Despite what you might have been told, sciatica can be cured permanently without having to resort to surgery or a lifetime of medication. This is made possible by addressing the underlying cause of your sciatica using natural, proven methods such as physical therapy, massage, stretching, and exercises.
Go to Physical Therapy
PT usually involves most rapid relief remedies (icing, heating, massage, stretching, strength, and flexibility exercises) to provide pain relief, eliminate the underlying cause of the sciatica nerve pain, and prevent further injury and flare-ups.
Use hot packs, a heat lamp or a heating pad on the lowest setting. For continuing pain, try using both warm and cold packs, one at a time. Stretching. Stretching exercises for the low back might provide some relief.
In about 90 to 95 percent of sciatica cases, the problem is successfully resolved with time and conservative, non-surgical treatments.
Processed and sugary foods can increase inflammation, worsening sciatic nerve pain. Avoid eating foods high in saturated fat, processed carbohydrates, and added sugars to reduce your risk of sciatica flare-ups.
A diet that is low in potassium is not favourable for sciatic symptoms, so eat dark leafy greens such as spinach, or try apricots and bananas. Vitamin supplements can help if you are very low on one of the vitamins or minerals mentioned above.
Sciatic nerve pain is caused by compression, irritation, inflammation, and pinching of a nerve in the lumbar spine. The most common cause of a sciatica flare-up is a herniated or slipped disc in the lower back.
In addition to providing hydration, drinking water has the potential to alleviate sciatica, a common source of lower back and leg pain. Drinking water can slow the progression of symptoms and ease discomfort.
While sciatica pain can be debilitating, chiropractic treatment can relieve it gently and naturally. This care entails treating the pain without costly and harmful side effects.
What's the best painkiller for nerve pain? Tricyclic antidepressants like amitriptyline and anti-epileptic drugs like gabapentin and pregabalin are very effective at treating nerve pain.
However, a possible complication of sciatica is chronic (long-term) pain. If there's serious damage to an affected nerve, chronic muscle weakness, such as a “drop foot,” might happen. That's when nerve damage causes numbness in your foot, which makes normal walking difficult or even impossible.
If home remedies are not helping, and your pain is prolonged or worsening, you should see a doctor. Specifically, consult a doctor if: Sciatica lasts longer than three months. Sciatic pain is severe and interferes with daily activity.
If you've tried searching for the best cream for sciatica pain, you might have come across some diclofenac sciatica gel for sciatica pain, like Omingel and Voltaren gel for sciatica treatment. Applying such gel to the affected area can help reduce inflammation and relieve pain.
Caffeine and alcohol are also not your friends when it comes to managing sciatica. They can both increase inflammation, making pain worse.
Sciatica results from pain due to irritation of the sciatic nerve. People can experience sciatic pain in the lower back, buttocks, and down the back of either leg. Sciatica usually gets better in 4–6 weeks, but it could last longer.
The first is located just behind the big toe, and the second is located under the ball of the foot. To release these points, you can use a lacrosse ball or tennis ball. Place the ball under your foot and roll it around until you find a tender spot. Once you find a tender spot, apply pressure and hold for 30-60 seconds.
Supplying the body with vital vitamins and minerals assists in overall health in general, including improvement from sciatica. Daily doses of supplements such as calcium, magnesium, St. John's Wort, and Vitamin B12 have shown to treat sciatica effectively.
Even though it probably hurts to some degree, walking is actually good for sciatica. Dr. Shah points out that walking promotes blood flow throughout the body, and can even make the nerves more resilient.
Fruits. Eat at least one fruit daily to help heal damaged nerves. Berries, peaches, cherries, red grapes, oranges and watermelon, among others, are loaded with antioxidants, which help to decrease inflammation and reduce nerve damage.
Acupuncture works by relaxing tight muscles, improving blood circulation, regulating the nervous system, and releasing neurotransmitters to reduce pain. Acupuncture has been shown to be an effective treatment for sciatica without the side effects of prescription pain medications like NSAIDs and muscle relaxers.
Tomatoes. If you have sciatica, tomatoes are a great anti-inflammatory food to incorporate throughout your daily meals. Tomatoes are loaded with antioxidants, minerals, and vitamins which are essential for fighting this condition.
Acute sciatica is short-lived and lasts for a couple of days or weeks, Dr. Vucich says. It becomes chronic sciatica if it lasts for three months or more. “With chronic sciatica, you could live with it for years,” Dr.
Sciatica is where the sciatic nerve, which runs from your lower back to your feet, is irritated or compressed. It usually gets better in 4 to 6 weeks but can last longer.