Sciatica is a symptom of a problem such as a herniated disc. Any irritation of the sciatic nerve from a bone or muscle or from infections, injury or other causes, can lead to the painful symptoms of sciatica. The sciatic nerve pain is typically felt from the lower back to behind the thigh and radiating down below the knee, although it can also be concentrated in the buttock area, literally a "pain in the butt." Only one side of the body is affected. The pain can be a dull ache, a burning feeling or like an electric shock.
Diagnosis
A doctor can diagnose sciatica with a physical exam and medical history. The exam includes certain movements and may also require X-rays, a CAT scan or an MRI scan. Sciatica can be quite painful, but depending on the cause, it can go away in eight weeks or less with no aggressive treatment.
Self-Care
Use cold packs to reduce inflammation and relieve discomfort. Wrap an ice pack in a towel and apply it to the painful areas for 15 minutes once or twice a day. If you don't own an ice pack, try a package of frozen peas.
Alternatively, apply heat to the areas that hurt. Use commercial heat packs, a heat lamp or a heating pad on the low setting.
Stretching can relieve the pressure and pain. Try doing stretching exercises several times a day. Hold each stretch position for 30 seconds.
Exercise regularly. You may not feel like exercising when you are in pain and your mobility is limited, but regular gentle exercise can help fight that pain. Start with gentle stretching exercises for the lower back. Try water exercise or a stationery bicycle. If your pain improves, add exercises that work on strengthening back muscles.
Medication
Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) such as aspirin and ibuprofen and acetaminophen pills like Tylenol, can be helpful for sciatica, although they may be limited in controlling severe pain and not appropriate for long-term use. Acetaminophen taken for extended periods can lead to liver problems, and taking NSAIDS for extended periods can cause such side effects as stomach bleeding, leading to kidney damage or ulcers.
Other Treatments
Physical therapy, including posture exercises, back muscle exercises and flexibility training with a certified personal trainer, fitness specialist or physical therapist can help relieve sciatic nerve pain.
If the pain is severe, your doctor may recommend prescription drugs such as an anti-inflammatory with a muscle relaxant.
If other measures fail to provide relief, your doctor may recommend epidural steroid injections that suppress inflammation and help relieve pain. These injections can provide temporary relief but are not recommended for the long term.
Surgery may be recommended if sciatic nerve pain causes incontinence or pain that gets progressively worse and is not helped by the other therapies.
Alternative Medicine
Chiropractors use spinal adjustment (manipulation) to treat restricted spinal mobility, manipulating the spine from various positions. Chiropractic treatment may also include massage and stretching.
A recent development in the treatment of back pain, including sciatica, is DRX9000 spinal decompression therapy, a non-surgical treatment based on the theory that decompressing the spine increases disc spaces, thus reducing disc protrusions.
If other measures fail, you may want to try hypnosis. While you are hypnotized, the hypnotist gives you suggestions to decrease your sensitivity to pain and to help you cope with it when you are awake.
Acupuncture is another alternative therapy that produces good results for some people. The acupuncturist inserts thin needles into your skin on the theory that pain results from blockage of a vital energy, called qi ("chee") in your body, and the needles unblock that energy.
Tags: sciatic nerve, nerve pain, sciatic nerve pain, doctor recommend, extended periods, help relieve