Published: 03/05/2013 - Updated: 09/15/2018
Author: Miriam Reyes
The sciatic nerve passes through the buttocks and down the leg to the toes. When there is pain, people complain of pain radiating from the hip to the thigh and can reach the toes.
The sciatic nerve inflammation can have many causes, including a herniated disc, pinched nerves and improper posture. Sciatica usually heals on its own within a few days or weeks. There are some things that can help you feel better when you feel sciatic nerve pain.
Contents
Application of hot and cold
An ice pack can reduce inflammation that is associated with sciatic nerve pain. The heat helps increase blood flow to the area. Alternating cold and heat can give positive results in reducing pain and inflammation.
Massage
A massage doesn’t only help to relax the muscles of the back, also can relief some of the muscles that are affected by the sciatic nerve. It helps the circulation in the back, and if you suffer from chronic sciatic discomfort, massage is a good prevention.
If you also use relaxing oils such as lavender essential oil, you will have excellent results.
Topical Analgesic
Some people find relief with topical analgesics. Many analgesics like Menthol can help aid in blocking pain receptors and relax the muscles and tissues.
Hydrotherapy
Sitting in a hot tub improves circulation and relax muscle tissue, which in turn could help inflammation. Heat can help with muscle spasms and inflammation, water movements can act as a gentle back massage.
Support and Posture
If you sit on hard or irregular surfaces can aggravate the sciatic nerve, so make sure you have good support, and adopt the correct posture. Sleeping with bent knees can also help align posture while you are sleeping.
-
MORE IN BIOMANANTIALPhytomedicine: Past and Present
Acupuncture
Acupuncture is the use of small needles placed in specific areas to help relieve pain and inflammation. Using acupuncture can reduce muscle spasms and inflammation associated with the sciatic nerve, improving blood flow to the lower back. It helps to relax the muscles and increase flexibility.
Acupuncture can help relieve back pain and sciatica because:
- It stimulates the nerves located in the muscles and other tissues, thereby leading to the release of endorphins and other factors, changing pain processing.
- Reduces inflammation.
- Improves muscle stiffness and joint mobility by increasing local microcirculation. This aids in the dispersion of inflammation.
- It causes a transient change in the sciatic nerve blood flow.
- The increasing levels of serotonin and noradrenaline resulting from acupuncture therapy can help reduce pain and improve it quickly.
- Promotes the regeneration of the sciatic nerve.
Burning the ear to relieve pain?
It was in the early 50s, when the French doctor, Paul Nogier, noted that after a burn on his ear, a patient was cured of sciatic pain. From this fact, Dr. Nogier, continued to research the relationship between the energy points of the ear and its function in the body, with a stimulating needle, finally developed the technique now known as auriculotherapy.
Auriculotherapy consists of applying small needles, pellets or seeds in ear to treat various ailments in the body, however, some people practice burn point that relates to the sciatic nerve, to treat pain. This is not recommended, although it is true that eliminates pain, but the same effect can be achieved through therapies needle, leaving no scar.
-
MORE IN BIOMANANTIALYerba Mate: Preparation, Properties and more
In addition, experts suggest that burning the ear is permanent, and the sciatic nerve can be an indicator of other disease, and invalidating it, we run the risk of ignoring this symptom and have a major complication.
About the author