Solutions for Sciatica Pain
- Category: Pain Management
- Written By: NSPC Team
Like far-sightedness and slowing metabolisms, sciatica is a common problem faced by many people as they approach middle age. Whether manifesting in the thigh, leg, or foot, sciatica pain can be debilitating, often causing major disruption to everyday activities.
While you may want to stay in bed and rest in an attempt to relieve your pain, taking action with the help of an NSPC-affiliated specialist is the best way to combat sciatica.
Non-Surgical Sciatica Pain Relief
Research shows that between 90-95 percent of sciatica patients can find relief with non-surgical treatments. Let’s take a look at these options:
Stretching & Posing
Warming up your muscles through stretches and certain yoga poses has the potential to ease your sciatica pain if done correctly and consistently.
Try out these yoga poses and stretches to find what works for you:
- Reclining pigeon
- Forward pigeon
- Cobra
- Downward-facing dog
- Lying knee-to-chest stretch
- Sitting spinal stretch
- Standing hamstring stretch
Have patience with yourself and work slowly to master these moves. If you’re working with a physical therapist, they will help you come up with a plan of action in order to get you moving and feeling better.
Walking
Your body was made to move, and doing so could be one of the best solutions for your sciatica pain. When sciatica flares up, you may find that taking a gentle walk while making shortened strides provides relief.
Try not to tense up if it’s painful, but take deep breaths and frequent breaks to monitor your posture. When you walk, land mid-foot, not on your toes, and slow down; going at a slower pace allows you to think through your steps and not overdo them.
Epidural Injections
In certain cases, patients may qualify for an epidural injection in order to find relief for their herniated disc pain. These minimally invasive injections are extremely accurate, very effective, and have been safely used for well over 100 years to treat spinal pain. Using advanced x-ray equipment called a fluoroscope, our affiliate physicians can see and deliver strong anti-inflammatory medication directly to the inflamed disc and irritated nerves.
When to See a Specialist for Sciatica Pain
If you’re living with sciatica pain, it is important to find a specialist to help diagnose your condition so they may get you the treatment you need. If they find that non-surgical treatments are failing to provide relief, surgical options may be discussed.
Our affiliated physicians are here to listen to your concerns and get you back to living pain-free as soon as possible! Contact us to book your first consultation today.