Sciatica – relief
Sciatica is a nerve-related condition that can have a major impact on your fitness program and your ability to perform simple, daily tasks with ease. A relatively common form of back pain, sciatica refers to irritation of the sciatic nerve, which is made up of five branches of nerves that come out of your lumbar and sacral spine.
In many cases, sciatica is caused by a herniated disc that is putting pressure on the sciatic nerve. A herniated disc, which is often brought on by a sudden twisting motion or injury, is sometimes referred to as a slipped, ruptured, bulging or protruding disc, or a pinched nerve.
How sciatica is treated depends on the severity of the problem. You should, of course, see your doctor for an evaluation and diagnosis if the pain is keeping you from everyday activities. Nerve pain is caused by both pressure and inflammation on the nerve, and treatment is concentrated on relieving both of these conditions.
For acute pain along the sciatic nerve, heat and/or ice packs can help relieve pain. Begin by applying heat or ice for about 20 minutes at a time, and repeating every two hours as needed. You can also alternate the two to see if this provides more relief. For some people, taking oral steroids or an anti-inflammatory such as ibuprofen will help. If the pain is severe, your doctor may inject an epidural directly into the affected area to reduce the inflammation that is causing you pain. Manual treatments, osteopathic or chiropractic may help relieve the pressure. Your doctor may also suggest a physical-therapy program that includes back-strengthening or lumbar-stabilization exercises.
Fortunately, most people with sciatica can expect their symptoms to improve within a matter of days. For others, relief may come within two to three months. In a small percentage of cases, where pain is severe and the combination of manual and medical treatments have not provided relief, surgery may be necessary to help relieve both pressure and inflammation.