The sciatic nerve runs from the lower back to the feet and is the longest nerve in the human body. Sometimes, this nerve can get compressed because of several health issues, such as a herniated disc. This results in immense pain and uncomfortable situations that are experienced from the buttocks to the feet. In this blog, we will be listing the remedies that give immediate relief for sciatica pain.
Sciatica pain might vary in intensity from one patient to another. To cure sciatica permanently, the patients must undergo certain surgeries. This might not be a suitable option for most people and hence, they look for efficient sciatica management techniques.
Get immediate relief for sciatica pain using exercises
There are several exercises that will help in managing sciatica pain to a large extent. Most of these are stretching exercises that will reduce the compression that causes the pain. Some of these exercises require you to have a great amount of flexibility. If the sciatica pain is restricting you from doing any of these stretches, then you must go at your own pace.
1. Bridge technique
a. Lie on your back, and keep your knees bent. Your back should be in a neutral position, and knees must be kept hip-width apart.
b. Then, place your hands on the yoga mat, and lift your pelvic region with the help of your tummy muscles.
c. From the head to your knees, your body must form a slanting line. Keep your body like this for some seconds, and then, bring it back to the floor. This exercise will give fast relief from sciatica pain, and will also strengthen your lower body muscles.
2. Piriformis stretch
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a. Take a chair, and sit on its edge. Then, lift the affected leg, and keep it on the knee of the other leg.
b. Keeping your spine erect, you have to lean forward from the hip area. Lean forward until you notice a slight stretch in the hip and lower back areas.
c. Hold this pose for a few seconds, and then proceed to the other leg. Sometimes, piriformis syndrome can lead to sciatica pain. This stretch can be practiced during such cases to combat the pain of sciatica.
3. Quadruped arm and leg lift
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a. Lie on your back, and then, slowly rise upwards by taking the support of your arms and knees.
b. Following that, slowly lift your left leg away from the floor, and stretch it straightly. The toes should also be stretched out completely.
c. Now, lift your right arm away from the floor and stretch it out straight. While doing the pose, keep your back straight. You must hold this pose for six seconds, with the support of your right leg and left arm.
4. Cat-cow pose
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a. After lying down on your back, slowly lift your body up, and balance yourself on your knees and hands.
b. Then, you have to round your back area by bending your elbows. Look down, and retain this pose for a few seconds.
c. After that, push your stomach towards the floor, and arch your spine downwards. Then, look up, and hold this posture for sometime. Keep on doing this exercise for a few minutes to cure your sciatica pain.
5. Low-impact exercise
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To ease the sciatica pain, you must stay active. This will loosen up the sciatic nerve and will offer you immediate relief from the pain. Here are a few low-impact exercises that you can do.
- Yoga
- Go for a short walk
- Go for a gentle bike ride
Alternative Therapies
You can also use different alternative therapies to get immediate relief for sciatica pain. Some of these therapies are very effective and after attending several sessions, you will be getting long term relief from the pain.
1. Stress Management
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Whenever we get stressed, our muscles experience tension and soreness. This can trigger sciatica pain. So, you must take the help of effective stress management techniques, like meditation, biofeedback, and more. This will help you to relax and ease the sciatica pain within a short time.
2. Massage Therapy
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To get quick relief from the sciatica pain, you must massage your lower back, thighs, glutes, and
calves. This will increase blood circulation while promoting muscle relaxation. Hence, you will experience significant relief from the pain. Go for a deep tissue massage and get the service from a professional massage therapist.
3. Acupuncture
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According to several sources, acupuncture has the ability to offer quick relief from the sciatica pain. Acupuncture produces a stimulating effect on the nerve fibers. This stimulation inhibits the pain signals and triggers endorphin release. These endorphins will offer quick and long-lasting relief from the pain.
4. Swimming
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Swimming promotes the recovery of damaged nerves and this has been proved by several studies. So, getting in the water can help in managing the sciatica pain to a big extent.
Get immediate relief for sciatica pain with medications
Certain cases of sciatica might not resolve with exercises or alternative therapies. In that case, you will have to take medications to manage the pain. So, get in touch with your healthcare provider to determine the best treatment course.
1. Painkillers
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Sometimes, your healthcare provider might prescribe a painkiller for managing the sciatica pain. Paracetamol and Ibuprofen are the most common medicines that are taken by sciatica patients. Depending upon the severity of your pain, your healthcare provider might prescribe a different painkiller.
2. Steroid Injections
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Steroid injections can offer you instant relief from the sciatica pain. This injection is administered by healthcare providers along with a local anaesthetic. The anesthetic will numb the area immediately and will offer the patient some relief before the steroids take charge. Some hospitals also administer lumbar epidural steroid injections to patients who meet the eligibility criteria.
FAQs
Q1. What are the symptoms of sciatica?
Sciatica symptoms include weak reflexes, sharp pain, numbness, and tingling sensation, usually on one side of the body.
Q2. Is there a permanent cure for sciatica pain?
Yes, sciatica can be cured permanently using decompression surgery, artificial disc replacement, and spinal fusion surgery.
Q3. What causes sciatica?
Sciatica occurs because of the compression of the sciatic nerve roots. This can happen due to herniated disc, bone spurs, and more.
Q4. What are the best stretches for sciatica pain?
Sciatica pain can be relieved to a great extent by stretches, such as piriformis stretch, cat-cow pose, bridge technique, and more.
Q5. What are the different types of sciatica pain?
The sciatica pain can be classified into 4 types – alternating, bilateral, acute, and chronic sciatica pain.
Conclusion
We have discussed the different remedies that can offer immediate relief for sciatica pain. These include exercises, alternative therapies, and medications. If your sciatica pain was induced by an injury, then using ice packs for the first three days will offer you great relief. This will manage the sciatic nerve compression by alleviating the swelling associated with the injury. Following that, you can apply heat to the affected area. This will relax the muscles and will ease the symptoms of sciatica.
