How to Manage Sciatica Symptoms

It is common to experience symptoms due to your spinal nerves’ compression in the lower lumbar spine. In fact, about 40% of Americans experience sciatica at some point during their lives. Therefore, it is crucial to understand how you can manage the condition, as it can affect your quality of life and your normal functioning. Dr. Patrick S. McNulty, MD, is a Las Vegas sciatica specialist and can help you manage your condition. You don’t have to put up with the condition; you can get help through the following options.

Medication and Injections

Pain is the main symptom of sciatica, where you can experience it in your lower back, or the pain can travel to your legs and feet through your buttocks. Although the symptoms can vary, muscle relaxants and non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs can be prescribed to manage sciatica. After your provider carries out diagnostic tests, including looking into your medical history, you may find these medications effectively manage your conditions. They can also recommend x-ray-guided epidural steroid injections for your condition. The injections reduce inflammation in the affected area, giving you relief that can last for several months.

Heat and Ice

If your symptoms are not severe, applying heat or ice can give you some relief. The heat or ice can relieve the surface inflammation so that the pain coming from the deeper sciatic nerve is eased. However, the heat or the ice should be applied only at 15-20-minute intervals to avoid skin irritation. Also, it would be best if you didn’t just do this on your own. Let your provider examine your symptoms and instruct you accordingly if this is the best suitable option for you.

Chiropractic Treatments

This is one treatment option that can give you relief from sciatica symptoms for up to a year or even more. This option involves focusing not only on the symptoms but also on the causes of the complication. It is a multidisciplinary procedure that combines several techniques to help you get relief from your condition. For instance, if you are experiencing mobility difficulties, spinal adjustments can reduce inflammation and restore mobility.

Exercises

Some of your sciatica symptoms can go away through specific exercises instructed and supervised by your provider. Some gently performed stretching and strengthening exercises can give you relief where your condition’s nearby muscles have been affected. According to research, practicing yoga, focusing on breathing, and posture also has proven effective in relieving some sciatica pain.

Acupuncture

This treatment procedure has proven effective in causing complete relief from some sciatica symptoms, such as pain. It involves inserting tiny needles on your affected area to stimulate the nervous system, decreasing the pain sensations. Warming acupuncture that involves using needles that have been warmed may be even more effective.

Surgery

Sometimes your condition can be severe and persist despite trying noninvasive procedures. In this case, surgical procedures such as lumbar laminectomies can be recommended to widen the spinal canal or correct the issue causing compression on your spinal nerves.

All these treatment procedures can help you manage sciatica symptoms in one way or another. Additionally, a combination of some of these options can also be more effective in managing your condition. Learn your treatment options by speaking to a sciatica specialist by calling McNulty Spine today.

Paul Petersen