The sciatic nerve is one of the longest nerves in the body. It
begins in the lower spinal column and then branches out down both
buttocks, thighs, legs and down into the feet and the toes. The nerve
can cause a shooting type pain as well as a "pins and needles" sensation
when it's pinched by a herniated disk in one of the vertebrae. The pain
can also occur when a muscle in the buttock pinches or irritates the
sciatic nerve. This is known as piriformis syndrome. Classically, only
one side of the body is affected when the sciatic nerve is compressed.
Though sciatic pain can be surprisingly sharp, sciatic nerve treatment
can alleviate it or remove it altogether. Here are seven of them:
1- Self-Care
Sometimes sciatic pain is caused by neither a herniated disk or the piriformis muscle. Indeed, a medical examination can find no reason for the pain. In this case, self-care can be an effective sciatic nerve treatment. The patient will need to stop all sports and strenuous activity and rest in bed for a day or two. In the meantime, hot compresses can be applied to the muscles in the painful area to relieve spasms. If this doesn't relieve the sciatic pain, the patient should seek further medical attention.
2- Muscle Relaxants
If self-care and bed rest don't work with the sciatic pain, the doctor may prescribe muscle relaxants. These drugs don't act on the specific muscles as much as they have a relaxing effect on the central nervous system as a whole. They're often taken during the first stages of a sciatic nerve problem and are usually not taken for long. One of these muscle relaxants is valium, which is an overall sedative. Because valium is habit-forming, the doctor will have the patient take it for only a short time. Other muscle relaxants include soma and flexeril. Soma can also be habit-forming and the patient shouldn't take it for a long time. Flexeril can be taken for a longer period than either soma or valium but can cause mental confusion and clumsiness.
3- NSAIDs
NSAIDs are pain medications that reduce inflammation. In this they work like aspirin but are less likely to cause injury to the gastrointestinal track like ulcers or gastritis. Still, these drugs shouldn't be taken for a long time either. They include ibuprofen, naproxen and COX-2 inhibitors.
4- Oral Steroids
Like NSAIDs, oral steroids are anti-inflammatory drugs but are much more powerful. Most patients take them for only a fortnight or so. They're often prescribed in a pack. The patient begins with a high dosage that is reduced over the course of the treatment. • Injected SteroidsThe doctor might also inject corticosteroids around the area of the nerve. This too will lower inflammation. Because too many steroid injections can be hazardous to the patient's health, this type of sciatic nerve treatment is also short-term.
5- Physical Therapy and Exercise
As the pain of the sciatica improves, the doctor might recommend that the patient visit a physiotherapist. The therapist might use soft tissue massage or may apply strapping to the area to reduce the load it has to carry. Exercises might include the kneeling supermen level 1, McKenzie extensions and hip hitchers. Riding a bicycle, walking and working on a cross-trainer might also be recommended as the patient improves.
6- Surgery
Only about 10 percent of patients with sciatic pain have it due to a ruptured disk. Even patients with a ruptured disk don't always opt for surgery. This step is usually taken when the condition is severe enough to cause severe pain or incontinence of either the bowel or the bladder. The surgeon removes the piece of the disk that is compressing the nerve. Herniated disk surgery is often very successful.
7- Prescription Grade Topical Pain Cream
There are many types of creams that can be applied to ease the pain of sciatica. Some of them actually trick the mind to help ease the pain. For example, some creams that contain ingredients like camphor or menthol actually burn or cool the area to the point where the patient is distracted from the original pain. Capsaicin, a substance found in hot peppers, causes a burning sensation over the affected area. Other creams are aspirin based and are best at soothing the pain in joints that are just beneath the skin.
Copyright (c) 2014 Complete Healthcare Solutions
1- Self-Care
Sometimes sciatic pain is caused by neither a herniated disk or the piriformis muscle. Indeed, a medical examination can find no reason for the pain. In this case, self-care can be an effective sciatic nerve treatment. The patient will need to stop all sports and strenuous activity and rest in bed for a day or two. In the meantime, hot compresses can be applied to the muscles in the painful area to relieve spasms. If this doesn't relieve the sciatic pain, the patient should seek further medical attention.
2- Muscle Relaxants
If self-care and bed rest don't work with the sciatic pain, the doctor may prescribe muscle relaxants. These drugs don't act on the specific muscles as much as they have a relaxing effect on the central nervous system as a whole. They're often taken during the first stages of a sciatic nerve problem and are usually not taken for long. One of these muscle relaxants is valium, which is an overall sedative. Because valium is habit-forming, the doctor will have the patient take it for only a short time. Other muscle relaxants include soma and flexeril. Soma can also be habit-forming and the patient shouldn't take it for a long time. Flexeril can be taken for a longer period than either soma or valium but can cause mental confusion and clumsiness.
3- NSAIDs
NSAIDs are pain medications that reduce inflammation. In this they work like aspirin but are less likely to cause injury to the gastrointestinal track like ulcers or gastritis. Still, these drugs shouldn't be taken for a long time either. They include ibuprofen, naproxen and COX-2 inhibitors.
4- Oral Steroids
Like NSAIDs, oral steroids are anti-inflammatory drugs but are much more powerful. Most patients take them for only a fortnight or so. They're often prescribed in a pack. The patient begins with a high dosage that is reduced over the course of the treatment. • Injected SteroidsThe doctor might also inject corticosteroids around the area of the nerve. This too will lower inflammation. Because too many steroid injections can be hazardous to the patient's health, this type of sciatic nerve treatment is also short-term.
5- Physical Therapy and Exercise
As the pain of the sciatica improves, the doctor might recommend that the patient visit a physiotherapist. The therapist might use soft tissue massage or may apply strapping to the area to reduce the load it has to carry. Exercises might include the kneeling supermen level 1, McKenzie extensions and hip hitchers. Riding a bicycle, walking and working on a cross-trainer might also be recommended as the patient improves.
6- Surgery
Only about 10 percent of patients with sciatic pain have it due to a ruptured disk. Even patients with a ruptured disk don't always opt for surgery. This step is usually taken when the condition is severe enough to cause severe pain or incontinence of either the bowel or the bladder. The surgeon removes the piece of the disk that is compressing the nerve. Herniated disk surgery is often very successful.
7- Prescription Grade Topical Pain Cream
There are many types of creams that can be applied to ease the pain of sciatica. Some of them actually trick the mind to help ease the pain. For example, some creams that contain ingredients like camphor or menthol actually burn or cool the area to the point where the patient is distracted from the original pain. Capsaicin, a substance found in hot peppers, causes a burning sensation over the affected area. Other creams are aspirin based and are best at soothing the pain in joints that are just beneath the skin.
Copyright (c) 2014 Complete Healthcare Solutions
About the Author: T.J. Palmieri is a Sports Enthusiast and Human
Resources Advisor with Complete Healthcare Solutions in Tamarac Fl. For
more information on Topical Pain Creams for Sciatica and how You can
obtain a 100% Free Prescription through you Insurance provider, visit: http://www.FreeTopicalPainCream.com
Article Source:
http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=T.J._Palmieri
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