Anyone living with sciatic nerve pain knows how painful this can be. The pain is very intense and debilitating. Relief from the pain will be the first thing on their minds.
Sciatic pain or sciatica is an inflammation of the sciatic nerve. This causes pain and tenderness flowing through the nerve and on to the thigh and leg. There can also be lower back pain. The pain is very severe and in some cases will make even bending or walking almost impossible.
Examination by a physician including physical exam and medical history will be able to determine if the pain is sciatica. If this is determined there are different treatment options available.
Bed rest and lots of it along with over the counter pain medication may help. With so many pain meds availabe read the labels or ask a pharmacist for help about different types and dosages and what may be correct for you. An Ibrophen product may give some relief. Also using a heating pad or ice packs may also help.
Some of this sciatic pain may be due to an injury to the vertebrae’s in the spinal column and the sciatic nerve may be pinched. Consult with a chiropractor as he may be able to aleign the spine in order to alleviate pinching of the sciatic nerve.
Another option is physical theraphy or massage. Hospitals have great centers for these services. Physical sports centers are good for this theraphy. Even some doctors have centers connected to their offices or practices. Check with your physican to see of they offer any of this type service.
You may also consider acupuncture. This will not give you sciatic nerve pain relief overnight. Treatments may last as long as six month, starting with twice a week moving on to once a week. From there the sessions may progress to once a month for at least another four months. This may be for you and it would take away any need for surgery. Their are very reputble acupuncutists especially those trained in the middle east.
If nothing you try seems to help and the pain is unbearable you may opt to have surgery. This is probably the last option you may wish to persue but may be the only way if the pain does not to stop. Surgery usually involves the spinal column, particularly discs. With all new technology and equipment surgery has improved to such a degree that this type of surgery is now very uncompliated. If this is your only option consult a reputable neurosurgeon.
A relative of mine was left with the only option of surgery and elected to have the procedure done. Two discs were badly crushed and the sciatic nerve was pinched. The sciatic nerve being pinched off so badly and also the discs being crushed made the pain unbearable. This relative could not walk or even lay down comfortly. Discs were removed and fused. After surgery the pain was gone and this person was able to walk and resuem living a normal life.
These are some of the options you may want to consider if you have been living with this pain.