By Marci Glover


Sciatica originates in the lower back or buttocks and travels along the sciatic nerve which runs through the leg. When this continues to flare up there are several options for sciatica pain treatment Conroe patients can consider that will bring them relief. Depending on the cause and severity of the disorder, these methods range from simple, at-home remedies, to surgery.

Compressed nerve roots are essentially the source of sciatic discomfort, for some patients a combination of specific exercises and other simple treatments can bring about substantial improvement. The application of heat and ice to the affected leg is often helpful is easing the pain. Whichever of the two one prefers can be applied for about 20 minutes, then the other can be used. The process can be repeated every two hours.

Patients may also need to take analgesics, in particular non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs like ibuprofen, or oral steroids to reduce inflammation, these medications can provide temporary relief from sciatica so the patient can go about his or her normal activity and carry out any therapeutic exercises that have been recommended for recovery. In more severe cases, they may be given an epidural steroid injection.

Chiropractic care is a holistic healthcare approach which can provide relief from sciatica for some patients. The objective is to isolate the source of the problem and correct it, usually by applying a technique known as "adjustment" which involve delivering a direct force to the affected vertebra to restore alignment and relieve nerve compression.

Other types of alternative healing techniques which may help are massage therapy and acupuncture. The former works by easing muscle tension, improving circulation, and stimulating the release of endorphins, the body's natural analgesics. The latter uses fine needles which are inserted into key energy pathways in the body to restore balance and alleviate suffering.

In some cases, a sciatica patient will experience a full recovery within six to twelve weeks time, and this will happen faster if they undergo physical therapy that involves certain sets of strengthening, stretching, and aerobic exercises intended to promote healing and prevent a recurrence of the pain. Inactivity will actually slow down the patient's recovery, which is why exercise is encouraged.

If the patient's condition has shown little improvement after twelve weeks, surgery may be considered. The two procedures which are most commonly used to correct sciatic pain are the microdiscectomy and the lumbar laminectomy. The former is applied when a herniated disc is causing the problem, and it involves removing the offending part of the disc. The latter is also known as "open decompression" and it consists of excising the segment of the bone or disc causing nerve compression.

Surgery to treat sciatic pain is normally done on an elective basis, which means that it is the patient's decision to have it. The doctor will generally consent to refer the patient for surgery if he or she is experiencing notable limitations from persistent discomfort and has not achieved significant relief from non-surgical measures, they must also be in generally good health to be eligible for surgery.




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