Sciatica Treatment

Sciatica pain is described in numerous ways: dull ache, throbbing pain, electric-shock like feelings, stinging, numbness and incredible discomfort.  Sciatic nerve pain usually radiates down the back of a particular leg possibly all the way to the calf, ankle or foot.

If sciatica persists it may lead to a feeling of numbness or tingling in an affected extremity. This is usually the result of the body’s inability to shoot pain signals back to the brain from the leg. Along with numbness, a person with sciatica problems may experience weakness. This may lead to limping or dragging of a foot, buckling of the knees and difficulty rising from a seated position In this case, sciatica treatment is required.

Symptoms of sciatic nerve abnormalities are numerous and unpleasant.   The primary symptom that may require back pain treatment is pain or discomfort commonly known as sciatica.

Numbness is a symptom that could possibly lead to sciatic nerve damage if allowed to prolong. Many times sciatica sufferers are completely unaware of any numbness or loss of feeling at all.

General weakness in the legs, knees and/or feet that may limit the ability to walk or rise from a seated position is another symptom of a sciatic nerve abnormality.

Lastly, failed reflexes is a reliable indication that not everything is right with the nervous system or more precisely the sciatic nerve. This may also be a symptom of sciatic nerve damage that may require sciatica treatment.

Please note this not an entire list of signs or symptoms related to abnormalities surrounding the sciatic nerve or nerves surrounding it. Warning: It is best to seek a doctor if you are experiencing either acute or chronic sciatica pain or symptoms.  If you are experiencing incontinence of either bowel or bladder, please seek emergency care immediately.

References

Fishman, L. and Carol Ardman 1st ed. Sciatica Solutions: Diagnosis Treatment and Cure of Spinal and Piriformis Problems (2006) : 3-10, 24, 31.
Tanner, John. Better Back: A Self-help Guide to Preventing and Treating Back Pain with Orthodox and Complementary Medicine (2003) : 41.

One of the best forms of sciatica treatment involve breathing exercises.  Practice your breathing if you suffer with sciatica pain by taking slow, deep breaths. Inhale and exhale through your mouth and concentrate on relaxing your entire body. Do this several times throughout the day.  See more sciatica treatments below.

Heat and ice–Try applying a hot water bottle (you may want to use a thin towel as a barrier between your skin and the hot water bottle) to sore areas of your lower back as a form of sciatica treatment. Heat may help loosen tight muscles or areas of the back that could be causing sciatica. Ice is especially good for relieving pain and inflamamation. (Once again, it is a good idea not to apply ice directly to the skin of the affected area). Be sure to try both methods to see what works best for you.

Massage–Another form of sciatica pain treatment is massage. The basic effect of a massage is to relax the body’s muscles and to stimulate circulation. A good massage should not hurt however it should not be painless either. Some basic techniques involved in giving a massage include the following:

–Long Strokes (gentle, sweeping strokes covering a wide area)
–Circling (pressing firmly while making a circular motion)
–Kneading (squeezing the flesh gently between your fingers and thumbs)
–Thumb Pressure (pressing down firmly with your thumbs)
–Hand or Finger Pressure ( pressing down firmly with the heel of the hand or both thumbs)

Acupressure–This is a form of massage that emphasizes the stimulation of certain points or locations of the human body that are under stress or tension. Similar to acupuncture, it does not require the use of needles. For lower back pain treatment, first locate the knuckles of the ring finger and little finger on your right hand. Next, slide your left forefinger about 2/3 of the way down from the knuckles to your wrist. Once you have located this point, press down hard for several seconds and vibrate the finger rapidly until your pain in the lower to middle back decreases. Try it. It really is a great treatment for sciatica pain.

Inversion Therapy–This form of sciatica relief involves the patient being inverted or turned upside down to help take pressure off vertebrae. Inversion therapy is also known to help muscles of the back to relax more. Just 10-15 minutes per day of this form of sciatica treatment is recommended. You should always consult your doctor before beginning inversion therapy.

When sciatica becomes more than we can handle, it is a good idea to seek professional assistance. Below you will find some practitioners that specialize in sciatica nerve treatment.

Chiropractic–Chiropractors view back pain as a symptom of a spine-related disorder. Treatment is aimed at repositioning of certain bones using thrusting techniques. It is becoming more common now for chiropractors to utilize a more holistic model of medicine. For instance, chiropractors may educate their patients on diet, exercise and even herbal supplementation.

Osteopathic–An Osteopath’s training is based more on the abnormal function of joints when it comes to spinal disorders. As opposed to a chiropractor who repositions bones, an osteopath is more concerned about loosening and freeing of spinal structures including muscles and ligaments for increased mobility.

Physical Therapy–A physical therapist will do a thorough assessment of the spine before beginning any form of treatment on a sciatica sufferer. The therapist may use simple massage or spinal manipulations techniques. He or she may also try electrotherapy or heat therapy on affected areas of the back.

Whether you are relying on reliable methods/techniques or qualified practitioners, sciatica treatment is easily attainable and achieved.

References

Tanner, John. Better Back: A Self-help Guide to Preventing and Treating Back Pain with Orthodox and Complementary Medicine (2003) : 65, 69-72, 89-95