Saturday, April 24, 2010

The Secrets of Healing Sciatica

By Aneron Kepasil

If you have not suffered sciatica, count yourself fortunate. Sciatica is pain in the sciatic nerve, a thick nerve mass rooted in the lumbar spine that travels from there through the hip and down the outside of the leg, crossing at the knee. The nerve continues to the foot, and pain may occur in varying intensity along its entire length, or in spots. Healing sciatica may be a challenge, depending on its cause. Bulging or herniated discs, stenosis (narrowing of the spinal channel), spinal trauma, and tumors are a few common causes of sciatica.

Treatment for sciatica is directed towards maximizing mobility and your independence. The nerve problem should be classified and treated the right way. Some people with this need no treatment, and heal spontaneously. If there was no evidence of nerve degeneration, no history of trauma, sudden onset of the pain, no difficulty moving, then conservative treatments are the most effective.

Over the counter pain medications containing acedeminophin or aspirin are often helpful in treating sciatica. The application of ice packs over the area where the pain is the deepest can often reduce the inflammation. Some people find relief by alternating heating pads with periods of ice pack therapy. Anti-inflammatory prescription medication may be necessary if the pain proves hard to manage.

Bed rest is often prescribed for sciatica although it is not clear there is any actual benefit to healing sciatica. However, some patients find the pain is so debilitating that movement is impossible. Bed rest with brief periods of gentle physical activity may be more effective. Some doctors prescribe specific exercises. A good bed with appropriate lumbar support, with a change in sleeping position eases the agony for some people. Lifting the knees, perhaps with a pillow, is immensely helpful.

One natural solution for relieving the pain associated with sciatica is to see a chiropractor. Instead of only temporarily relieving the pain, chiropractors focus on correctly the underlying problem. Chiropractors offer a completely natural way to ease the pain related to sciatica. If your body is not aligned correctly, chiropractors can adjust your alignment and relieve your pain. Millions of sciatica sufferers have found relief through the use of chiropractors.

An herbal remedy called sciatol, containing six natural herbals, is available as a supplement or an essential oil. This preparation offers a cure for sciatica, and is worth a look. Natural is not always safe, so it is a good idea to learn the ingredients and check their safety, but given safe ingredients, any sciatica sufferer will say its worth a try if it results in healing sciatica.

About the Author:

No comments:

Post a Comment