Bahamas Prime Minister to undergo treatment for sciatica in the US

Prime Minister of The Bahamas, Phillip “Brave” Davis, will be traveling to the United States to receive treatment for sciatica.

Health Minister Dr. Michael Darville disclosed that the Prime Minister has been battling sciatica for a few months, experiencing excruciating pain in one of his legs as a result.

“This has been going on for a few months. I don’t know if you could see it, but sometimes the Prime Minister is in pain. We’ve been monitoring the situation, and he will undergo further studies, including an MRI, to determine where the compression on the nerve fiber is,” Dr. Darville explained.

“Usually, he is fine when sitting, but when he stands up, he experiences excruciating, radiating pain, particularly down one of his legs. I believe it’s the right leg,” the Health Minister added.

What is sciatica?

Sciatica is a medical condition characterized by pain that radiates along the path of the sciatic nerve, which extends from the lower back through the hips and buttocks and down each leg. This pain typically affects only one side of the body. Sciatica most commonly occurs when a herniated disk, bone spur on the spine, or narrowing of the spine (spinal stenosis) compresses part of the nerve. This can cause inflammation, pain, and often some numbness in the affected leg.

Treatment for sciatica typically includes medications, physical therapy, heat/ice therapy, and injections such as corticosteroid injections to reduce inflammation around the irritated nerve. In severe cases, surgery might be necessary to remove the source of compression on the sciatic nerve. Most people with sciatica find relief through conservative treatments and recover within a few weeks, though some cases may require more intensive intervention.

In a press statement, the Office of the Prime Minister announced that Bahamas Deputy Prime Minister Chester Cooper will serve as Acting Prime Minister during Davis’s absence.