Options for Nerve Sciatica Treatment

The sciatic nerve runs from the brain through the length of the spine to the hips, where it divides in two and a branch of the nerve continues down each leg. If the sciatic nerve is pressurized, or irritated, this will result in pain in the lower back or in one or both legs. It can also result in muscle weakness and pins and needles, even in the feet. This group of symptoms is commonly referred to as Sciatica.

Symptoms can vary quite a lot from patient to patient, as the location and degree of pain is dependent on where and how much pressure is put on the sciatic nerve.

The underlying causes of sciatica are also quite varied and depending how yours is diagnosed may effect the treatment recommended to you by your doctor.

However traditional medicine has been spectacularly unsuccessful in the treatment of sciatica. Even after surgery some patients report recurrences of sciatica a year or two later.

Some relief can be gained from analgesics and pain killers, but in severe cases they will not completely alleviate the pain of sciatica.

Some people find relief from massage and bone manipulation provided by Physiotherapists and Chiropractors, but this rarely provides a permanent solution. Patients are always returning for more treatment.

Others have found relief from acupuncture. I must say this never worked for me and from its very definition I can not see this providing a permanent solution. The idea of acupuncture is that the pin holes in the skin and underlying tissues cause the body to concentrate repair in that location. While repairing the damage caused by the pins, the body will repair any other damage in the area. But this is not likely to fix a slipped or ruptured disk, which are the most common causes of sciatica.

My favored options for treatment can all be self administered. Hot and cold packs applied to the lower back will provide some pain relief, reducing swelling of the sciatic nerve and surrounding tissues and increasing blood flow to the area which will aid recovery.

Of course if you are in severe pain you will not be able to avoid a short course of pain killers and possibly some bed rest. But neither of these should be extended beyond a couple of days. Extensive use of pain killers will mask the source of the problem, not to mention any side effects of the pills themselves. Extended bed rest will cause the muscles to atrophy and this will make you more susceptible to sciatica and other back problems.

As soon as possible you should start to stretch the muscles of the lower back, buttocks and hamstrings. This will make you more agile and flexible and reduce the pressure on the sciatic nerve. When that pressure is released your pain will start to go away.

This stretching routine needs to be continued in order to reduce any tightness in the muscles and should be coupled with some gentle low impact aerobic exercise, like walking or swimming. You will also need to concentrate on strengthening the muscles of the core, the lower back and abdomen. The best exercises for stretching and strengthening can be found in Yoga and Pilates.

All of this will keep the spine supported, the pressure off of the sciatic nerve and reduce the likelihood of sciatica returning.

The solution to sciatica treatment is a lifestyle change, not a quick fix from a pill, massage or even surgery. As there is very little that can be done for the underlying causes of sciatica, you need to adapt your approach to beat the condition.

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