Most of us know what sciatica means and that is low back pain that radiates/spreads into the buttock down into the leg and sometimes into the foot. The pain can be mild to excruciating, but fortunately, if it is mildΒ sciatica can usually be alleviated in 3 months.Β These are a few non-invasive conservative treatment therapies that can be done at the house.
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Here are a few at the house sciatica remedies for people who started experiencing sciatic nerve pain or whose pain is not severe. But you should get a doctorβs approval before trying any of these at-the-house therapies.
If sciatica has been present for a few weeks or the low back and leg pain has become debilitating you should see a doctor.
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It might seem strange to exercise when youβre in pain, but research has shown that too much rest can aggravate back and leg symptoms.
Remember this is not a hardcore burning massive calories exercise, but a gentle exercise routine that you can work into your day.
A walk around the house is a great form of physical activity that keeps your spine strong without worsening the injury.
Make your spine stronger with core exercises, but make sure they will not exacerbate your sciatica symptoms. And remember that exercise triggers the release of endorphins to reduce the pain.
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Start doing gentle stretches regularly. Stretching will improve your spinal flexibility and motion range and also builds core strength. Most stretches can be done while watching your favorite show/movie.
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Alternating heat and ice therapy can bring relief from nerve pain. Ice helps reduce inflammation, and heat generates blood flow to the areas of pain that speeds up healing. Both help reduce muscle spasms that usually come with sciatica.
Apply the ice pack for 15 minutes once every hour, and then bring the heat for 15 minutes every 2 or 3 hours. Remember to protect your skin when using these pads, and never sleep with the heat or ice pads.
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If you are working at your desk or just relaxing, donβt stay in the same position too long, as it can make the pain spike.
Therefore move around and change your posture every 20 minutes. Using the correct posture for various activities will help take the pressure off your spine and reduce symptoms.
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Over-the-counter non-steroidal anti-inflammatory medications can help ease symptoms when they present. These medications can relieve inflammation and pain, whereas acetaminophen (Tylenol) only reduces pain.
However, there are health risks, so make sure to discuss their safety with your doctor.
Examples include:
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Recognize when the house remedies are not reducing your symptoms. When the treatments arenβt helping, it could be time to see a doctor, chiropractor, or spine specialist.
People including myself want to avoid the doctor. It could be knowing how to use your health insurance or if you donβt have any. Whatever the reason do not opt for ignorance is bliss and hope it will all go away.
If you need help figuring out how to use your insurance here at Injury Medical our staff is trained to help guide you through the process. And if you donβt have insurance we can still help and work out different types of plans.
Now there are sciatica symptoms that warrant immediate medical attention. In these rare cases, holding off medical care could cause permanent nerve damage.
If any of the following occur, please see your doctor as soon as you can:
At the end of the day reducing sciatica symptoms doesnβt always mean having to use an extreme treatment approach. Relieving sciatica symptoms at the house with light exercise, ice/heat therapy, correct posture, and medication can help speed up recovery. The most important thing you can do is to take it seriously and call your doctor or chiropractor if relief is not happening.
Please contact our chiropractic team today to schedule an appointment if you are experiencing symptoms of sciatica. We are ready to help you feel better and get back on your feet again!
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A study cited by the health magazineΒ PreventionΒ found that sixty percent of sciatica sufferers who failed to get relief from other treatments found their symptoms improved after chiropractic care. In fact, they got the same level of relief as those who went through surgery β without any of the serious side effects that so often come with surgical procedures.
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The information herein on this entire blog site is not intended to replace a one-on-one relationship with a qualified healthcare professional or licensed physician and is not medical advice. We encourage you to make healthcare decisions based on your research and partnership with a qualified healthcare professional.
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Our information scope is limited to Chiropractic, musculoskeletal, physical medicines, wellness, contributing etiological viscerosomatic disturbances within clinical presentations, associated somatovisceral reflex clinical dynamics, subluxation complexes, sensitive health issues, and/or functional medicine articles, topics, and discussions.
We provide and present clinical collaboration with specialists from various disciplines. Each specialist is governed by their professional scope of practice and their jurisdiction of licensure. We use functional health & wellness protocols to treat and support care for the injuries or disorders of the musculoskeletal system.
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We understand that we cover matters that require an additional explanation of how they may assist in a particular care plan or treatment protocol; therefore, to discuss the subject matter above further, please feel free to ask Dr. Alex Jimenez, DC, or contact us at 915-850-0900.
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Blessings
Dr. Alex Jimenez DC, MSACP, RN*, CCST, IFMCP*, CIFM*, ATN*
email: coach@elpasofunctionalmedicine.com
Licensed as a Doctor of Chiropractic (DC) in Texas & New Mexico*
Texas DC License # TX5807, New Mexico DC License # NM-DC2182
Licensed as a Registered Nurse (RN*) in Florida
Florida License RN License # RN9617241 (Control No. 3558029)
Compact Status: Multi-State License: Authorized to Practice in 40 States*
Graduate with Honors: ICHS: MSN-FNP (Family Nurse Practitioner Program)
Degree Granted. Masters in Family Practice MSN Diploma (Cum Laude)
Dr. Alex Jimenez DC, MSACP, MSN-FNP, RN* CIFM*, IFMCP*, ATN*, CCST
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