Sciatica Pain Relief
When there is a pressure or damage in the sciatic nerve, the individual feels pain, muscle weakness, numbness or tingling in the leg. This condition is termed as sciatica. Sciatica on its own may not be a medical condition but a symptom of another medical problem. However, it can be painful and debilitating and various sciatica pain relief options are sought by afflicted persons.
The sciatic nerve is the network of nerves formed at the lumbosacral region or the lower segments of the spinal cord which passes down the buttock, down to the back of the thighs which divides into peroneal (fibular) nerves and tibial nerves, down to the legs as sural nerves to the plantar nerves of the feet. When a patient is diagnosed with sciatica, it means an inflammation in the sciatic nerve is present. Information about the movements of the lower limbs and its sensations are gathered by the sciatic nerve and sends these to the brain. Understanding that the signals to the muscles are sent through the sciatic nerve from the brain and that the sensory information is passed back to the brain through this network from the legs will help in sciatica pain relief. Sciatica alters the normal back-and-forth transmittal functions of the nerve system and is manifested as weakness of the leg muscles, paresthesias or the pins-and-needles feeling, or real pain in the thighs or legs.
Exercise may sometimes prove more effective in attaining sciatica pain relief than continuous bed rest. Patients who experience the onset of sciatic pain may choose bed rest but after a day or two, the pain will tend to worsen through inactivity. The lack of exercise and movement will cause the spinal structures and back muscles to be deconditioned and less able to support the body when the patient finally decide to get up. Atrophied muscles can be helped by regular exercise. Active exercise is important and useful for healthy bodies and spinal discs. When discs get misaligned or slip, pressure is exerted on the sciatic nerve which may result in considerable pain. When the cause of the sciatic pain has been determined, some form of exercises may prove unsuitable. It will really be up to the therapist or doctor to determine which form will be most beneficial or harmful to the specific area of complaint. Slow controlled and progressive aerobic activity like stretching exercises, stationary bicycles or swimming maybe recommended.
Some of the methods for treating sciatica and relieving the pain associated with the condition are prescribing anti-inflammatory medications, analgesics, codeine preparations, muscle relaxants, corticosteroids injection. Medications combined with some forms of physical therapy can be very effective. Applying ice on painful limbs during the first days of attack will help in getting some sciatica pain relief. Applying heat can also help to increase blood flow when muscles are so tense and throbbing. Moist heat may sometimes be employed instead of dry heat. For muscle spasms, massage therapy maybe employed.
Epidural steroid injections may be administered when the pain is debilitating. Finally, if all else fails and the pain is still considerable with possible progressive nerve damage, surgery maybe recommended. There are cases where accompanying loss of bladder or bowel function will require an emergency procedure life surgery. Your quest for sciatica pain relief will, in the end, be adequately addressed by your doctor.
