What Is Sciatica and How to Deal With It?

By Rahul Shariff

Did you know that nearly 40% of people may get sciatica or suffer from irritation of the sciatica nerve at some point of time in their life? The nerve is located at both sides of the lower spine and travels from the pelvic region to the buttocks. The nerve then passes on the back of each upper leg before it goes into the knee and then branches to the feet.
Pressure or irritation of this nerve may cause pain in the buttocks and thigh. The pain may be mild or cause extreme discomfort. Some people suffering from this condition may also feel numbness, stiffness and tingling sensation. The pain may get worse if you had been standing or sitting in the same position for a long time.
Treatment available for sciatica pain
The treatment may vary from hot to cold packs, exercises, medications and alternative remedies.

Oral medications
Aspirin and other similar over the counter pain relievers are recommended by doctors. Avoid aspirin if the patient is a child or under the age of 18. Muscle relaxants are used for muscle spasms and anti-depressants are used for chronic low back pain. If patients experience severe pain then patients may be prescribed pain medications.
Surgery
If despite treatment the pain persists for more than 6 weeks, you need to see a specialist. Surgery may be an option that can be considered to remedy the pain. In some instances the herniated disc may be putting pressure on the nerve and this can be corrected by surgery.
Physical therapy
It may become difficult to be active when you suffer from this nerve pain. Bed rest is not a recommended treatment, although it may be advised in some cases of extreme discomfort. Certain activities and positions may not cause discomfort and they can be used to manage pain.
Physical therapy may be recommended by doctors if the symptoms are not severe. Proper exercises may help reduce the pain considerably. Doctors recommend the exercises depending on the cause of sciatica. It is best to do the exercises as per the guidance of the physical therapist or physiatrist.
Complementary and alternative remedies
Acupuncture and biofeedback are complementary and alternative remedies that may provide relief to some patients. One of the important things that you need to remember is that these treatment methods are not backed by scientific studies.

Acupuncture treatment used fine needles that are inserted at acupuncture points in the skin. The points are located along channels and they are said to carry the energy of the body. When the needles are placed at specific locations they are known to correct the blockage or imbalance of the nerves that cause pain.
When the channels or points are stimulated by experts they are known to provide considerable relief to people in acute pain and discomfort. Biofeedback is a technique that helps control blood pressure, heart rate and muscle tension. This technique is used to treat pain caused by stress. These treatment methods are usually recommended in addition to oral medication.

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