Posts Tagged ‘sciatica treatment’

Sciatic Pain: Herbal Remedies

Wednesday, March 14th, 2012

Sciatic pain occurs when your sciatic nerve, the largest nerve in your body, is damaged or compressed by other structures in your body. The National Center for Biotechnology Information states that sciatica is a symptom and is not a medical condition alone. There are many possible causes of sciatic pain. Herbal remedies for sciatica pain may help relieve your discomfort, but you should talk to your doctor first about the best herbs to use.

Sciatica pain, which ranges from mild to severe, is pain that radiates, or travels from your lower back down the back of your leg. In some cases, sciatic pain may reach the back of your calf and beyond. Possible causes of sciatica include herniated or bulging disks, narrowing of your spinal canal, or vertebral fractures. Sciatic pain is often worse after sitting or standing for prolonged periods.

For years, herbal medicines have been used to help treat sciatica. The most commonly used remedies for sciatica includes St. John’s wort, juniper, burdock, yucca, devil’s claw, dong quai, alfalfa, burdock, chaparral and black cohosh. Other helpful herbs for this condition may include slippery elm bark, oat straw, and white willow bark, an herbal remedy that contains salicylic acid, an effective pain reliever.

Juniper is an herb that is often used to treat sciatica. Juniper possesses strong anti-inflammatory action, which may help explain its ability to treat musculoskeletal conditions such as sciatica. The fruit, or berries, or the juniper plant are used in herbal medicines and supplements.

Although sciatic pain itself is not life-threatening, this symptom can lead to several health complications, including reduced sensation in your leg, partial or total loss of leg movement and leg injuries due to lack of sensation. You may also experience side effects caused by prescription drugs for this condition and sciatic pain may be a sign of a serious underlying problem. If you develop the symptoms of sciatic pain visit your local health care professional to be evaluated and treated.

Source: Livestrong

 

Surgery For Sciatica

Monday, March 12th, 2012

Surgery for sciatica is often the last option for treatment for sciatica. Surgery for sciatica may only be available for particular cases of sciatica. Below is some information on surgery for sciatica.

When Should I Consider Surgery For Sciatica?

Surgery for sciatica is usually reserved for situations when the compressed nerve causes significant muscle weakness, loss of bowel or bladder control, or severe pain that gets progressively worse. It is generally reasonable to consider sciatica surgery if your symptoms haven’t improved after 2 to 3 months of conservative, non-surgical treatments.

What Are the Available Sciatica Surgery Options?

The main purpose of sciatica surgery is to decompress the nerve. Sciatic nerve decompression can be achieved with an open procedure or a minimally invasive (endoscopic) procedure. An open sciatica decompression procedure requires that the surgeon cut open the skin with a large incision to gain access to the compressed nerve. Open procedures are invasive and, depending on the procedure, may require up to a year of recovery. However, with a minimally invasive procedure, the surgeon needs only a tiny incision to decompress the troubled nerve.

Sciatic nerve operation success rates for both types of procedure are about equal. But minimally invasive procedures are associated with less pain and faster recovery than open procedures.

Because sciatica can be caused by many different conditions, the sciatica surgery that would bring relief to you may be different than what would help another patient. Surgery for sciatica may relieve your symptoms of sciatica. If you think you should get surgery for sciatica is is best to consult your doctor.

 

Sciatica Healing: Information

Wednesday, March 7th, 2012

Before going into the “secrets” of sciatica healing, you should understand the meaning of the term. Sciatica is a type of low back pain, which is caused by the irritation of the sciatic nerve because of overuse and injuries to your back. The sciatica nerve runs from the spine to the foot and is the largest nerve in the body. The portion between the lower back to the posterior buttocks, thighs, calf and foot are affected by sciatica. Below I will discuss some of the things you can do for sciatica healing.

The initial symptoms of sciatica are tingling in the leg, pain and numbness. Irritation of the sciatic nerve happens because of back sprains, muscle tears or tension problems in the joints, torn ligaments, etc. The main symptom is that the pain originates at the lower end of the spine and shoots down to one of both the legs, leading to numbness and weakness.

Herniated disc, which is a common name of slipped disc, is the most common cause of sciatica. Protruding of a disc from its normal position into the column of the vertebrae puts pressure on the lower back nerve roots, which are also known as radicular nerves. It is because of this that the diagnosis of sciatica is also referred to radiculopathy. Due to the improper functioning of the disc, the sciatic nerves can get compressed, leading to a pain and a tingling sensation. When bending forward the pain may get less intense as it takes the pressure off the nerve root by creating space between the vertebrae.

Most of the people who experience such kind of pain recover within a few weeks through non-invasive sciatica healing treatments such as exercises, proper diets, etc. Exercises for sciatica include aerobic exercises, yoga, and free-style exercises, dancing practice of even simple brisk walking. All of these activities provide strength and flexibility to the lower back muscles and are good for general body fitness too. A small percentage of people develop serious back pain leading to the inability to perform their daily activities. If this is the case, they may have to resort to surgeries for the treatment of sciatica.

Sciatica pain normally occurs among the people of the middle age group (30-50). Due to increase in age and general wear and tear of the lower spine structure, the development of the sciatica pain develops gradually. Sciatica healing treatment of such kind of problem may not yield effective results, as the symptoms need to be effectively diagnosed. Earlier symptoms of sciatica such as pain and numbness in the leg are often ignored by people or treated with painkillers. Even though the pain may seem to subside initially, it may just be for a temporary period. The second phase of the pain is more severe, which requires correct diagnosis and adequate treatment for sciatica healing which involves exercises, medication, change of diet, and lifestyle with the aid of a medical expert.

 

Sciatic Nerve: Pain Solutions

Monday, February 27th, 2012

You will more than likely experience sciatica when the sciatic nerve becomes aggravated, reddened, or pinched. Sciatica is a very uncomfortable situation in which Western medicine has little to offer other than pain medicine. There are a few ways to maintain natural, therapeutic treatments of the sciatic nerve. This includes nurturing the sciatic nerve, strengthening the surrounding area, and removing any basis of inflammation.

Potassium rich foods, such as bananas, are very helpful to avoid, prevent, and treat sciatica. Eating more of these types of foods may facilitate the healing of your sciatica nerve. Potassium helps out the functioning of the neuromuscular, as well as helping us steer clear of hypertension. Some of the many good sources of potassium are cantaloupes, apricots, fish, bananas, carrots, prunes, nectarines, chicken, turkey, raisins, potatoes, and tomatoes. It is better to choose fresh products in order to avoid consuming additional sodium.

If you are alarmed that you are not consuming a sufficient amount of potassium, you should think about the possibility of taking a potassium supplement. However, you should keep in mind not to exceed the suggested dosage. Take supplemental potassium in more than one form. Make sure that you consult your doctor before taking these supplements if you are on any prescription medications.

Acupressure is also a solution to avoid and treat sciatica. Acupressure can assist in relieving the pain caused by the sciatic nerve. It is advised that you choose a well-trained practitioner. In order to get the best treatment and avoid damage to the sensitive nerves of the back, you must have an expert in the field.

The suggestions above are great solutions for healing the sciatic nerve. Sciatic nerve damage can be uncomfortable and extremely painful. If you think you are experiencing sciatica nerve issues, consult your doctor immediately.

 

Treatment for Sciatica: Heading to the Chiropractor

Friday, February 24th, 2012

There are numerous types of treatment for sciatica if you suffer from the condition. Some treatment for sciatica can be natural, while others may be medicinal. One natural and often very helpful treatment for sciatica is going to the chiropractor.

If you prefer drug-free, non-invasive treatment, seeing a chiropractor may be the option for you. Back surgery is not easy to recover from, so before you head right for surgery, you may want to look into going to see a chiropractor. For many years, chiropractic care has been very successful when it comes to treating back problems.

Chiropractors usually deal with tendon ailments, ligaments, muscles, and pinched nerves. For some, their sciatica occurs because of herniated disc, spinal stenosis, facet joint problems, nerve entrapment, metabolic complications, and tumors. If your sciatica stems from any of those conditions it may be best to see a chiropractor. Before he or she touches your back, they will evaluate your symptoms so they can provide you with the best treatment for sciatica.

If you have a ruptured or herniated disc, the treatment program will be suited for a disc injury. Spinal stenosis occurs when the spinal column narrows, causing inflammation. If this is what is causing your sciatica, the proper treatment will be designed for you.

Entrapment occurs when the spine has mechanical imbalance, which may cause you to experience restrictions in the movement of the facet joint. As the muscles tighten, nerve entrapment may occur. Chiropractic therapies will target the piriformis muscles in order to restore balance. The pressure is released and the sciatica nerve may be relieved.

The therapies or treatment for sciatica programs done by the chiropractor will be based on his or her diagnosis. If you decide that chiropractic care is ideal for you, you should look for a professional in your area. Be sure that you are going to see a license chiropractor with adequate experience in the field. The main goal of this type of treatment for sciatica is to restore the normal functions of the back and legs.

 

Treatment for Sciatica: At Home

Friday, February 17th, 2012

Do you feel like you’ve tried just about every treatment for sciatica? Are you tired of taking anti-inflammatory medications or don’t feel comfortable taking them? Try treatment for sciatica at home. Believe it or not, in some cases it may be possible to treat sciatica in the comfort of your own home. Below are some suggestions for treatment for sciatica at home.

A disc bulge may be the root cause of your sciatica pain. Once the doctor diagnoses your condition, you will need to find out the different treatment options. Some people suffering from back pain often think that they have sciatica, but you should not make assumptions. You need an accurate diagnosis to be able to do your treatment for sciatica at home.

Sciatica is often mistaken with the cauda equina syndrome. This involves severe pain in the lower back. The first thing that you must do is to determine some effective pain relievers. Patients who can’t stand the pain can use anti-inflammatory medicines. Aside from those, muscle relaxants are also recommended, as well as painkillers. Controlling the pain is vital if you want to control your life!

There are various positions you can try to feel comfortable at home. Lie down on your stomach and place a pillow under our ankles and stomach. You can also try lying down on your back with pillows under your neck and knees. Another position that you can try is raising your feet on a footstool or chair seat.

Living an active lifestyle is also important. When the pain sets in, it may be impossible to move around with ease. However, once you are able to stand the pain, you should move around and perform your day-to-day routine. Walking is good for sciatica sufferers as well.

In order to get the best results from treatment for sciatica at home, you should ask your doctor for suggestions. The suggestions above may help relieve your pain for short periods of time. Talk to your doctor about what treatment for sciatica is best for you. You may finally be able to say goodbye to the pain and discomfort! Gain control of your life by finding the right treatment for sciatica.

 

Physiotherapy for Sciatica

Wednesday, February 15th, 2012

Have you ever heard of sciatica, let alone physiotherapy for sciatica? Sciatica is a common condition among adults, but it doesn’t mean that a younger person won’t develop it. It is important to watch out for sciatica symptoms and if you experience them, you should consult your doctor right away. If you think that physiotherapy for sciatica is the answer, there are different treatment options that are available to you.

To start, use your lumbar supports. You can use these when you are standing or sitting. With this tool, you can easily correct your posture. You can purchase this product online or at a local pharmacy. There are ones that come with belts or waist wraps.

If the back problem needs a higher support level, you can get back braces. There are ready-made ones on the market, but you can have them custom make to suit your needs. Aside from the rigid brace, it also has built in stabilizers. Since most of the braces are made from aluminum, they are lightweight, making it easier for you to walk around.

Massage balls can also work wonders for sciatica. This is an inexpensive product, and you can use it to massage the lower back. It may help with muscle relaxation, increase flood blow, and enhanced flexibility. You can use it to conduct a self-massage.

Heat or ice packs are great therapies for sciatica. These may enhance blood flow, relieve pain, muscle spams, and reduce inflammation. Another option is to get a foam roller. This roller is inexpensive and you can choose what size you want.

You can also use transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation machines (TENS). These machines stimulate the nerves. You can find cheap, as well as expensive models. Even chiropractors use the TENS machine to address severe or chronic pain. The machine can address back pains, shoulder, arthritis, muscle strains, neck, knee, and tendinitis. You can purchase this product and have it at home; that way, you won’t go to the doctor’s clinic or office.

Physiotherapy for sciatica is a great solution and the main advantage is that you can use the methods mentioned above at home. With these inexpensive options for physiotherapy for sciatica at home, you will not find it hard on your wallet and will not be limited to your options for treatment. You are the one who is dealing with the sciatica pain, so it is important to find the best physiotherapy for sciatica treatment for you!

 

Sciaticalm Testimonials!

Friday, February 3rd, 2012

Sciaticalm has a lot of wonderful testimonials, so I’ve decided to share some of those here with you! The testimonial below is from a customer named Paul who suffers from sciatica pain. He is very pleased about what Sciaticalm has done for him. Check it out!…

 

Paul: “I tried all kinds of chiropractics and none of that worked. I tried some natural herbal pills and oils and different things and none of that worked. The minute I bought this product and I put the cream on within just a very short time the pain started ceasing and I immediately took the pills and that was six months ago and I haven’t had any problem whatsoever. My sciatic nerve was terrible at that point so this has been very successful.  I was in such pain I couldn’t even lay down to sleep. I had to stand up to get any relief.  I had to lean against a wall to certain point. It took me forever to lay down- to get in a position to relieve pain. I was in a terrible pain for about three weeks. I mean really screaming pain. With the cream, I noticed results about 5-6 hours, and then I took the pills immediately and then … what I did, I said I don’t want this to come back I’m just going to take a pill every day.  So that’s what I’ve done, I take a pill every day; I never miss a day of taking the pill. And I think that has something to do with it [feeling relief]. And I’ll do that the rest of my life, I don’t want to take a chance, I don’t want that to come back. Ten years ago I had to have a surgery on my back and with this [recent back pain] they were talking about surgery and I didn’t want to go through that again… I just didn’t think I could go through another back surgery at my age, so I went to Chiropractors, and a natural herb healer around here that had oils you rub on and heat pads and those didn’t work. And immediately I used your product and it worked! So I didn’t have to have surgery, that stopped it right there.  It chews up easily, dissolves easily, it tastes good, and every thing’s good.”

Below is another testimonial from a happy customer named Lucille!!

 

Lucille: “I’ll tell you, the first experience I had was the day I received it. I took it upstairs, I opened up the box and I took a pill then, that was like noon time. By 5 o’clock that night I was not in pain anymore.  I was hurting so bad I could hardly walk, I mean it just hurt me so bad.  And I haven’t had any bad pain since.  If I feel pain coming on I take a pill.  I was in awful, awful pain.  I could hardly walk around it hurt me so bad.  I was taking pills for arthritis and everything… it wasn’t touching it. I noticed within 5 hours [of taking Sciaticalm] the pain was gone.  I won’t be without it!  I take it now, only if I’m hurting bad I take it along with my other medicine.  As far as my sciatic pain, I don’t have it anymore.”

These are actual testimonials received from Sciaticalm users. These results are not typical. Individual results will vary.  Sciaticalm tablets are designed to temporarily help alleviate the pain associated with sciatica, backaches and rheumatism. Sciaticalm cream is for the temporary relief of minor aches and pains of muscles and joints associated with simpl backaches, arthritis, strains and sprains.

 

Treatment for Sciatica: Different Ways for Relief

Wednesday, February 1st, 2012

Before choosing your treatment for sciatica you must know the real cause of the sciatic nerve pain. The sciatic nerve is connected to the brain and travels all through the entire length of the spine, down the hips and divided in the buttocks area, and down through each leg. Treatment for sciatica is dependent on where the pain. If you are suffering from sciatica, below are some suggestions for treatment for sciatica!

Sciatica is caused by four main conditions such as vertebral misplacement, disc degeneration, sacroiliac joint dysfunction or piriformis syndrome. Due to the fact that many different things trigger sciatica, it is best to be aware of the problem of the causes so you can avoid them in the future!

Sciatica Exercises: Exercises are used to help ease the pain from sciatica and strengthen the muscles in the lower back. This treatment for sciatica lessens pain when the sciatic never gets irritated. Exercises also help prevent pain from occurring in the future.

The best exercise for treatment for sciatica should strengthen and stretch the muscles in the hip area, buttocks and legs. It should also loosen the muscles in the affected area so that it will not put pressure on the nerve to release pain. Most exercises designed for sciatica are short and to the point so they will not take much of your time, but they are still very effective.

Sciatica Stretches: Sciatica stretches are another type of treatment for sciatica. They are more focused on stretching the muscles along the buttocks to loosen the pressure on the sciatic nerve caused by muscles.  Sciatica stretches can also reduce the bulging of the spinal disc in the lumbar region or relieve the soft tissues adhering to the sciatic nerve.

The muscles that give you the most painful symptoms need to be stretches to release the pain. Depending on the muscles found in the low buttocks, each person might have different orientations related to the sciatic nerve. One great stretch is to bend the leg, pull the knees toward the chest and then across to the opposite shoulder.

Sciatic Medications: When sciatica develops, it is best not to take any pain relievers. Unfortunately, the pain relievers would not eliminate sciatic nerve pain. It is best to use anti-inflammatory medications instead. If you do not have any anti-inflammatory medicine available at home, you can use a hot or cold compress for sciatica relief. Apply the cold compress where you feel the pain, once the pain begins to diminish, apply a hot compress.

Sciatica Surgery: The last form of treatment for sciatica is surgery. Even though this may not always be the best option, sometimes it is the only choice left for some sufferers. The pain a person feels in the legs and lower back may become epidemic. Patients find it hard to get healed no matter how many treatments are available to sciatica. Surgeries are costly and there are some instances where surgery does not relieve the condition and may even worsen the pain.

Above are four different types of treatment for sciatica. Before finding the right treatment for sciatica it is best to diagnose exactly where the pain is in order to have the best results. Remember, treatment for sciatica depends on the location of the pain and the person!

 

Sciatic Nerve: Helpful Hints

Monday, January 30th, 2012

The sciatic nerve is the human body’s lengthiest nerve, which starts at the spinal cord extending to the back of the legs. A simple nuisance on the sciatic nerve brings sharp pain that spreads out through this region. Treating the sciatic nerve depends on the root cause of the condition.

It is important that a patient is correctly diagnosed before undergoing any kind of treatment or procedure. Diagnosis will include physical examinations, CT scan, x-ray, electromyogram and MRI. These exams will aid the expert in knowing the cause of the pain and help determine the type of treatment the patient should receive.

Sciatica treatments are categorized into two types of remedies: surgical and non-surgical. Doctors typically advise a complete bed rest as an initial remedy for the pain, since it has been found that the pain will eventually be gone after a couple of weeks of being well-rested. However, the condition must be carefully looking upon because inability to pinpoint the root cause of sciatica can only result in recurrences. Diagnosis and testing is crucial before starting any treatment. Simple remedies such as rest and alternatively applying cold and hot compress to the area affected can work wonders in reducing the swelling. Remedies that provide long-term effects include massages and stretch exercises, which lessen the probability of muscle strains and trauma.

Regular stretch workouts and keeping engaged in physical activities can also help in keeping your muscles in good condition and preventing it from being strained. Simple stretch and back exercises can help develop muscle endurance. Aerobic exercise such as swimming can also promote endorphin secretion, which can be a natural painkiller.

Below are some exercises for sciatica nerve treatment:

  • Hamstring stretch: People with sciatica can do this simple exercise to alleviate pain. First thing to do is to lie on the floor, grab your thigh, supporting it, as you lift your knee toward you. Extend your leg upward with the sole of the foot facing the ceiling. Hold this pose for 10-15 seconds then repeat with the other leg.
  • Piriformis stretch: This works if you have sciatic leg pain. First thing to do is to bend your left leg. Next, cross the right leg on the left knee then carefully pull it towards the chest. Hold this position for 5 seconds and do the exact same thing with the other leg. Repeat for the other leg.
  • Knees to chest stretch: Lie down with your back and bend both of your knees and slowly bring your knees toward your chest. Try hard to get your knees in contact with your chest. Do this for 15 minutes daily for best results.

Sciatic nerve pain can be brought about by stern medical conditions such as a herniated disc, where mere stretches and oral medications will not work. The only remedy for this kind of sciatic nerve pain after 6 to 12 weeks of proper and continuous treatment. Keep in mind that the right treatment for sciatica really depends on the root cause as well as on its severity; therefore, the diagnosis stage is really crucial.