Nonsurgical Sciatica Treatment

Nonsurgical sciatica treatment is sometimes a lonely endeavor. It often requires working on your own, either at home or in a gym, in an attempt to alleviate symptoms such as shooting pain, tingling, numbness, or muscle weakness in the lower body. These symptoms are caused by compression of the sciatic nerve, which originates in the mid-lower back and is the longest and largest nerve in the body.

While it is important to brace yourself for a certain amount of isolation during treatment, remember that no two treatment plans are alike. What works for someone you know might not necessarily work for you. That said, there are many proven, conservative, non-surgical treatment methods available to help you combat sciatica symptoms, many of which can be accomplished in the comforts of your own home.

One Size Does Not Fit All

Once you are diagnosed, you will work closely with your doctor to determine which of the many conservative options should be included in your initial sciatica treatment plan. The plan will be based on the severity of your symptoms, the location of the nerve compression, and your level of overall health. Chances are, the plan will include some form of over-the-counter and/or prescription-strength medication, such as analgesics, non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), and muscle relaxants, to reduce discomfort and swelling. It might also include several treatment methods you can perform at home, such as:

– Gentle stretching to improve the flexibility of the muscles, tendons, and ligaments supporting the spine

– Low-impact exercise, such as walking or swimming, to improve blood flow and cardiovascular health

– Light weight training to improve lower back strength and leg strength in order to promote better posture

– Short periods of rest to allow occasional inflammation to subside

– Application of heating pads or ice packs to increase circulation and combat inflammation, respectively

In addition, your doctor might recommend some forms of alternative sciatica treatment that you more than likely will not be able to have administered at home. These include:

– Transcutaneous Electrical Nerve Stimulation (TENS) to electrically stimulate nerves with currents that have a therapeutic effect

– Chiropractic adjustments

– Acupuncture

– Decompression table treatments

– Aquatic therapy in a therapeutic pool

Patience Is Vital

Whether your initial sciatica treatment plan includes these and other nonsurgical methods, or incorporates regular visits to a physical therapist, chances are it will require a period of trial-and-error to develop the right set of treatment methods to deal with your specific set of symptoms. Patience is vital, because it could take several days or weeks to determine the correct, effective combination of treatments.

Another important factor, especially early during the treatment cycle, is communication between you and your doctor. He or she will need to know as many details as possible about your symptoms in order to make an educated decision about what works and what doesn’t. One way to ensure accurate reporting of your progress is to keep a daily journal detailing the status of your symptoms and what effect particular treatment methods seem to have on them.

When to Consider Surgery

If nonsurgical sciatica treatment has not been effective over the course of several weeks or months, it might be time to consider your surgical options. Before consenting to any form of spine surgery, though, it is imperative that you conduct thorough research into the risks and potential side effects of an operation intended to relieve sciatica. Also, seek a second (and even a third) opinion to be sure of three things: that the original diagnosis was correct in every way, that no forms of nonsurgical sciatica treatment have been overlooked, and that all surgical approaches are being researched and considered.

Patrick Foote is the Director of eBusiness at Laser Spine Institute, the leader in endoscopic spine surgery. Laser Spine Institute specializes in safe and effective surgical sciatica treatment options as well as outpatient treatments for several other common spine conditions.

Patrick Foote is the Director of eBusiness at Laser Spine Institute. Laser Spine Institute offers safe and effective endoscopic sciatica treatment options. http://www.laserspineinstitute.com/back_problems/sciatica_sciatic_nerve_pain/sciatic_nerve_treatments/conservative_sciatic_treatments/

Author Bio: Patrick Foote is the Director of eBusiness at Laser Spine Institute, the leader in endoscopic spine surgery. Laser Spine Institute specializes in safe and effective surgical sciatica treatment options as well as outpatient treatments for several other common spine conditions.

Category: Medicines and Remedies
Keywords: sciatica treatment