If you are one of the millions who suffer from sciatica, you know how debilitating and frustrating the pain can be. Sciatica is a medical condition that affects the sciatic nerve, which runs from your spinal cord down your back and legs. The pain can be from mild to excruciating, making the simplest tasks difficult to accomplish.
Pain management doctors can help you find ways to ease your sciatica pain and improve your quality of life. They offer techniques like nerve blocks and epidural injections to help relieve pain.
Read more: What Is Pain Management and How Can Pain Management Doctors Help You?
Here are five practical ways to manage your sciatica pain:
1) Hot and Cold Therapy
Sciatica pain starts when the sciatic nerve is irritated or compressed. This results in pain radiating from the lower back and the leg. Hot and cold therapy can help to relieve this pain. Apply a heating pad or hot water bottle to the painful area for 15-20 minutes. You can also take a warm bath or shower. Apply an ice pack to the affected area for 15-20 minutes for cold therapy. Do this several times a day to help reduce the pain.
Applying heat or cold to the area can help to relieve sciatica pain. Heat therapy dilates blood vessels and increases blood flow, which helps to reduce inflammation. Cold therapy numbs the area and can reduce muscle spasms.
2) Exercise
Regular exercise is crucial for overall health, but it can help to relieve sciatica pain. Exercise can help to strengthen the muscles around the sciatic nerve and improve flexibility. Try to do moderate-intensity exercises for at least 30 minutes on all days of the week. Some good exercises to relieve sciatica pain include:
- Walking
- Swimming
- Yoga
- Pilates
3) Epidural Steroid Injections
Epidural steroid injections are a type of corticosteroid medication. They can help to reduce the inflammation and pain around the sciatic nerve. Epidural steroid injections are given in a series of three injections, each spaced about a week apart.
These medications contain a corticosteroid and a numbing anesthetic medication. They are injected into the epidural space, which is the area around the spinal cord.
4) Physical Therapy
Physical therapy can be a helpful treatment for sciatica pain. A physical therapist may teach you exercises and stretches to help relieve your pain and improve your flexibility. Stretching helps to take the pressure off of your sciatic nerve. Physical therapy can also help to improve your overall strength and flexibility, which can help to prevent future episodes of sciatica pain.
5) Anti-inflammatory Diet
A diet rich in anti-inflammatory foods reduces the inflammation causing sciatica pain. Foods high in anti-inflammatories include omega-3 fatty acids, turmeric, ginger, and green leafy vegetables. Adding these best foods to your diet can help to reduce the inflammation and pain associated with sciatica. For example, turmeric contains curcumin, which is a powerful anti-inflammatory compound.
For the best pain management in Indiana, call APAC Centers for Pain Management. Our team of pain specialists can provide you with the help you need to get your life back. We will help you determine the cause of your pain and the best course of treatment.
