Sciatica Pain

Sciatica is nerve pain from irritation of the sciatic nerve. Sciatica is the largest and longest nerve in human anatomy. It is typically felt from the low back to behind the thigh and radiating down below the knee. Sciatica pain can be difficult to live with. It can lead to a devastating position if unattended to. The pain is usually a shooting pain, like electricity. It can also burn like fire or tingle much like the feeling when your leg goes to sleep. The pain can range from slightly annoying to totally unbearable.

Here are a few ways that you can safely and effectively keep your sciatica symptoms away.

Medications

• Over-the-counter pain relievers such as acetaminophen, aspirin
• Cortisone shots can be administered for temporary pain relief.
• Muscle relaxants to ease muscle spasms
• Antidepressants for chronic low back pain
• Prescription pain medications for more severe pain

Exercise – Try to do your exercises and stretches every day, even if it is just for 5 minutes. It helps exchange nutrients and fluids within the discs to keep them healthy and prevent pressure on the sciatic nerve.

Physical Therapy – Physical therapist will recommend the exercises that will depend on what’s causing the sciatica pain. This treatment helps to prevent further episodes of sciatica. It also stimulates the production of endorphins, which are natural painkilling chemicals.

Heat and ice packs – Heat or ice packs can help alleviate the leg pain, especially in the initial phase. Usually ice or heat is applied for approximately 20 minutes, and repeated every two hours. The two may be alternated.

Biofeedback – It is a technique that helps make it possible to control bodily processes such as heart rate, blood pressure, muscle tension and stress. this stress can oftentimes help relieve back sciatica pain.

Acupuncture – The theory behind using acupuncture is that pain is thought to result from imbalances or blockages of the flow of qi. Acupuncture is supposed to remove those blockages to restore the balance.

Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT) – It can help in the management of chronic pain that is caused by sciatica. By using relaxation techniques and maintaining a positive attitude, show a decrease in the levels of pain that the people experience.

Surgery – when there is no change in a person through non-surgical treatment, the only option left to cure it is through surgical treatment. If sciatica is being caused by a spinal injury, such as a slipped or herniated disc, surgery can alleviate the back injury.