How to reduce inflammation of the sciatic nerve

Sciatica is leg pain caused by a pinched nerve in the lower back.. Although the pain begins in the nerve roots located on each side of the lumbar spine, it courses through the sciatic nerve, which runs the entire length of each leg from the buttock to the foot. Leg agony, called radiculopathy, is often worse than back pain. It is usually felt in one leg, and the sensation can be intolerable. Some people compare it to the nerve pain experienced in a toothache.

The most common cause of sciatica is a herniated disc.. When a disc develops a tear or crack and bulges into the spinal canal, it can pinch the sciatic nerve. Symptoms usually go away in about 6 weeks, but for some people, the pain may last.

For most sufferers, available non-surgical remedies and regular exercise will help relieve the pain.

Here are some techniques or natural treatments for sciatica:

Chiropractic care

Sixty percent of people with sciatica who find no relief from other therapies and then try spinal manipulation experience the same degree of pain relief as patients who eventually undergo surgery, according to a 2010 study in the Journal of Manipulative and Physiological Therapeutics.

The 120 people in the study saw a chiropractor about 3 times a week for 4 weeks, and then continued weekly visits, tapering off treatment as they felt better. In the people who responded to chiropractic care, the benefits lasted up to a year. "Spinal manipulation can create a response in the nervous system that relieves pain and restores normal mobility to the injured area."says the study's researcher Gordon McMorland, DC, National Spine Care in Calgary, Alberta. "It also reduces inflammation by creating an environment that promotes the body's natural healing mechanisms."

Acupuncture

Technique focused on achieving well-being through the free flow of energy through specific routes to the organism. It consists of inserting very fine needles into the skin near the painful area.

"You can get relief from the first session, although it takes about 12 sessions to see improvement," says Jingduan Yang, MD, assistant professor at the Myrna Brind Jefferson Center for Integrative Medicine at Thomas Jefferson University. A small study in the Journal of Traditional Chinese Medicine found that of 30 people with sciatica, 17 got complete relief and 10 improved symptoms with warming acupuncture, in which needles are heated.

Yoga

Gentle forms of yoga may be beneficial for sciatica.

By strengthening muscles and improving flexibility, a yoga practice can help sciatica sufferers "move and function better so they don't fall into a posture that aggravates sciatica," says James W. Carson, PhD, a psychologist with the Comprehensive Pain Center at Oregon Health & Science University.

Massage

You don't have to wait for a chill-out spa massage if you have sciatica. In this case, trigger point therapy is the bestsays Jeff Smoot, vice president of the American Massage Therapy Association.

The sciatic nerve sits under a muscle called the piriformis, which lies below the buttocks. "When the piriformis muscle tightens, it pinches the sciatic nerve, causing tingling and numbness down the leg," says Smoot. Pressure is applied to the irritated and inflamed areas, or trigger points, in the piriformis muscle, as well as the muscles of the lower back and buttocks.

Topical preparations

St John's wort oil, a liniment, is "one of my favourites for nerve pain," says Tieraona Low Dog, MD, director of fellowships at the Arizona Center for Integrative Medicine. The anti-inflammatory oil should be applied two or three times a day where there is pain. Another option: a cayenne pepper cream or poultice; capsaicin, found in chillies, prevents the release of compounds that cause nerve pain. For severe cases, Low Dogs uses the prescription Qutenza chilli patch, designed for shingles pain. "One application is effective for weeks.

Ice or heat

Because the sciatic nerve is buried deep in the buttock and leg, ice or heat on the surface of the body will not relieve the internal inflammation. Traditional treatments can act as a "booster", i.e. in the painful area they will help the pain to subside.. Apply an ice pack or hot compress as needed for 15 minutes.

Exercise and Physiotherapy

Moving is usually the last thing people with sciatica want to do, but it is important to be physically active. Staying in bed makes it more likely that the pain will last longer. Exercise increases blood flow to the disc and nerve, which helps get rid of the chemicals that cause inflammation.. Walking for 15-20 minutes, swimming or water aerobics is recommended; there is not as much pressure on the back when you are in the water. It may also be worth seeing a physical therapist, who can prescribe stretching exercises to regain flexibility in the back or movements that strengthen the core muscles, helping to stabilise the spine and reduce the likelihood of a similar injury.

Diet

A diet with vitamins and minerals is always the right way to treat sciatica. In this respect magnesium is important, as a lack of magnesium can lead to muscle tension and stiffness. and in turn cause pain in the sciatic nerve. People who are obese or overweight would do well to lose weight, to relieve the pressure on the spine.

Herbs

There are herbs or plants that have properties that help to reduce the inflammation of the sciatic nerve.and soothe pain by eliminating toxins.

We cite the following:

• Nettle. It is advisable either to take a bath with a litre of nettle infusion in the water or to pass a sprig of fresh nettle over the painful area, so that the stinging principles cause a reaction that masks the sciatic pain and deflates the nerve.
• Willow. Its salicin content, the principle of aspirin, is very effective for sciatica. It is necessary to make a decoction of 2 grams of dry bark per glass of water. Drink two or three cups a day.
• Cabbage. Warm cabbage leaves on the affected area will soothe the pain quickly.
• Thyme. Apply a poultice with mint, sage or rosemary and thyme to the painful area for a few minutes.
• White radish. Application of a lotion with white radish juice on the affected area.
• Mustard. A poultice with mustard flour will produce a reddening of the area with a consequent increase in heat.
• Feverfew. It stimulates the secretion of urine and by eliminating uric acid and chlorides is very useful in cases where sciatica is caused by rheumatism.
• Corn. A poultice prepared with cornflour is very energetic in curing sciatica.

Biosalud, clinic specialising in the locomotor system

The sciatic nerve is the largest and longest peripheral nerve in the body, formed from the roots L4, L5, S1 and S2.

Biosalud has a clinical unit specialising in all rheumatic diseases affecting the bones, joints, muscles, tendons and ligaments, in short, the locomotor system. As an integrative medicine clinic, we establish the treatment protocol for each case and patient. And we can cure your sciatica problem - ask us!