The pain emanating from the lower back and spreading to your thighs, legs and buttocks is called sciatic pain. It is caused by a compressed nerve in the lower back which can lead to numbness and weakness in the legs.
Lumbar disk hernia is the usual culprit for sciatica. Some mechanical stress causes tearing in the layers of the lumbar disk and makes the inner substance to herniate. It happens on the weakest points of the disk, where the nerve exits from the spinal canal.
How To Treat Sciatica?
Chiropractic Care And Physiotherapy
By promoting motion which relieves the pain, chiropractors and physiotherapists can relief sciatica pain. You can also try relieving it with ultrasound, electrotherapy, joint mobilization, various exercises or soft tissue therapies. Consult with your physiotherapist or chiropractor for the best way of treatment.
Acupuncture And Traditional Chinese Medicine
Acupuncture is a very efficient way to treat the sciatica symptoms. The tiny needles are put at specific points in the meridian channels. This causes micro-trauma to the muscles and leads to increased release of endorphin which calms the nerves.
Heat\Ice Therapy
Heat or ice packs application can reduce the inflammation and pain. Heat helps you loosen up the muscles and the ice reduces swelling and inflammation.
McKenzie Exercises
These exercises are often recommended by physiotherapists and chiropractors. Always consult them before doing the exercises!
Decompression And Lumbar Spine Traction Therapy
This therapy is recommended if the pain doesn’t subside for a longer period. It is a traction therapy spreading the lumbar vertebrae and allowing the disk material to re-absorb in the outer disk material.
