Sciatica is a type of pain that radiates from the sciatic nerve. The sciatic is a large nerve that extends from the lower back to the back of each leg. While sciatica in and of itself does not carry any life threatening conditions or illnesses, the pain can have serious side effects. The pain can range from occasional inconveniences to severely debilitating. However, there are treatments and sciatica cures that allow sufferers to resume normal activities that the condition prevents.

SCIATICA CAUSES

The most important thing to remember with sciatica is that it is not a diagnosis; sciatica is a symptom of some other condition. Many different problems can contribute to this type of back pain. It could be a mechanical problem due to irregular movement of the spine or disc degeneration. Injuries to the spine such as sprains and fractures can also cause short term sciatica. Long term sciatica can result from medical conditions such as scoliosis, arthritis, and fibromyalgia. While it is more rare, infections in the discs or tumors on the spine can also cause the pain. In essence, any medical condition, injury, or irregularity can contribute to the pain of sciatica.

SCIATICA TREATMENTS

Several treatments have been known to minimize and even eliminate the pain. For minor sciatica pain stretching, hot or cold packs, and over the counter medications can be successful. For more severe pain, more drastic measures should be taken. When sciatica is a result of an injury or slipped disc, physical therapy can make a world of difference. Prescription drugs may be offered to numb the pain; however, if the pain is simply numbed, the patient will not know which treatments are making progress.

If these conservative measures do not help, a more aggressive approach may be taken. A doctor may recommend epidural steroid injections. These help to suppress the inflammation around the nerve which causes the pain. Unfortunately, this is another short term solution as the injection will wear off in time.

SCIATICA CURES

Those who understand the pain of sciatica do not want a temporary solution to what can be a debilitating problem. Surgery can provide such hope by removing the discs that are causing the pressure on the nerve in a lumbar laminectomy of by altering the positions of the discs in a microdiskectomy.

Like with any surgery, there are risks involved that may be even worse than the sciatica. More doctors are opting for natural cures to relieve the pain. The most common and effective cure in obese sufferers is to lose weight. The idea is relatively simple; the less weight the body has to carry, the less pressure that is placed on it. Thankfully, one of the other popular recommendations aids in the weight loss: walking. The movement of the hips when walking releases built up pressure in the spine. Patients experience almost immediate relief.

Many people who suffer from sciatica do not have a direct cause for it. In some cases, it is due to an injury or other medical cause. What people do not consider is the fact that mental stress has a substantial impact on the physical body, especially on the sciatic nerve. Perhaps the most beneficial measure someone with sciatica can take is to simply relax.