Located at the base of the spine by the last set of vertebrae, the sciatic nerve is the longest single nerve in the human body. The sciatic nerve is also a common source of spine-related pain, often due to a herniated spinal disc. If you are currently living with sciatica, take a moment to check out the following list of dos and don'ts for how to relieve sciatica pain.
Do: Seek Treatment
Sciatica is often manageable with nonsurgical treatments. However, it is a good idea to find out for certain what is causing your discomfort. For example, muscle irritation can mimic the symptoms of sciatica. Find out the cause of your discomfort before attempting any treatments or remedies. Sciatica is often diagnosed through a review of symptoms coupled with a review of the patient’s medical history. An MRI scan or CT scan may also be performed if there is a need to confirm the suspected source of the symptoms or rule out other possible sources of discomfort.
Don't: Smoke
Chemicals in cigarettes can affect circulation and slow down the healing process. If you currently smoke, talk to your doctor about safe ways to quit. Even reducing your smoking habit can be helpful.
Do: Maintain a Healthy Weight
Excess weight places too much pressure on the sciatic nerve. It can also make related herniated disc issues worse. If you currently carry excess weight, discuss weight-reduction plans with your doctor.
Don't: Assume Exercise Is Off-Limits
Exercise is perfectly safe when you have sciatica as long as you choose exercises that are appropriate. Generally, this includes:
• Swimming and other water-based forms of exercise
• Yoga and Pilates
• Cycling, as long as you use a recumbent cycle
• Walking at a moderate pace
Do: Be Careful with Your Diet
Your diet plays a significant role in how well sciatica symptoms are managed. Make sure to include a mix of vegetables, fruits, low-fat dairy products, and lean meats like turkey and skinless chicken. However, it is best to avoid starchy and sugar-filled foods, since they can cause inflammation, which worsens sciatica symptoms over time.
Don't: Lift Heavy Objects Incorrectly
Ideally, it is best to avoid lifting heavy objects if you have sciatica. However, if you do need to lift anything heavy, keep proper lifting techniques in mind. This means lifting with your knees and not your back and being careful with how you position your body as you lift. Also, avoid odd turns and twists as you lift to further minimize the risk of aggravating the sciatic nerve or worsening your symptoms.
Do: Use Heat and Cold Therapy
An effective way to relieve sciatica flare-ups when you feel pain spikes or radiating nerve symptoms is to apply heat and cold. Apply heat first to reduce the pain, and then apply cold in the form of an ice pack or cooling gel. A heating pad or warm bath may be sufficient. The cold reduces inflammation.
A patient who has had a lumbar discectomy for a herniated disc may experience sciatica if the disc reherniates, which often occurs if there is a large hole in the outer ring of the disc after surgery. Fortunately, there is a new treatment available. Barricaid is a device shown to reduce the risk of reherniation by closing the hole in the disc after a discectomy, and 95 percent of Barricaid patients did not undergo a reoperation due to reherniation in a 2-year study timeframe. This treatment is done immediately following the discectomy—during the same operation—and does not require any additional incisions or time in the hospital.
To learn more about the Barricaid treatment, ask your doctor or contact us at 844-288-7474.
For full benefit/risk information, please visit: https://www.barricaid.com/instructions.
Comments