Methods For Obtaining Sciatica Pain Relief
July 26th, 2011 | Author: Pain
When compression of the spine causes painful sensations in the back and gluteal area of the body, the affected person often seeks some form of sciatica pain relief. Sciatica pain affects only one side of the body. However, the painful sensations can extend over a huge portion of the affected side. Sometimes the person suffering with sciatica’s distinctive symptoms finds it almost impossible to walk.
In the past, treatment for this nerve disorder has been prolonged bed rest. Today, however, patients are confined to the bed for only two to three days. During that time, the use of an anti-inflammatory drug is recommended. By taking an NSAID, such as ibuprofen or prescribed codeine, a patient can obtain temporary relief.
In most cases, following two to three days of bed rest, the patient feels ready to engage in some regular periods of stretching. Stretching and warm up exercises help to prevent the development of a sore feeling in the connective tissues. That is a feeling that patients with injured muscle fibers frequently experience.
Stretching serves to eliminate such soreness. It also provides an additional benefit. By acting like a yawn, it relieves tension and helps to loosen the body. Of course, each stretch should be done properly. The patient should move gradually into each position, and then he or she should hold that position for a short time, usually between six to sixty seconds.
A few specific stretching exercises have been recommended. Many call for the patient to lie on his or her back. Once in that position, the patient can undertake a series of different maneuvers. He or she can do leg rolls and a hamstring stretch. The latter movement is also referred to as a knee chest pull. The knee is pulled toward the chest, and then it is held there for 15 to 30 seconds.
Later while standing, the same patient should plan to do some arm swings, some back led kicks and a couple wall stretches. The latter movement calls for placement of the palms on the wall and then a leaning against that vertical surface. In most cases, the combination of a short confinement, followed by performance of daily stretching manages to do away with the painful symptoms and achieve some sciatica pain relief.
If pain persists for more than four to six weeks, then the affected patient could well need surgery. Confirmation of that fact would require performance of a CT scan or an MRI. If those tests reveal the existence of a herniated disc or spinal stenosis, then a portion of the patient’s posterior arch must be removed.