How To Treat Sciatica?

Sometimes back pain may not just be confined to your back. It may extend across your hip and reach the thighs too. Such pain is termed as sciatica. There are several treatment options that you can go in for when you are suffering from sciatica. Here are some of them.

Hot and cold treatments
Hot and cold treatments can be effective in treating sciatica in the initial stages. Apply a cold pack followed by a heat pack for immediate relief. While the cold pack helps reduce pain, the heat pack speeds up the flow of oxygen to the affected area which increases the rate of healing.

You can create your own cold pack by wrapping some frozen peas or ice cubes in a towel. For the hot pack, wrap a hot water bottle in a towel. Apply each pack at least thrice, with each application lasting for at least eight to ten minutes.

Anti inflammatory medications
Sciatica is primarily pain that is caused as a result of an inflamed nerve. So, reducing the inflammation will automatically help you get rid of the pain. You can use several anti inflammatory drugs or topical ointments for this purpose. Ibuprofen, aspirin, naproxen etc are some of the choices that you have. While these medicines are effective enough, they may also result in to certain side effects. So, be careful and consult your doctor.

Exercise
There are several exercises that can provide relief from sciatica. Lie down on the floor and pull one knee towards you chest. Hold the knee for at least 30 seconds. Leave the knee and then pull another knee. Repeat this for at least five to six times.

Another exercise that you can practice to treat sciatica is pressing your back against the floor. Lie down on the floor with your palms facing the ceiling and your legs folded. Now press your lower back against the floor without any aid from the legs or hands.

Stretching
Not many people realize but stretching can be of great help to treat sciatica. What happens is that the ligaments and tendons become prone to injury as a result of restricted movement. By stretching, you will not just be able to strengthen your muscles but also decrease the chances of injury. Practice some stretching exercises daily to prevent the problem in the long run.

Physical therapy
There are several physical therapies that can be used to treat sciatica. Some of these therapies include osteopathy, deep tissue massage, chiropractic, physiotherapy and the like. However, the result delivered by these therapies may vary from one individual to the other. The best part about these treatments is that they are natural and do not cause any side effects.