How To Stop Pain In Sciatic Nerve?

From demotix.com

Before we get into the topic on how to stop pain in the sciatic nerve, it’s important to know why it hurts. If you have a bone spur or maybe a slipped disk, either of those can press on the sciatic nerve. This means you have sciatica. Sciatica’s symptoms include burning sensation, numbness, weakness or pain. Some say it feels like needles while others say it feels like a quick electric shock passes through your leg.

If you are sure this is what you are suffering from then follow these tips to try and reduce or completely remove the pain.

1.    Let time heal it

                                                                     From citrinchiropractic.com

This is not the best remedy most people want to hear while they are in pain, but it actually works. Waiting it out has proven to be the best treatment for sciatic nerve pain. About 85-95% of people get much better within days or weeks.

2.    More movement

                                                              From  WebMD.com

Don’t try to help yourself by sparing your leg from movement. On the contrary, keep moving since resting can cause your muscles to weaken which might become more painful to your sciatic nerve. If the pain is bearable, try stretching, going for a walk or maybe even a run. Don’t miss out on physical activities and keep your body moving.

Make sure you are doing lower back stretches because that is probably where the sciatic nerve is pinched.

3.    Try hot or cold

Hot and cold may help with sciatica. Cold is usually best for a recent injuries while heat is recommended after about 72 hours of the injury. No reason not to try both since it’s perfectly safe. Hold an ice pack in the morning for about 10-15 minutes and at night a heating pad for about 10-15 minutes.

4.    Try pain relief medications

                                                                    From  WebMD.com

Medications like naproxen or ibuprofen can bring down inflammation or may help you with your pain. Don’t take more doses than the recommended unless you get a doctor’s approval.

If you want to find more ways how to stop your sciatica pain, you can find out more at healthlvl.

5.    Prescription drugs

If none of these home remedies are helping you, then make sure to talk to your doctor. There is a variety of prescription medications, like muscle relaxers that might make you feel much better.

6.    Physical therapist

                                                                      From health.com

Physical therapy can help strengthen the muscles that support your lower back and might correct your bad posture. The physical therapist will give you a list of stretching techniques that you can do at home. Make sure to follow the instructions properly and not hurt yourself during the process.

7.    Try acupuncture

                                                               From  WebMD.com

This alternative medicine practice is starting to get popular even with Western doctors. Research shows that this Chinese medicine might work even better than traditional medicine for back pain.

8.    Try a massage

                                                                    From spineuniverse.com

A professional massage is not just about relaxation. Massage therapy can ease pain and might improve how well you can move your body or in this situation your lower back. It also gets the blood flowing which helps your body to heal faster.

These are the tips we think might completely heal your sciatica or at least help relieve the pain.

https://demotix.com/how-to-stop-pain-in-sciatic-nerve/

Problem-solving stretches: How to slacken hip tension to release sciatic pain

From gazettenet.com
By Ginny Hamilton

School let out early last month, so my kiddo and I snuck in an extra visit to Grammy and Poppy. It’s a long way to Western Virginia — 11 hours — but an easy journey via Amtrak, especially since my kid still loves trains. When he was little, we’d walk the aisles multiple times each trip, sometimes finding an empty car to serve as a jungle gym. Now that he’s hit double digits, we spent most of the day in our seats, each deep in our own chapter book — quite different than traveling with a little kid.

My body did not like the difference. Because I sat — no, let’s be honest — I lounged. Curled into the seat with my legs and hips tucked under me. When I did get up for a snack or bathroom break, I could feel the stiffness in my body. Ugh. I should know better! Apparently, I can no longer rely on kid wiggles to get me moving. The resulting sharp pain in my rear was no fun.

Sciatica. The word makes us tense. The condition is named for the sciatic nerve which runs from the vertebrae in our low back and sacrum, down each leg, sending signals to our legs and feet.
When we sit with our hips tucked under, sitting on the flesh of our buttocks rather than with our pelvis upright, we put pressure on our sciatic nerves and the muscles that surround them. These muscles are designed mainly to rotate our hips, not hold our full weight. When we use them as seat cushions, they tense up. And this tension can squeeze the sciatic nerve.

Some people feel sciatica as a deep ache in the buttocks. Others experience a sleeve of discomfort around the thigh. And still others feel a sharp shooting pain down the back of the leg. Regardless of where and how sciatica strikes, releasing the hold from the hip rotator muscles can bring ease. Here are two simple ways to do just that — gentle stretching and muscle slackening.

Any cross body twist will stretch your outer hip muscles. Sit with one knee crossed over the other and turn slightly toward the top leg until you feel a gentle stretch in the outer hip on that side.
STAFF PHOTOS/KEVIN GUTTING 

Stretch your outer hip muscles with a gentle twist. Any cross body twist will do this: sit with one knee crossed over the other and turn slightly toward the top leg until you feel a gentle stretch in the outer hip on that side. If you feel no stretch at all from sitting cross legged, try bringing your top leg farther across your body. It also works to lie on your back and bring one knee across toward the floor on the opposite side. Stretch gently for 30 seconds to one minute on each side 5-6 times each day.

Slacken your hip rotator muscles in Half Frog position, then lie on your belly with one knee out to the side, bent at a right angle, and supported by a pillow or pillows. Support your whole leg with the pillows, don’t have your foot or shin hanging off or a gap at your groin. Otherwise, the muscles will have to work to support your leg, and working muscles can’t slacken.

There should be no pain in this position. If you feel pain, adjust your knee toward your body or away, until you find a comfy spot. You can also raise or lower the height of your leg by adding or removing pillows. Over time, you’ll learn the “just right” spot for your body.

Let your body rest facing down, not turned toward the raised leg. You can rest your forehead on your hands or turn your head toward your raised knee. Stay in this relaxed, supported position for at least 2 minutes, allowing the muscle tension in your hip to slacken.
To come out of the position, slowly straighten your bent leg, sliding it off the pillows and down beside the other leg. Then switch sides.

Pain Specialist Ginny Hamilton studied Integrated Positional Therapy (IPT) with its founder, Lee Albert at the Kripalu Center in Lenox, MA. A certified yoga instructor and Reiki Master Teacher, Hamilton offers classes and private sessions in Amherst, Hadley, and South Hadley. Contact her at: ginny@ginnyhamilton.com

https://www.gazettenet.com/Problem-solving-stretches-26693877

Understanding how to treat sciatica

By Lori Mitchell
From mykawartha.com

It is estimated that 40 per cent of people will experience sciatica at some point in their life. The sciatic nerve is the largest and longest nerve in the body and is about as big around as your thumb. It originates in the low back, where the nerve root exits the spinal cord, and then travels through the buttock down to the toes. The sciatic nerve can become aggravated at any point along its path, thus causing pain both at the site and along the path of the nerve.

I have treated many people suffering from sciatica over the years, and there is no one fix for everyone. The degrees of pain vary, the location and intensity vary, the trigger for the aggravation is different. Sciatica for some can be so debilitating and take your breath away. The pain can shoot down the leg as if an electrical shot was going through you, or it can feel like your being stabbed with a knife. Pain can be sharp, numbing, tingling and cause weakness. Pain can be long lasting if not treated properly.

Sciatica is most commonly caused by a lumbar herniated disc. It can also be from:

•    Degenerative disc (this is where the cushion between the vertebra breaks down)
•    Spondylolisthesis (a condition in which one vertebra slips forward of another one)
•    Pregnancy
•    Osteophytes (bone spurs that grow on the spine or joints)
•    Muscles spasms in the back or buttocks
•    Arthritis

Any and all of these things can cause irritation to the sciatic nerve.

From a traditional Chinese medicine perspective, sciatica can be a result of external influences (heat, cold, damp or wind) blocking the circulation in the body or a trauma causing stagnation, or it could be from an underlying condition in the body. We also recognize that it can be caused from structural or muscular imbalances and often it is a combination of both internal and external influences.

Acupuncture is very effective in treating this condition. Acupuncture can also help reduce inflammation in the joints and discs and promote healthy blood flow.

These techniques focus more on the mechanical reasons for the pain. As I mentioned, not all cases are caused by this and therefore are not always responsive to treatments that solely focus on the mechanical issues. This is where acupuncture really helps because it can address both the mechanical and internal issues causing the pain. As an acupuncturist we also utilize topical salves or liniments to reduce pain, inflammation and promote circulation. Another technique we utilize is tuina, which is a form of massage, stretching and joint mobilization.

Some other forms of treatment are:
Hot or cold compress
Chiropractic adjustments
Physical therapy
Massage
Whatever you decide, remember what works for one person may not work for the other. It is best to try to understand the root of your issue and not just address the symptoms.

https://www.mykawartha.com/opinion-story/9494065-understanding-how-to-treat-sciatica/

Back pain when bending: What to know

From medicalnewstoday.com

While lower back pain is a widespread symptom, some people only experience it when bending over.

A bent-over position places increased strain on the lower back. Resulting pain can reveal unrecognized injuries or other underlying medical issues.
In this article, learn about the causes and treatments of lower back pain when bending over, as well as some tips for prevention. We also describe when to see a doctor.

Causes

Some causes of lower back pain when bending include:

Lower back strain

Lower back strain is a common cause of back pain when bending over. The position can put significant pressure on the lower back, causing the muscles and ligaments to stretch excessively.
A strain in the area can also cause inflammation, which can lead to muscle spasms.

Other symptoms
Stiffness in the lower back, muscle spasms, difficulty maintaining an upright posture, and a limited range of motion can all indicate a lower back strain.

Treatments
Resting the back for 1–3 days can help reduce muscle pain, as can taking nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs). Some over-the-counter (OTC) options include ibuprofen and naproxen.
Massage, applying ice and heat, and using electrical muscle stimulation therapies may also help. Physical therapy exercises can strengthen the back and help prevent further injuries.

Sciatica

Sciatica is a condition that can result from a herniated disk. If the disk presses on the sciatic nerve in the lower spine, it can cause sensations of pressure, burning, or severe pain that travel from the lower back down one or both legs.

Other symptoms
Sciatica can also limit the range of motion in one or both legs. If a person has sciatica-like symptoms and loses control of their bowel or bladder, they should seek medical attention immediately.

Treatments
A person may require surgery to remove the part of the disk that is pressing on the nerve, though this is rare. The American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons estimate that sciatica goes away without surgery in 80–90% of people who have the condition.

When to see a doctor

A person should seek immediate medical attention if they are unable to move any muscle or joint in their lower extremities or if they lose control of their bowels or bladder. Any of these situations constitutes a medical emergency that requires fast treatment to prevent further nerve damage.
If back pain worsens in spite of home care or does not resolve within 2 weeks, it may be a good idea to see a doctor. The doctor can help determine whether to consult a specialist, such as an orthopaedic doctor or a neurosurgeon.

Nonsurgical treatments can include applying ice and heat, movement, and gentle stretching exercises to relieve inflammation.

Self-care tips

Practicing correct lifting and bending techniques can help minimize back pain when bending over. These techniques include:

• bending only at the knees and hips instead of at the waist, to reduce the risk of spinal fractures and muscle strain
• avoiding twisting the spine when bending to reach for something
• keeping the feet firmly planted shoulder-width apart to reduce the risk of falling forward
• refraining from carrying objects that are too heavy, for example, by taking multiple trips and using assistive devices such as rolling carts
• carrying objects as close to the body as possible and holding them at waist level.

In addition to practicing injury prevention techniques, a person who has back pain when bending over can also try these self-care measures:

• taking OTC NSAIDs, such as ibuprofen or naproxen, to relieve pain and inflammation
• resting the back for a few days, then engaging in gentle stretching exercises and low-impact physical activity, such as walking
• wearing a supportive device such as a back brace to prevent discomfort.

Summary

If a person has tried home care techniques and continues to experience back pain when bending over, they should talk to their doctor.
Learning to bend and lift safely can often help prevent further injury.

https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/325720.php