If youve never experienced the pain of an inflamed sciatic nerve, consider yourself very lucky. For those who have suffered and continue to suffer, the condition is likely to provoke unpleasant memories, and is enough to strike fear in those who have been previously victimized by pain of that nature. While there may be a number of different words patients use to describe the painful sensations caused by an inflamed sciatic nerve, there are certain descriptions that seem to be reported quite consistently. An inflamed sciatic nerve might start off seeming like a cramp; this might occur in the area of the leg, the back, or both. As the inflammation increases, the pain in the back also worsens and more often than not is experienced in combination with painful sensations down the buttock area and continues down one leg. In addition to the pain, an inflamed sciatic nerve usually creates tingling and a feeling of numbness. Muscle weakness is also often described as occurring. At its worst, sciatic nerve pain can feel like an electric shock that shoots down the back and into the leg.
Yoga is a natural remedy that works well for people suffering from sciatica pain. Yoga can also help to prevent future pain associated with sciatica. The poses associated with yoga help to relieve sciatica pain because they stretch the muscles and reduce the pressure on the lower back and legs. Yoga also helps to strengthen back muscles, which can relieve pain.
Over the counter pain medications containing acedeminophin or aspirin are often helpful in treating sciatica. The application of ice packs over the area where the pain is the deepest can often reduce the inflammation. Some people find relief by alternating heating pads with periods of ice pack therapy. Anti-inflammatory prescription medication may be necessary if the pain proves hard to manage.
Many people have found relief from their sciatica pain by consuming large amounts of potassium. Potassium can be found in many foods including bananas, potatoes, and oranges. It has been found that sciatica patients who consume postassium-rich foods experience less pain than those who do not eat foods rich in potassium.
Bed rest is often prescribed for sciatica although it is not clear there is any actual benefit to healing sciatica. However, some patients find the pain is so debilitating that movement is impossible. Bed rest with brief periods of gentle physical activity may be more effective. Some doctors prescribe specific exercises. A good bed with appropriate lumbar support, with a change in sleeping position eases the agony for some people. Lifting the knees, perhaps with a pillow, is immensely helpful.
An herbal remedy called sciatol, containing six natural herbals, is available as a supplement or an essential oil. This preparation offers a cure for sciatica, and is worth a look. Natural is not always safe, so it is a good idea to learn the ingredients and check their safety, but given safe ingredients, any sciatica sufferer will say its worth a try if it results in healing sciatica.
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