Acupuncture has been shown to be an effective treatment for sciatica without the side effects of prescription pain medications like NSAIDs and muscle relaxers. It is also a safe, non-surgical treatment option that can relieve sciatica pain.
Patients with acute sciatica may find relief within two to three acupuncture sessions. On the other hand, patients with chronic sciatica usually require about eight to 12 treatments depending on what caused the problem (e.g. disc herniation, stenosis, bone spurs).
Sciatica pain is a delicate condition that only some experts can analyze it. The recommendation is to treat it with a reliable Gilbert acupuncture treatment to lessen the symptoms.
Sciatica can be treated effectively through physical therapy, however in severe (acute or chronic) cases, the combined effect of physical therapy and acupuncture will ensure the outcome to be highly successful.
Alternating heat and ice therapy can provide immediate relief of sciatic nerve pain. Ice can help reduce inflammation, while heat encourages blood flow to the painful area (which speeds healing). Heat and ice may also help ease painful muscle spasms that often accompany sciatica.
Your acupuncturist can suggest a course of treatments once you've discussed your health condition(s) together. A typical course of treatments for sciatica would be 6 to 12 treatments, 1-3 times per week depending on the severity (1 for mild, 2 for moderate, 3 for severe; as the pain reduces, so does the frequency).
According to traditional Chinese medicine (TCM), sciatica belongs to the gallbladder meridian of the foot-Shaoyang (GB) and the bladder meridian of the foot-Taiyang (BL), and the Yanglingquan (GB 34) and Huantiao (GB 30) are two key “acupuncture points” (acupoints) for treating sciatica [5].
Discomfort and pain from the needles: Acupuncture often causes soreness, numbness, and feelings of compression during the procedure (11, 15). Bleeding after treatment: Bleeding can occur after the needles are removed from the patient's skin. On rare occasions, a hematoma can develop at the puncture site.
Massage therapy can be an important part of your sciatica treatment plan—providing temporary but effective pain relief, stimulating your body to produce natural pain-relieving hormones, and enhancing the body's own healing abilities. A massage can also provide an overall relaxing and enjoyable experience.
Dry needling, coupled with proper diet and exercise, is a better option than waiting and hoping for sciatica pain to go away on its own.
Begin by placing the palms of your hands on the lower back. Next, massage the pelvic region in the direction of your buttocks. Position your hands at waist height using your thumbs to massage the muscles close to the spine. Wrap your fingers around your sides.
The most common cause is a herniated disk in the lower spine. Another risk factor is spinal stenosis, a condition that causes the spinal column to narrow. Doctors do not know why some cases of sciatica become chronic. Many acute and chronic cases happen because of a herniated disk.
Common side effects include soreness and minor bleeding or bruising where the needles were inserted. Single-use, disposable needles are now the practice standard, so the risk of infection is minimal. Not everyone is a good candidate for acupuncture.
While sciatica pain can be debilitating, chiropractic treatment can relieve it gently and naturally. This care entails treating the pain without costly and harmful side effects.
In addition to providing hydration, drinking water has the potential to alleviate sciatica, a common source of lower back and leg pain. Drinking water can slow the progression of symptoms and ease discomfort.
Despite what you might have been told, sciatica can be cured permanently without having to resort to surgery or a lifetime of medication. This is made possible by addressing the underlying cause of your sciatica using natural, proven methods such as physical therapy, massage, stretching, and exercises.
For the majority of patients, acute sciatica pain resolves within 1 – 2 weeks. In some cases, behavioral modification or at-home remedies may be adequate for relieving sciatica pain. However, certain patients may develop chronic sciatica pain which may wax and wane but remains present over many years.
Wear and Tear. Wear and tear on your spine (a common part of aging) can lead to a condition called spinal stenosis, which is narrowing of the spaces within the spine. This narrowing can compress your sciatic nerve and lead to chronic or worsening nerve pain.
Go to Physical Therapy
PT usually involves most rapid relief remedies (icing, heating, massage, stretching, strength, and flexibility exercises) to provide pain relief, eliminate the underlying cause of the sciatica nerve pain, and prevent further injury and flare-ups.
It can be worse when coughing or sneezing or sitting a long time. Usually, sciatica affects only one side of the body. Some people also have numbness, tingling or muscle weakness in the leg or foot.
Sciatica occurs when there is pressure on or damage to the sciatic nerve. This nerve starts in the lower back and runs down the back of each leg. This nerve controls the muscles of the back of the knee and lower leg.
Supplying the body with vital vitamins and minerals assists in overall health in general, including improvement from sciatica. Daily doses of supplements such as calcium, magnesium, St. John's Wort, and Vitamin B12 have shown to treat sciatica effectively.