Sciatica Treatment - Which Methods Should You Try?

Sciatica is the pain that travels along the sciatic nerve. It can affect any part of the lower back and from the lower to the upper buttocks. Pain can come from inflammation of the sciatic nerve, muscles strain, a herniated disk or a spinal disc injury. There are several sciatica pain treatment  options available to reduce and eliminate the pain.

Physical Therapy. Physical therapy can help reduce swelling and correct muscle imbalances. When muscles become weak, they exert less pressure on the sciatic nerve and thus cause sciatica. Most physical therapists use exercise to help patients strengthen their leg muscles and relieve any stress on the lower body. They may also recommend a daily stretching routine to help relieve muscle tension in the lower body.

Exercises. These can be done in the home, in a gym, or at the doctor's office. Sitting and lying on the floor can increase the amount of pressure exerted on the sciatic nerve. Lying on the floor with one leg in a chair can also increase the pressure on the sciatic nerve. Doing abdominal exercises can help ease sciatica pain worse if there is swelling or disc herniation in the lower back.

Core Strength Exercises. Core strength exercises help the body take the pressure off the sciatic nerve and improve the posture of a person. Core strength exercises can include exercises like the bicycle crunch where you hold onto the handlebars of a bike while your body is bent forward. Other exercises include the plank, wall squats, and regular crunches.

Walking. If walking does not get rid of the pain, then you can use a cane, a crutch, or even a walker to give you some kind of support when you cannot take off the weight from one side of your body. If you are on crutches for any reason, try to use them both on one leg at a time when walking to give more support to your back.

Surgery. Surgery may be required in cases of disc herniation, spinal stenosis, or other spine problems. In many cases, this procedure is referred to as an intervertebral discectomy. Some doctors will only do this procedure on someone who has severe sciatica.

Lumbar supports. Lumbar supports, including pillows, mattresses, and chairs, can help you reduce lower back pain and sciatica. Use cushions that fit tightly around your hips, buttocks, and knees if possible. In the sitting position, you should try to avoid hunching your back over your lap, since this can cause pressure on your sciatic nerve. Also avoid spending long periods of time on your back because this can strain the discs and force them out of position.

Physical therapy. You should see a physical therapist or chiropractor for treatment options that do not involve surgery or medication. The therapist will teach you how to do exercises to relieve muscle tension that may cause sciatic nerve pain. You might also need to do stretching exercises for flexibility and strengthen your legs, back, and abdomen to help ease sciatica pain. These treatments can take a long time before you see improvement. Be prepared to be patient.

Chiropractic. Some chiropractors use spinal adjustments to help ease sciatica pain. However, spinal manipulations should be done with caution because they can cause numbness, tingling, weakness, and headaches in some people. You might also be encouraged to drink lots of water to keep your spinal muscles limber. To get a detailed overview of this topic, see here: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sciatic_nerve.