Sciatic Nerve Treatment

The sciatic nerve is the longest nerve in the body so when there is something wrong, you will know about it! The sciatic nerve goes from the back of the pelvis, through the buttocks, down the legs and ends at the feet. A problem with the sciatic nerve is known as sciatica, and no matter how you got it, if you think you may have sciatica, it is very important to know how to treat it.

Unlike other back pains you may have experienced in the past, sciatica sends your body pain signals from the lower back and through your buttocks into your legs. Whether it is a mild discomfort of severe pain that you are experiencing, sciatica is not a pleasant ailment to have and often a feeling of weakness in the above mentioned areas could be one of the symptoms you notice.

As with all problems, speaking to a professional who can diagnose you is always the best solution. Getting professional help means that you know whether you need treatment or not.

If you have sciatica for a short amount of time (less than 6 weeks for example) then this is known as ‘acute sciatica’ and will not need treatment. If your symptoms of numbness, tingling and muscular weakness continue however, this is when you know you need to get treated.

Pain in the sciatic nerve can often be caused by infection, injury, a slipped disc or change in the spine due to age. Although there are various causes, it usually only affects people over 40. Regardless of this however, there are plenty of sciatic nerve treatments that can help ease the pain if you are suffering from the condition.

Acute sciatica can be treated by taking painkillers as this can take the edge of the pain away. Although this will not totally treat the problem, if you are suffering a mild discomfort from the condition, the painkillers can take away the worst of the pain from the affected area.

Remaining stationary can lead to your back seizing up so it is always essential to stay as active as you can. It doesn’t have to be very strenuous exercise – just gently stretching, walking and keeping mobile is enough for the nerve to relax a little more. Hot and cold compression packs are also a good way to help relieve pain.

Chronic sciatica can be improved with similar treatments as acute sciatica. Sciatic nerve treatment when the pain is more severe however means that painkillers usually have to be subscribed to the patient – stronger pain relief may be needed if the symptoms are constant for a long period of time.

Physiotherapy is recommended to those who suffer from painful sciatic nerves too. Regular yet gentle exercise will mean that your muscles around your painful areas can support your back. Physiotherapy can explore these exercises further.

In the most extreme cases, surgery could be the answer to chronic sciatic nerve treatment. This is usually used as a last resort however and all other methods should be tried before turning to any question of surgery.