Sciatica Nerve Pain Treatment – What Options Are Available?

Sciatica "is a real pain in the...", well, it can be anywhere from the buttocks, all the way down to the foot or even the toes So where does it come from and more importantly, what can be done about it?

There are actually two sciatic nerves. They start down at the toes of each foot and travel up the legs to then enter the spinal cord at the lower back. The problem of sciatica is usually caused by a trapped or pressed nerve in the lower back. That's were the problem starts and where the cure should begin.

There are various reasons why a nerve starts to cause problems, herniation of a disc, infection or fractures are only some of them. Not only can sciatica occur in different areas, the pain itself can vary. Sometimes it is a sharp shooting pain going down the leg while other times it can be just a dull ache, a numbness or a tingling sensation.

The pain can often occur in one of the legs and also in the lower back. It often occurs for a few days and then thankfully fades away but can come back again due to sitting or even lying in bed. So what can be done to relieve sciatica if not banish it completely.

This can unfortunately depend on what actually caused the pain and it is best to have an X-ray or MRI scan to try and identify the actual cause. If the actual cause is identified, and unfortunately it isn't always so easy to find, then you can decide on what type of treatment to try.

Once again some treatments work better for some individuals and not for others so it can be a bit of a hit and miss approach. Often doctors recommend surgery but I would consider that as a last resort. Back surgery is of course dangerous and can make the situation worse but clinics love the profits surgery brings in.

Simple treatments should always be tried first. Hot and cold packs can be applied to the tender areas and often give relief from the worst of the pain. A lot of success has also been achieved by using Far Infrared treatment.

Pain relieving drugs and even epidural steroid injections are also a favorite of clinics and their accountants. These highly profitable treatments can relieve pain but often cause unwanted side effects. They also do nothing to fix the initial problem so you can end up taking the drugs for the rest of your life.

There is also a lot of success using acupuncture to control the pain but again seldom address the cause of the problem.

Reducing excess weight is one obvious step that has many health benefits besides possibly eliminating your sciatica problem and is always recommended. Various exercises and stretching techniques can also be beneficial. Gentle yoga exercises are one very popular choice for sufferers.