subject: Causes Of Sciatic Pain And Treatment Of Sciatica [print this page] If you suffer from sciatica you know the extent of the pain that inflammation of the sciatic nerve can cause. Because the sciatic nerve is the longest nerve in the body, you can feel the pain from any inflammation of it all along the nerve, which stretches from the lower of the middle back down both legs and into the feet. Feeling pain all along its route is nothing to laugh about, but there are some things you can do to lessen the pain of sciatica.
Of course, one of the first things you must do when you feel pain is to get the pain diagnosed by your medical doctor, and follow the routine that he or she suggests, but once you know that the problem is sciatica, you can then treat it as soon as possible. As with most swelling and inflammation, ice is used to treat sciatic pain, but how do you know where to place the ice when the sciatic nerve is so long?
For most people the problem of sciatic pain starts in the lower back, with the pain just following down the nerve into the leg and foot. Get out your icing pack as soon as you feel the first twinges of sciatic pain, and place it on your lower back for about ten minutes every hour or two. By icing this often, you can hopefully reduce the inflammation and swelling before it causes you too much pain.
Now, obviously, you need to know what is causing your pain. If you are pregnant, then sciatica could be caused by the position of your baby which is trapping the sciatic nerve. Excess weight could cause this problem too, and herniated discs could put pressure on the sciatic nerve and give you sciatica discomfort and pain. Often this pain is said to be a burning sensation, or a dull or numb feeling, depending on what is happening to the sciatic nerve.
In cases of spondylolesthesis, life-long sciatic pain may be inevitable unless the sufferer undergoes surgery for the condition. Unless there is no alternative, surgeons prefer not to operate on backs because of the risks. The spinal cord runs through the bony spine and through this cord nerve impulses are transmitted from the brain to all other areas of the body. Damage to the spinal cord can lead to paralysis, amongst other problems, so you can understand the surgeons reluctance to operate.
To reduce the pressure and pain of sciatica what can you do? Well, icing is recommended especially during the first 48 hours of any flare-up of sciatic pain. In the past, bed rest was recommended by the medical profession, but there have been studies which show that this is not as effective as was once thought. In fact, quite recently a Dutch study found that bed rest gave no more relief than movement.
Some doctors, in fact, now believe that staying at least a little active is beneficial, as it keeps the other muscles in the back and stomach strong.This doesn't mean that you should go to the gym for a workout when you are suffering with sciatic pain. The routine becomes one of icing, resting some, going for a short walk, icing, provided the walking doesn't increase the pain level. Any walks you take should not be long initially, as you do not want to aggravate your condition, but hopefully you will be able to lengthen the distance as the pain subsides.It could be a walk to the end of the street, or around the block, something that is not too far and doesn't cause more leg pain, but again, check with your doctor about what is right for you.
You should see your doctor to see if exercising is an appropriate activity for you, and ask what exercises would help your back condition.
Ibuprofen is recommended by medical professionals to reduce the inflammation of the sciatic nerve, although in some more severe cases codeine may be necessary. As a temporary solution, a cortisone injection is sometimes given into the area around the sciatic nerve, but this can only be done very occasionally.
