Sciatic Reflief

If you are having pains in your lower back or down your leg, you should know that the pain can often be caused by sciatica. Sciatica is painful and can be caused by spinal decompression. "Spinal decompression" means the pressure on the spine is causing the discs to bulge or herniated and insult the sciatic nerves. Sciatica pain, at its extreme can be burning sensation which radiates down the back of the leg, making it difficult to move. Many health practitioners believe finding pain relief for sciatica should be the first priority in a patient's treatment.

Even though movement helps to speed the healing process, many sufferers are reluctant to resume everyday activities while suffering from the pain sciatica can bring about. Ice packs and heating pads are two very commonly used ways to seek relief from sciatica. However, neither addresses the cause of the sciatic pain, and both provide only temporary relief, at best.

Keep in mind that in order to prevent frostbite, ice packs should be limited for about fifteen minutes at a time. Heating pads may provide some relief for sciatica and can be used for longer periods. Care should be taken to avoid using too high of a heat setting in order to prevent burns. When the over the counter drugs and home treatments fail to bring relief from sciatica, stronger medications may be needed.

It is also good to know that, taken in pyramiding dosages, steroids (such as prednisone) can bring about some relief from sciatica. Sometimes a doctor will recommend steroids injected directly into the site of. These are called "corticosteroid" injections or "epidurals." While such injections sometimes provide dramatic relief, the relief they provide is temporary. All the research done on epidurals indicates that such injections do nothing to prevent the eventual return of the condition, As a last resort, narcotic analgesics may be prescribed. These, however, can be habit forming and should be used with caution.

Also, aspirin, which is an anti-inflammatory agent, may provide some pain relief, but for some can cause gastrointestinal upset. Ibuprofen and naproxen are much easier on the stomach. Another way of finding pain relief for sciatica is to visit a chiropractor. Many doctors will recommend physical therapy when treating a patient for sciatica. Physical therapists have a number of tools to help bring about relief.

Physical therapists can also instruct patients on more advanced exercise programs aimed at preventing another episode of sciatica. If a herniated disc is the underlying cause, manual adjustments can help realign the spinal disc, taking the pressure off the sciatic nerve. If muscle spasms are causing the problem, then the chiropractor may suggest massage or other types of manipulation to help find relief from sciatica.

If sitting cannot be avoided, frequent breaks should be taken to decompress the spine. Standing is also hard on the spine and should be limited as much as possible in order to find relief from sciatica. Lying with the hips raised on a pillow is usually the best position that does not aggravate pressure on the sciatic nerve. Some individuals find lying on the side with a pillow between their legs and another supporting their arms to be ideal for finding pain relief.

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