.
7. How long does a sciatica usually last?
A) If the symptoms of sciatica are mild and do not last longer than 4-8 weeks, it is probably acute sciatica, and medical attention is not usually necessary. If longer seeing a doctor sooner will be necessary. Usually it is up to how fast a patient can recover through therapy.
(Reflection): My goal is to treat the sciatic nerve for the extreme and for the minor uses. The research will target intense sciatic pain in extreme case conditions as the targeted focus group.
8. Can sciatic nerve pain be permanent?
A) It is extremely rare but it can be possible and usually involves spinal issues as well.
(Reflection): Sciatic nerve pain damage is also another scope that I would like to involve in my research but the scope is out of what I can do in the limited time and resources given.
9. Which leg does sciatica affect?
A) Sciatica usually affects only one side of the lower body. Sciatica does not discriminate and can affect either leg.
(Reflection): This interesting fact makes me want to research into why it does not affect both legs simultaneously. This tidbit helped me personally narrow down my topic and scope of my research
10. What does the sciatic nerve pain feel like?
A) Sciatica symptoms includes numbness, tingling, weakness, it is usually highly variable.(Reflection): The ability to feel the pain will also give the people a sense of understanding and education as feeling the exact sensations can help treat such issues. This research of cause is what I will pursue after I satisfy the first condition that I set in my research question and topic
What I Discovered
There is a device that can help treat extreme sciatica, but nothing on the market yet except devices such a knee braces that reduces pain but does not eliminate it. The procedure is called a Lumbar Radio frequency neurotomy and the procedure is as follows. Initially begins with the patient laying face down on a table. The skin and tissue over the procedure site is numbed with an injection of local anesthetic. Next, the physician uses x-ray guidance, called fluoroscopy, to direct a special radio frequency needle alongside the medial nerves. Then, a small amount of electrical current is carefully passed through the needle to assure it is next to the target nerve and a safe distance from other nerves. This current should briefly recreate the usual pain and cause a muscle twitch in the back.The targeted nerves will then be numbed with a local anesthetic to minimize pain. Finally, radio frequency waves are introduced to heat the tip of the needle and a heat lesion is created on the nerve to disrupt the nerve's ability to send pain signals to the brain (Spine Health). This entire process can help spread word that a neuro-robotic treatment is partially out there and that people can get help. A novel solution for the everyday human being is still out there but braces and physical therapy is the current extent of that research.