Do you have shooting pains down your leg? Do you also have tingling or numbness? Chances are your misery is caused by sciatica, but confusingly enough, sciatica isn't actually a condition, it's a set of symptoms.
Any number of things can lead to this agony that you are suffering. It could be caused by a bulging disc or a herniated disc, degenerative disc disease, piriformis syndrome, pregnancy, spinal stenosis, a spinal tumor or spinal infection, spondylolisthesis, or trauma. This article will dispel this confusion and reveal the essential treatment options to banish sciatica forever.
Your first option could be to seek out a qualified Chiropractor. Chiropractors specialize in the treating of non surgical conditions and use the approach of spine manipulation, a hands on approach that restores motion to the spine. reduces muscle spasm, and improves muscular strength. They will also take a holistic approach to diagnosis of the condition that is causing this form of pain. The chiropractor will note how you walk and analyse your overall posture and spinal alignment. Not only that he/she will examine all areas of your spine, ie your neck, mid-back, and low back.
Another major option might be the use of drugs and medications. These will be prescribed by your doctor and could be one of the following: Epidural Steroid Injections; Over-the-counter NSAIDs (non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs) and prescription medications. What exactly is prescribed depends again on the severity of pain and the particular condition you have, but it is very important to follow your doctor's advice precisely. Never mix over-the-counter and prescribed drugs without consulting your doctor.
A popular option for relieving sciatic pain is exercise, and again what exercise you do depends on the condition you have. For example if you have a herniated disc then exercises like 'The Prone on Elbow into Press UP', 'The Upper Back Extension', or 'The Opposing Arm and Leg Extension' will help. Videos of these exercises and more can be found at http://www.spineuniverse.com. If you have severe pain exercise can be a great compliment to other treatments such as surgery, but please consult you doctor.
A similar option that utilises exercise is physical therapy. Again you will be referred to a physical therapist by your doctor. Physical therapy can be either a passive or an active treatment. Passive treatments relax you and your body and prepare it for therapeutic exercise. This the active part of physical therapy. Passive treatments include: Deep Tissue Massage; Hot and Cold Therapies; TENS (transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation); and Ultrasound. The exercises in the active therapy will be individually tailored to suit the patients particular needs.
Most patients with sciatica recover when using the above non-surgical treatments, so spine surgery is seldom needed. It's very much the last resort however there are situations when you may want to go ahead with it. For example if you have bowel or bladder dysfunction, or if you have spinal stenosis or other neurologic dysfunctions, or maybe if the pain is getting worse and everything else is failed. Although surgery can be painful and slow to recover from it can be the miracle cure for long term severe back pain. BUT REMEMBER! the final decision to have surgery is always up to you.
A life without sciatic pain can be yours if you follow these proven treatments in consultation with your doctor. You can put an end to both your pain and confusion. Now you can explore all your options and a life devoid of the agony of Sciatica is within your grasp.
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