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Home Treatment for Sciatica Leg pain
The pain which comes with the condition known as Sciatica, though normally associated with the lower back, can also radiate to the leg. The condition arises as a result of the irritation of the sciatic nerve, due to a herniated disc, or spinal stenosis, or tightening of the muscles in the thighs or buttocks.
Though mainly associated with the lower back, the pain arising out of sciatica, can also be felt sometimes in the leg. This is because, the sciatic nerve which originates in the lower back, runs through the thighs and buttocks and into the back of the leg. Usually only one leg is affected. While in the lower back, the pain causes numbing, the pain in the leg is a shooting and spasmodic pain, causing immobilization while it lasts. However, it is quite possible to get rid of leg pain due to sciatica by home treatment mainly consisting of exercises.
When pain on account of sciatica moves into the leg, the person finds it difficult to stand or move around. He/she can be allowed to lie in bed or sit, while alternate hot and cold packs are applied to the leg. This should bring down the level of pain felt in the leg substantially. Thereafter, after a light massage, some exercises such as the ones given below, can be started:
1. Lie on the stomach, while trying to slowly raise your torso above the ground, by about 4-5 inches with the help of the elbows and arm. Keep straightening the elbows till a gentle stretch is felt in the back. Hold this position for 5 seconds, gradually working upto 25-30 seconds, in subsequent rounds of this exercise. Try to do 10 rounds at a time.
2. Again lie on the stomach, hands clasped on the lower back. Slowly raise your head from the floor, 4-5 inches. Hold the position for 5 seconds in the first attempt, and increase to 20 seconds in subsequent attempts of this exercise. Try to do 10 rounds.
The above 2 exercises will move the pain from the leg to the lower back. Thereafter, the following exercises can be done for removing the pain from the back:
3 Sit with your unaffected leg stretched out in front of you. Take the ankle of the affected leg and pull it up towards your chest. Hold for 5 seconds and repeat 5 times.
4 Sit on the floor with both legs stretched out before you. Bend at the waist and try to touch your toes, keeping knees straight. Hold this position for 10 seconds, and repeat 5 times.
5 Stand and cross your right foot over the left. Bend from the waist and try to touch your right knee with your forehead to the extent possible. Hold for 10 seconds, and relax. Repeat with the left foot over the right.
Movement is a must in the case of all sciatica treatments and the above-mentioned exercises would be sufficient to relieve the leg pain caused by sciatica.
