Sciatic Nerve Pain Relief

Different Forms of Sciatic Nerve Pain Relief

Sciatic nerve pain relief comes in many forms depending on the severity of your condition and the underlying cause of the pain. There are certain causes of pain from the sciatic nerve that require medical treatments to alleviate. However, there are consumer products available as well as alternative practices that can help relieve pain from the sciatic nerve which may also keep the pain from reoccurring. The type of sciatic nerve pain relief you choose should be after your doctor has determined the root cause of the pain and the current state of your spine’s condition.

The first step to finding relief from sciatic nerve pain is to determine the cause. If you are experiencing pain you feel is from the sciatic nerve it is very important to let your doctor know so that they can find the underlying issue. Certain conditions that cause pain to the sciatic nerve are more serious and threatening than others—particularly if the cause is narrowing your spinal canal. Through imaging tests (CT Scans and MRIs) your doctor can determine any physical conditions such as a herniated disk or disk degeneration that is affecting the nerve. This will help them decide any specific medical treatments you may need such as anti-inflammatory medications or in some cases, surgery. Once your doctor has determined the cause, they can help you decide on the right treatment plan.

Forms of Sciatic Nerve Pain Relief

There are many other things your doctor may recommend for sciatic nerve pain relief besides any type of medications or surgery. Sometimes the recommendation may be as simple as bed rest which will help allow your spine to go back into its normal and natural position to relieve any pressure it may be putting on your sciatic nerve. They may recommend the use of a full body pillow to aid your back while you sleep. You can position these pillows in several different ways to support your back, raise your knees, etc… all which can take the strain off the pressure points of your back where the pain is originating.

Professionally provided physical therapy is another common recommendation from doctors for back pain relief; the therapy helps realign your spine and strengthen nearby muscles. However, some people find that practicing Yoga or other physical exercise at home is just as effective. There are several Yoga instruction books available that detail specific Yoga exercises for back pain relief. If you do decide to try a Yoga routine make sure that you use a proper Yoga mat as it will help protect your back. Other exercises performed at home include simple stretches. In fact there are arched back supports and similar apparatus designed to aid in exercise or stretches for your back.

Doctors sometimes recommend seeing a chiropractor or massage therapist for sciatic nerve pain relief. Some people find relief through the use of a back massager designed for consumer use. Several different styles are available. There are lumbar massagers to work solely on the lower back, heated massage cushions that sit in a chair and handheld body massagers that can be used on most parts of the body. Some home massage units need to be plugged into an outlet, but there are also battery operated massagers good for travel. (Please note: items mentioned here are not meant to replace your doctor’s recommendations, they are simply being mentioned to point out alternatives.) Massaging not only helps relieve the pain, it can help prevent it from coming back by keeping muscles relaxed that are straining your back.

Several types of other alternative and over the counter medications exist that claim to provide sciatica pain relief. There are sprays, ointments and even specially formulated supplements that boast they provide relief. It should be noted that many of these products have not been approved by the Food and Drug Administration; however, that does not mean they are not effective or safe—read the product labels carefully!

Another way to help sciatic nerve pain is by use of a back brace that can help provide correct posture support. In doing so, the back support belts and other braces for the back not only relieve the pain they can prevent it from starting.

Maintain Optimum Weight

Furthermore, it is generally accepted that people with any type of back pain should try to reach and maintain their optimum weight (the correct body weight for their body height). Maintaining the correct body weight will help relieve excess strain to the spine.

It cannot be stressed enough the most important step to relieving sciatic nerve pain is to have your doctor determine the exact cause. Providing your doctor has ruled out any conditions that require specific medical attention, there are several other options for sciatic nerve pain relief. So, when you visit your doctor about your back pain, don’t be surprised if their remedy includes some simple steps you can take or changes in habits you can make to relieve the pain and avoid future irritations to your sciatic nerve…