How to Get Pain Relief From Sciatica

You need to know how to get pain relief from sciatica when you’re in the grips of excruciating nerve pain that seems to be unrelenting. Fortunately, there are many treatments for sciatic nerve pain that can rid you or at least give you some pain relief from sciatica.

First, let’s explore the cause of sciatica. Sciatica is caused by the inflammation of the sciatic nerve. Another term for sciatica is called a pinched nerve in the lower spine. The pain can be one of the worst pains to encounter. The following will describe what treatment are available to get pain relief from sciatica.

Rest

During the acute phase of your episode, you may get pain relief from sciatica simply by resting. This may be all it takes for the pain to subside or at least take the edge off. While resting, you may want to thinking about icing the area of your pain. Ice can help in the acute phase of your sciatica as it can help decrease inflammation.

Medications

Prescription and non prescription anti-inflammatory medication may be given to get pain relief from sciatic. Your doctor may also prescribe muscle relaxers to ease the pain. If the pain is so severe, where it is disruptive to your activities of daily living, your doctor might prescribe a narcotic based medication for short term relief. Before taking medications for pain relief from sciatica, check with your doctor or health care provider.

Physical Therapy

As soon as the severe pain has subside, your doctor can come up with a treatment plan that includes physical therapy services. Your doctor or physical therapist can design a program specifically to your strengths and weaknesses as they relate to your sciatica pain. Physical therapy can sometimes bring dramatic pain relief from sciatica.

Support Your Back

It is not recommended to sit on or lie on very soft surfaces when you are experiencing pain of sciatica. Good firm support is needed while sitting and lying in bed to prevent disruption of the normal curves of your spine. Any disruption of the normal curvature of the spine, can aggravate sciatica by increasing pressure on the sciatic nerve. Simply by maintaining proper support, it’s possible to get pain relief from sciatica.

Epidural Injections

Sometimes your doctor may inject medication into the area of pain. This medication is usually a corticosteroid that can greatly decrease inflammation and therefore decrease pressure on the sciatic nerve. With injections, it is possible to get significant pain relief from sciatica, however, they can cause side effects and adverse reactions. Getting more than three injections in a year is not recommended.

Surgery

Finally, after all your treatment options have been exhausted, you might consider surgery to get pain relief from sciatica. In spinal surgery, doctors can remove part of the herniated or bulging disk that is pressing on the sciatic nerve, thereby decreasing pressure on the sciatic nerve. It is important to discuss surgical options with your doctor to see if the benefits outweigh the risks.

There are many treatment options to get pain relief from sciatica. Discuss each treatment with your doctor to decide which option is right for you.

Sources – http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/sciatica/DS00516/DSECTION=treatments-and-drugs