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Top 10 treatments for sciatica

Have you ever felt extreme pain in your thighs down to the leg? Or maybe a chronic lower back pain that seeps down the feet? You might be facing a problem in your sciatic nerve. This excruciating pain that throbs from the thigh to the knee is called sciatica.

Sometimes the nerves pinch hard on the sciatic nerve that connects your lower spine to the legs. You feel the pain in either leg, and it’s intolerable. It keeps recurring and causes utmost discomfort to you the entire day.

The good news is that the sciatica pain is curable. People often prefer medications and surgeries in extreme cases. There are however better invasive treatments that produce equivalent results. Also, there are natural therapies that you can avail.

Best treatments for sciatica:

Chiropractic spinal adjustments
One of the prime reason for sciatica is a ruptured or herniated disc. There are two kinds of ruptured discs, the prolapsed disc bulges and extrusion disc bulges. If you are suffering from sciatica due to a prolapsed disc bulge, the pain is lesser. But if you experience sciatica because of an extrusion disc bulge, the ache is severe.

This disc malfunction leads to the damage of your outer spine layer where tissues reside. Due to continuous wear and tear, the tissues rupture from the spinal discs. The disc tissues can penetrate into the spinal discs causing excruciating pain.

A chiropractor will guide you on the way to treating sciatica. He will perform tests like an X-Ray and MRI to diagnose your affected area. He will then align the discs in order again to ensure you are relieved. Chiropractic spinal adjustments have proved to be the best treatment for sciatica.

Yoga
Iyengar yoga is considered to be another best treatment for sciatica. You will face difficulty in moving, bending, stretching or squatting if you are suffering from sciatica. Yoga exercises stretch the spinal nerves and help your body retain flexibility.

Yoga will also help in strengthening your muscles and maintain the correct posture. Yoga is safe and free from side effects. It is successful in reducing stiffness and inflammations. Yoga coupled with exercises for lower back pain is the best treatment for sciatica.

Acupuncture
You must be aware of the ancient Chinese therapy called acupuncture. But did you know that it is very efficient in curing sciatica? Yes, you heard it right; acupuncture has a success rate of almost 70% in treating sciatica.

Acupuncture therapy uses pricking of painless needles on the affected area. The science is to open the suffering body part to natural energy. It is a natural process and a harmless technique that provides you relief.

Massage therapy
The sciatic nerve hides under the piriformis muscle underneath the gluteus. When the piriformis muscle tightens, it compresses the sciatic nerve that triggers the pain. If a trigger-point therapy is used on the piriformis muscle, it will release the compression on the nerve. Massage therapy will reduce back pain and release endorphins that soothe the pain.

Topical cure
You can check out healing ointments, oil, and creams that are available in the market. Capsaicin, a substance found in pepper and chilies is highly effective in releasing pain. It targets your contracted nerves and muscles and starts the healing process.

The initial application will leave you a burning sensation, but it will soothe steadily and relieve the pain. Anti-inflammatory oils like those used for shingles treatment also cure sciatica pain. However, ointments are temporary pain relievers.

Ice and heat
The sciatic nerve is buried deep inside the muscles and tissues. So, if you apply heat or ice on the skin surface, it might not fetch you great results. However, it will calm the outer nerves and muscles by reducing the pain by a notch.

You may use a heating pad at home or work if the pain becomes unbearable. Apply the heating pad on your lower back for 15 minutes. You can sit upright or lie down on your back. Repeating the process several times a day will provide you comfort.

Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs
Another best treatment for sciatica includes the non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID). NSAIDs reduce pain and ache throughout your body and has positive effects on the sciatic nerve as well.

Glucocorticoids
Glucocorticoids are steroid hormones that are injected into your spine. It relieves you from lower back pain and other nerve compressions. Injecting glucocorticoids has proven to cure sciatica by minimizing chances of surgery.

Opioids
Opioids affect the opioid receptors of the nerve to produce morphine. Morphine is responsible for calming your nerves. Administering opioids for sciatica has borne positive results in healing the pain.

Antidepressants
An affected nerve is generally tensed. Antidepressants relax the nerves from further anxiety. It calms your already anxious sciatic nerve.

Sciatica may be painful, but with proper care and the best treatment for sciatica, you can do away with the pain easily.

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