Sciatica is a tingling pain that is produced due to the irritation of the sciatic nerve. In some people, it is a mere annoyance, and in other people, it is a debilitating pain. If you are someone who suffers from sciatica, it is important to know what your treatment options are. Although very severe sciatica is treated through medication, there are many tactics that can reduce these symptoms.
Know What Is Coming
The more you know your body, the better you will understand how to treat it. When you want to treat sciatica pain, you must know when it is coming, and that means knowing all of the symptoms. Sciatica pain involves numbness, tingling and a pain that runs from the lower back down to one or both thighs, according to Carrollton Chiropractic. The moment you feel these symptoms, you need to take action.
Heat and Ice
Two common treatments for the inflammation of sciatica are heat and ice, but do you know how to utilize both? According to Spine Health, you should consider alternating heat and cold, pressing a heat pack to the affected area for 20 minutes, waiting 40 minutes and then repeating with a cold pack. Heat helps hasten healing, while cold numbs the area of pain. If one feels better, go with it.
Acupuncture
Acupuncture uses very long, very thin hollow needles to pinpoint troubled areas in your body and to release pain. This is a type of Traditional Chinese Medicine that has been used for thousands of years to treat sciatica and similar pains, and many people find it very effective. At the very least, the release of endorphins after a single session can leave you feeling a lot more healthy and a lot more relaxed than you were before.
Massage Therapy
One of the prime causes of sciatica pain involves the creation of tension throughout the body. When your muscles are tense after pain and in anticipation of pain, it can leave you feeling sore and tired all over. Transferred pain from sciatica is a real problem, and one way to relieve it is through massage therapy. A good massage therapist can cause the muscles of your body to relax completely, and this can give you a much needed respite from the soreness.
If you are someone who is invested in making sure that you can get the most from your sciatica treatment, make sure that you look until you find the tactics that are right for you!