Sciatica First Aid: Exercise for Long- term Pain Relief Strengthening. Building strength is also important to help prevent and/or lessen future recurrences of sciatic pain. Specific exercises designed to strengthen the “core” or trunk muscles are most important in the management of low back pain. See Back Strengthening Exercises Depending on the underlying cause of sciatica (such as a herniated disc vs. a degenerated disc), different exercises may be prescribed. Two common forms of strengthening exercises to treat sciatica are McKenzie exercises and Dynamic Lumbar Stabilization exercises. Learning which exercises to do, as well as how to do them correctly, is typically best learned with the help of a qualified spine specialist. Manipulation and Physical Therapy Another treatment option that can be helpful for many causes of for sciatica is manipulation by a qualified health care provider (most commonly a chiropractor or an osteopathic doctor). The type of manipulation, amount of force, the direction of the manipulation and the frequency of application are taken into consideration when managing patients complaining of sciatica. Combining this with various forms of physical therapy such as exercise therapies can be very effective. See Understanding Spinal Manipulation Other Considerations with Sciatic Pain Though uncommon, when the sciatic condition worsens, it is most important to obtain a prompt evaluation. This is especially true if progressive muscle weakness, foot drop, or loss of bowel or bladder control occur, as these symptoms require immediate emergency attention and permanent problems can result if not managed promptly. In general, whenever questions arise about the course of care and associated signs and symptoms, health care provision should be obtained and the questions answered. The good news is that most cases of sciatica will resolve naturally within a few weeks. The treatments described here can help alleviate pain until things return to normal, and help speed recovery, as well as avoid recurrence. Every patient is different of course, and not all sciatica treatment options will work for all cases of sciatica. Sciatic pain can be mild and intermittent, but this type of pain along the large sciatic nerve can also be searing and unbearable. For severe cases of sciatic pain, it makes sense to get a firm or definitive diagnosis regarding the underlying cause of the sciatica (e.g. a herniated disc, degenerative disc disease, spondylolisthesis ) and discuss additional treatment options with a spine specialist. In addition to the remedies discussed above, there are a wide variety of additional treatment options, including injections, surgery, and more.
Posted on: Sun, 15 Sep 2013 19:02:58 +0000
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