Effective Options for Treating Sciatica

Sciatica is a condition that originates mainly from the compression and irritation of the spinal nerve roots. It results in excruciating pain through the buttocks and down the leg especially when sitting or standing, coughing or sneezing, bending backwards or walking long distances. There are different types of sciatica treatments, ranging from invasive to minimally invasive.

Back injuries that may be treated very effectively without surgery are lumber spinal stenosis, spondylolisthesis, piriformis syndrome, spinal tumor, trauma, sciatic nerve tumor or injury.

A professional pain management center could provide very effective treatment for sciatica. A typical program would include the following:

1. Physical Therapy

Your physician would first diagnose your condition and evaluate your medical history. A physical therapy program may be recommended, consisting of a series of exercises formulated to provide relief to the area by treating any muscle imbalance and any nerve irritation responsible for the pain. Some of the most popular modalities used are massage and myofascial release, transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation, ice or heat to eliminate muscle spasm, ultrasound to treat soft tissue injuries, traction, and rehabilitation followed by injury prevention education.

2. Exercise

Routine exercise may form part of your sciatica treatment. These exercises would involve gentle stretching of targeted areas in lower back and legs. The objectives of such movements are to relive stress and compression the sciatic nerve. But over- stretching can cause more harm than good and therefore all these exercise programs are supervised by specialists in the field.

3. Epidural Steroid Injections

Steroid injections aim at reducing irritation around spine discs and spinal nerves. Using a needle, a small dose of corticosteroids and local anesthetic are injected around the spinal cord. This provides immediate relief for sciatica pain.

4. Spinal Decompression Therapy >

Non surgical spinal decompression is an FDA-approved, novel traction-based treatment that treats the most common spine and back-related problems. It decompresses the discs in the spine, removing the pressure on the effected nerves and stressed spine. The procedure creates a powerful vacuum force within the spinal discs which reshapes the discs and brings them back to normal size and functioning. It is a painless, effective therapy with no side effects. After the discs are treated, patients can resume normal activity.

These are some of the most effective solutions for treating sciatica. Oral medication and massage therapy can also be part of a pain management program. A board certified physician will ensure a proper testing and complete diagnosis, research through your medical history, conduct a physical examination, and then suggest the best treatment for your problem. It is important that you consult a qualified and experienced pain management physician at an established healthcare center for your sciatica treatment.