Before prescribing a sciatica treatment, physicians must first determine the exact cause of the pain. Sciatica pain is often described as a leg cramp, pain in the hip or the lower part of the back, and or numbness in the back of the leg. When the pain is severe, it can hurt to sit in certain positions, to walk, and even to sleep. Many people experience this type of “leg” pain without initially realizing that the source of the pain is actually related to a bulging disk in the spine that is putting pressure on the sciatic nerve. Physicians will administer a series of tests to determine the exact cause of the pain, and then recommend various sciatica treatment options.

Sciatica Treatment Options

Depending on their philosophy, physicians will either recommend surgical or non-surgical treatments for sciatica pain. While surgery may be the only option in severe cases that do not respond to other types of therapy, it is always smart to try non-invasive methods first, to try and prevent potential complications that can arise from spinal surgery.

Rest and Relaxation. Sometimes, the best method for alleviating sciatica pain is to simply rest for at least a few days. Physicians often recommend that over-the-counter medications, such as Ibuprofen, be combined with bed rest. However, in more severe cases prescription muscle relaxant drugs may be recommended.

Steroid Injections (“Cortisone Shots”). In some situations, physicians may recommend that cortisone (or a similar drug) be injected into the affected area. Cortisone, combined with bed rest, is often all that is needed to temporarily or permanently reverse sciatica pain. Pain relief may be experienced after a single shot, but some cases require a series of treatments.

Physical Therapy. It is not always necessary to work one-one-one with an actual physical therapist to help alleviate sciatica pain. Physical therapy can be as simple as stretching, taking short walks, and being as active as possible when the pain is not too much to bear.

Heat and Ice. Hot and cold packs are often recommended to help reduce swelling and to provide relief from nerve pain. Ice is used to numb the areas that are experiencing pain, and heat is used to help speed the recovery process by causing increased blood circulation in the affected area.

Spinal Decompression Therapy. One of the newest methods for relieving pain associated with sciatica is spinal decompression therapy. There is specialized equipment designed to add “negative pressure” to the affected disk(s). This type of therapy is completed over a series of sessions. Spinal decompression therapy is not painful and has produced positive results in many sciatica patients.

In cases where severe pain lasts more than several months, and none of the aforementioned non-surgical treatments have helped relieve the sciatica pain, surgery must be considered. Surgery usually involves removing the disk that is putting pressure on the sciatic nerve. There is always a certain level of risk with surgery, so it should be considered after non-invasive sciatica treatments have been attempted.

Related posts:

1. Invention of Vax-D Spinal Decompression

Posted in Chronic Back Pain, Spinal Decompression by SpineDoc.