Sciatica Treatment Methods

Sciatica Treatment Methods

What is Sciatica?

Sciatica is a leg pain that resides on the lower back due to a pinched nerve. Although the pain starts in the nerve routes on either side of the lower back, they get to the sciatic nerve, which covers the length from the buttock to the foot. Although the pain cuts across one leg, the excruciating pain is similar to that of a toothache. So, what treatment methods ease the pain?

Chiropractic Care

Patients who go for spinal manipulation experience pain relief that is similar to those who go for surgery. In a published study that in the Journal of Manipulative and Physiological Therapeutics in 2010, 130 people saw chiropractors for three days in a week for a whole month. The treatment reduced as they continuously felt better. Patients who went through this procedure experienced lasting relief that spanned a year. This treatment reduced inflammation, creating an environment that promotes the natural healing of the body.

Acupuncture

Although getting better relief takes about 12 sessions, you will immediately feel better after the first session. In a small study published in the Journal of Traditional Chinese Medicine, of the 30 people who had sciatica-nerve pain, 17 of them got complete relief and 10 improved with warming acupuncture where the needles were heated.

Yoga

In the Journal Pain, a study showed that practicing Iyengar yoga for 16 weeks alleviated back pain by 64% and disability by 77%. Although the effect of yoga on sciatica-nerve pain is not apparent, there are benefits to its practice. A yoga practice can strengthen muscles and improve your flexibility. A yoga practice can also help people with sciatica-nerve pain move better so that they do not fall into body postures that increase sciatica-nerve pain.

Trigger Point Massage

If you have sciatica-nerve pain, it is hard to have a peaceful spa massage. If you want to go for a massage, trigger point therapy is the best option. Since the sciatic nerve rests under the piriformis muscle, the pressure is added on the sciatic-nerve to cause a tingling and numbing sensation along the leg. The pressure is also applied to the inflamed and irritated areas in the piriformis muscle, as well as in the glutes and the lower back muscles.

Ice or Heat

Since the sciatic-nerve rests deep in the leg and buttock, heat or ice on the body surface cannot ease the inflammation. Applying time-honored treatment can counter the irritation because it reduces the pain in the painful area. Apply a pack or heat or ice pad on the area for 15 minutes.

Pain Relievers and Muscle Relaxants

Taking OTC and anti-inflammatory drugs can ease your distress. Since pain muscle spasms can accompany a disk herniation, muscle relaxants work.

Physical Exercise and Physical Therapy

People with sciatica-nerve pain have a rough time moving. Since resting on the bed can cause the pain to last longer, it is essential to increase the blood flow to the nerve to remove the chemicals that cause the inflammation. If taking a walk for about 20 minutes is hard, go for swimming or water aerobics. You can also visit a physical therapist who can recommend stretching exercises which can restore flexibility to the core muscles.