People living with sciatica and their loved ones have been waiting for their doctor or therapist to reassure them that there is a permanent cure for the pain. While the pain usually goes away on its own, there is always the possibility that it will return. This blog discusses the realities of treating sciatica pain, what conservative and integrative treatment options are available, and whether surgery is an option for a permanent cure.
Understanding Sciatica: Is It An Autoimmune Neurological Disorder?
Sciatica is indeed a nerve-related condition that is a symptom of a lumbar spinal disorder and causes mild to sharp, and sometimes excruciating, back and leg pain. Sciatic nerve pain can travel from the buttock area, down the back of the thigh, and into the leg.
The condition is exacerbated by physical strain on the sciatic nerve. Persistent pain is frequently caused by changes to the lower body or habits that pinch or twist the nerve. Obesity, bone spurs, and herniated discs can all place pressure on the sciatic nerve.
Quite unique to muscle-related or osteopathic pain, it can subside on its own, and come back even after treatment and surgery. A neurologist is the best specialist to handle sciatica treatment.
Conventional And Integrative Options for Sciatica Pain Relief
People who suffer from sciatica often try a variety of therapeutic modalities—read: absolutely everything—in an effort to get relief. However, because the illness differs from person to person and at different levels, treatment is not as simple.
Understanding the nature and severity of the condition is the first step in determining the best course of action for realistic sciatica pain relief. Sciatica can generally be divided into four categories of nerve pain:
- Acute sciatica is sciatic nerve pain that has recently started and lasts for four to eight weeks.
- Chronic sciatica is persistent nerve pain that lasts longer than 8 weeks. For this condition, it is best to consult a neurologist, as self-care doesn’t suffice.
- Bilateral sciatica affects both legs at once.
- Alternating sciatica affects each leg alternately and is rather uncommon.
The fact of the matter is that there are a number of treatments for sciatica that can successfully lessen the pain and other symptoms, but it still longs for a more informed and focused strategy.
Chiropractic therapy: A chiropractor can modify your spine to improve spinal function and reduce pain by increasing spinal movement. Chiropractic care can help cure sciatica-related lower back pain, but it works less well for radiating pain.
Lower Back Pain Management Therapy: By concentrating on the “pain pathway,” therapists can target the core regions in the lower back where the pain originates and which nerve is being damaged as it travels down the leg. Functional movement, massage, manual adjustment, and occasionally even epidural injections are examples of eligible therapeutic principles. The targeted administration can produce more predictable results.
Is Surgery a Bad Idea for Sciatica Back Pain
Surgery is always the last resort for sciatica treatment when all other non-surgical methods of chiropractic care, musculoskeletal rehabilitation, manual adjustment, and exercise are not working, or the patient cannot continue. But even surgery cannot guarantee a permanent cure or ensure long-term recovery. Additionally, surgery has its own hazards, such as blood clots and infection.
Therefore, the best treatment methods are non-invasive, conservative ones, because they are safer. Even though the treatment results can sometimes take a long time to show up, up to 60% of patients in Australia have been recorded as having reduced their symptoms and being able to manage their discomfort within 2 months of the therapy.