11 Effective Sciatica Treatment Options

There are two types of sciatica treatment – surgical and non surgical - however, in most cases of sciatica - surgery is unlikely to be required, and many people will get relief from using a conservative treatment method.

Below we have listed some of the more popular sciatica treatments that have proven to be successful in effectively relieving pain, and restoring mobility.

Hot and Cold Therapy: Hot and cold therapy can be an effective sciatica treatment, and can help reduce inflammation in most cases. If your pain is acute (the first week) you should apply a cold pack to the lower back, this helps to reduces and stop the inflammation of the muscles and nerves.

After the first week you can introduce a heat pack which helps get the blood flowing through the muscles and speed up the repair. You may also find relief by alternating the treatment, 10 minutes cold 10 minutes hot, repeat 3 times each or as required.

Hot and cold packs are readily available at your local pharmacy; alternately you can use a packet of frozen peas and a hot water bottle. Be sure to wrap these items in a towel before use to prevent any skin damage.

Anti – Inflammatory medication Over the counter anti inflammatory medication is usually the first stop for sciatica treatment. There are many options available but the main types being ibuprofen, ketoprofen and naproxen sodium.

Depending on the severity of your pain you medical adviser may prescribe a stronger COX-2 inhibitor. Although you will get significant pain relief from anti-inflammatory medication, they may cause you to have certain side effects such as stomach irritations or ulcers, heartburn and diarrhoea. Also with some prescribed medication, if taken over long periods of time can become addictive.

A far better anti – inflammatory option is a 100% natural remedy such as Back Relief Elite. This is a powerful and highly effective pain reliever specifically for people with Sciatica and back pain.What’s more there are no side effects whatsoever.

Exercise Program: Exercise is now arguably the No1 recommendation for preventing immediate and future back pain and there is significant evidence to support the use of exercise as an important sciatica treatment.

However there are certain exercises that should be avoided, jogging, jumping, or any form of exercise that causes jarring or jolting to the lower back area. The best types of aerobic exercises include swimming, training on a stationery bike or use of a cross trainer.

As well as aerobic exercise a strength training program should be introduced which target the core muscles in your back and abdomen. A regular and varied exercise program will give long lasting relief from sciatica by reducing stiffness; strengthening muscles and bones, and improving flexibility.

For details of a comprehensive back pain exercise program we would strongly recommend the 'Lose The Back Pain' program. A program specifically targeted to strengtening the lower back, for sciatica and back pain sufferers.

Stretching Program: Strengthening and stretching your lower back, stomach, and upper leg muscles, can help you reduce and prevent problems associated with Sciatica. As we age, and maybe take part in less physical activity than we used to, the muscles in our back become weaker and lose some flexibility.

As a sciatica treatment, regular stretching and exercise will help increase flexibility and strength and go a long way in giving pain relief, not only with sciatica, but with back pain in general. To get access to over 100 different stretching exercises we would recommend you have a look at the The Stretching Handbook - The 'bible' for modern day stretches.

Accupucture: Acupuncture is a painless medical technique in which anywhere from 1 – 30 small needles are placed at strategic points on the body which stimulate the nerves and releases endorphins into the blood stream – this is the body’s natural painkiller.

Acupuncture is a particularly effective for sciatica treatment for many sufferers, plus it has the benefit of giving you a ‘feel good’ feeling after a session.

Deep Tissue Massage: Deep tissue massage is an excellent Sciatica Treatment option, as it is targets the deeper layers of the muscles, tendons and connective tissues, considerable more that a superficial relaxation massage.

Whilst you will receive the obvious benefits of relaxing stiffened muscles, and tension relief, you will also find that you have a greater range of motion after treatment.

Although not a long term cure for Sciatica and back pain, a deep tissue massage might just make you feel well enough to start a corrective exercise program that will have major benefits to your back health.

Yoga: Another way to introduce lower back pain exercise and stretching into your schedule is Yoga. Although different treatments work for different people, many aspects of yoga make it ideal as a Sciatica treatment option, as it combines flexibility exercises with breathing techniques, plus it has the added benefit of being used to treat back pain for centuries.

Pilates: Pilates is another great Sciatica treatment exercise, because it focuses on strengthening your core muscles and improving your posture, both of which are effective for the pain relief of most back pain complaints.

Regular use of Pilates has been successful in preventing long term back complaints as the exercise works the deeper muscles in the body creating a strong core, improving strength, flexibility and  posture in the right areas.

Chiropractor: A chiropractor is a spine specialist who has been trained to use their hands to manipulate your spine, joints and muscles.

The can also gently realign any ‘out of sync joints’ which help muscle balance, relieve pain and help restore mobility. The cost of a chiropractor can be expensive, especially if you have to visit 2 or 3 times a week, and treatment programs can last for several months.

If you are considering a chiropractor for Sciatica treatment it is strongly recommended that you get approval from your medical advisor first, as certain manipulation techniques can aggravate certain Sciatica conditions.

Epidural steroid Injection: An epidural steroid injection is a widely used sciatica treatment and is also used for many other back pain complaints such as a herniated disc, degenerative disc disease and Spinal Stenosis.

An injection is delivered by a needle to the lower back area, and consists of cortisone and a local anaesthetic. The primary reason for the injection is to reduce pain and inflammation, which would then enable you to progress with a long term sciatica treatment and rehabilitation program, such as exercises and stretching.

It should be noted though, that the success rate for epidural steroid injections are approximately 60% and the effects are varying from person to person.

Surgery: The most common type of surgery for Sciatica Treatment is a Laminectomy. The procedure involves remove parts of bones, disc or tissues that are pressing into the spinal canal and relieve pressure on the spinal nerves.

The laminectomy is a permanent operation and you may find that your range of movement may be limited after surgery. The success rate of this surgical procedure is limited, and many patients complain of no or little reduction in pain. This could be due to nerve and tissue damage already caused.

Surgery really is the very last resort for Sciatica treatment, and should only be carefully considered when all conservative efforts have failed.

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