Understanding Sciatic Nerve Pain
The sciatic nerve is the longest nerve in the body. It runs through the spine through the buttocks and into the thigh. The sciatic nerve plays a major role in the connection between the spinal cord and the muscles of the lower extremities, especially the leg and the foot. Sometimes as a result of irritation of sciatic nerve, the affected individual experiences severe pain which begins at the low back and travels through the lower extremities into the foot. This is what is termed as a sciatic nerve pain.(1)
The sciatic nerve pain primarily is repetitive, meaning that is comes and goes and basically affects one leg. The pain experienced will be described as almost intolerable by the patient. This pain becomes worse with sitting. It is also accompanied by weakness, numbness and tingling of the lower extremities. Herniated disc, spinal stenosis, piriformis syndrome, and degenerative disc disease are believed to be the primary causes for sciatic nerve pain.
While many individuals turn to antiinflammatories for pain relief, others may opt for surgery to correct the pinched or inflamed nerve causing the symptoms. These forms of treatment have shown to be quite effective but there are also some alternative forms of treatment for Sciatic Nerve Pain. This article gives a brief overview of some of the natural treatments for Sciatic Nerve Pain.
Best Natural Treatments For Sciatic Nerve Pain
As stated, most individuals with Sciatic Nerve Pain tend to go for conservative treatment options and very rarely go for surgery to treat the Sciatic Nerve Pain. However, natural treatments in the form of chiropractor manipulations, acupuncture and certain home remedies have also been quite effective for treatment of Sciatic Nerve Pain. The natural treatments for Sciatic Nerve Pain are:
Spinal Cord Adjustments: This method of treatment is done by a chiropractor and is quite an effective natural treatment for Sciatic Nerve Pain. This method is done normally for Sciatic Nerve Pain caused due to herniated discs, as this is the most cause of Sciatic Nerve Pain. The chiropractor first determines whether the patient is a suitable candidate for a spinal cord adjustment. In cases where the patient has extremely high reflexes, or has a condition called cauda equina syndrome then the patient is not deemed to be a suitable candidate for spinal cord adjustment. If the patient is felt to be a good candidate for this mode of treatment, then the chiropractic realigns the spinal cord in such a way that the herniated disc goes back into its normal position and there is complete relief from the symptoms of Sciatic Nerve Pain.
Acupuncture: This is a traditional Chinese medical practice that utilizes needles to treat medical conditions.(2) The theory behind this is with free flow of energy through the body any illness can be treated. This form of treatment has been approved by the FDA in the United States and is quite an effective natural treatment for Sciatic Nerve Pain.
Turmeric: This is quite an effective and easy to prepare natural treatment for Sciatic Nerve Pain. Turmeric contains curcumin in it which has antiinflammatory properties in abundance and also helps in treating nerve pain conditions. Add a tablespoon of turmeric in a cup of milk and boil the solution. You can add Honey to make it sweet and then drink the mixture two to three times a day for best effectiveness.
Capsaicin Cream: This is yet another effective natural treatment for Sciatic Nerve Pain. It contains natural pain relievers and also helps in decreasing the levels of pain generating neurotransmitters thus helping with Sciatic Nerve Pain. This cream can be bought over the counter and applied to the affected area two to three times a day for at least a week to see improvement in Sciatic Nerve Pain. It should be noted here that this cream should not be applied on broken or cut skin as it may result in a burning and painful sensation.
Valerian: This is also an effective agent to treat Sciatic Nerve Pain, especially when it is caused by a muscle spasm. All the individual needs to do is take 150 mg of valerian supplement which is easily available in the market and take it two to three times a day for a few weeks for optimum relief. A tea can also be prepared using valerian roots for relief of Sciatic Nerve Pain.
Fenugreek Seeds: Grind some fenugreek seeds and boil the powder with milk to make a paste of it. Apply the paste on the affected area of the body and leave it for a few hours before rinsing it with lukewarm water. This needs to be done daily to get optimum relief from Sciatic Nerve Pain naturally.
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