The pain of Sciatica is a confusing one, for which, if the right treatment is not given at the right time, it can get even worse. The radiating pain that emerges due to the irritation of the sciatic nerve, makes the legs, hip and even back hurt so badly that one can not even imagine.Sciatica pain originates from the pinched sciatic nerve in the lower back and travels through the hips and buttock to all the way down towards the leg. The pain and discomfort that arises due to this can make the most mundane actions of our life into torture.
The major reason behind sciatica points out to herniated disk which occurs when a disk develops a tear or crack and bulges into the spinal canal that pinches the sciatic nerve. Some other sciatica causes are a bone spur, narrowing of the spine compresses the sciatic nerve, piriformis syndrome (when the piriformis muscle, which assists in rotating the hip, irritates the sciatic nerve) and pregnancy when a woman's expanding uterus puts pressure on the sciatic nerve. Obesity, lack of exercise, wearing high heels, sleeping on a mattress that is too hard or too soft, diabetes, and age can also lead to sciatica pain.
As soon as a sharp, intense pain along with tingling, weakness, burning sensation and numbness take over, wait no more you need to get started with sciatica treatment. Now, of course, there are steroids and sciatica medicines that will give you instant relief from sciatica pain but soon, may return as well. In order to treat it from its root cause and get permanent sciatica pain relief, there are certain, proven therapies that are worth trying. Take a look.
- Hot and Cold Therapy - Ice and hot water packs work best for sciatica pain relief. Start with cold packs first for a few days, then heat packs and then alternate them for a few minutes several times a day.
- Physical Therapy and Chiropractic Care - Moving with sciatica can be difficult. To improve and achieve a pain-free range of motion, physical therapists and chiropractors can help.
- Yoga and Stretching Exercises - Both are highly recommended methods for sciatica pain relief. They both improve flexibility and can strengthen the muscles around the sciatic nerve. Try lower-back stretches and sciatica exercises to help reduce the pressure on stressed-out disks.
- Acupuncture and Massage Therapy - Acupuncture, an old traditional Chinese treatment, is a way of releasing the body's natural painkillers - Endorphins. As far as massage is considered, an excellent masseuse knows exactly where the trigger points of sciatica are, which he/she by applying pressure to such irritated and inflamed areas, or trigger points, in the piriformis muscle, or the muscles in the lower back and glutes, can make it go away.
- Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) - The throbbing pain of sciatica makes day-to-day life difficult. At times, pain can lead to depression for which a face-to-face session with a therapist can prove beneficial in managing sciatica pain very well.
- Electrotherapy - A part of physical therapy, electrotherapy is the best known non-invasive, 100% natural and effective therapy so far for chronic sciatica pain. Easy to operate and handy electrotherapy machines such as US 111, SONICTENS, Combo3 Plus have clinically proven treatment modalities like ultrasound therapy, TENS, IFT, EMS etc. that can make your sciatic pain a history within a few sessions.
Conclusion To get rid of sciatica permanently, you must put some effort yourself apart from the above-mentioned non-surgical treatment methods for sciatica like staying active, taking regular breaks from continuous sitting, maintaining a healthy weight etc. Your effort and sciatica treatment methods in combination will definitely put an end to it forever.