7 simple ways to get sciatica relief

Do you have horrible back pain that runs down through your buttocks and upper thighs to spread pain into the backs of your legs?

Have you tried everything and are still in pain?

You could be suffering from sciatica.

Simply put sciatica is when your sciatic nerve, the nerve that starts in your low back and travels down your legs, is irritated and inflamed.

And while the problem sounds pretty basic, the pain it causes is anything but.

Sciatic nerve pain can be excruciating, leaving you bent over and hobbling through your day.

Even worse, when you see your doctor for help, you’ll most likely wind up on muscle relaxers that leave you exhausted and out of it, anti-inflammatories that can cause liver and kidney damage or even narcotic pain medications that can result in dependence.

It’s the jackpot of drug side effects.

But, you don’t have to turn to these dangerous drugs. And, you don’t have to live in pain.

There are a few simple, natural things you can do to get the sciatica relief you’ve been looking for.

#1 – Stretching and Yoga – Since sciatica can start when the nerve is pinched at either the spinal level or by the piriformis muscle, a triangular shaped muscle in your buttocks, stretching and yoga can give you relief.  Poses that strengthen your core muscles and stretch the piriformis are especially helpful.

#2 – Acupuncture – The practice, which centers on the philosophy of achieving or maintaining well-being through the open flow of energy via specific pathways in the body has been approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) as a treatment for back pain, and the National Institutes of Health has recognized acupuncture as effective in relieving back pain, including sciatica.

#3 – Chiropractic Adjustments – As a chiropractor, I treated many patients suffering from sciatic nerve pain and invariably, they saw better, faster relief than they did with conventional medicine. And, studies back that up. One study of 102 adults who suffered from sciatic nerve pain found that those who received chiropractic adjustments suffered less pain, fewer days with pain, and fewer cases of moderate or severe pain compared to people who didn’t receive adjustments.

#4 – Heat/Ice – For acute sciatic pain, heat and ice packs are readily available and can help alleviate the leg pain that comes with it. Apply either ice or heat for approximately 20 minutes, and repeat every two hours. You can even alternate between the two.  It’s best to apply ice with a cloth or towel placed between the ice and your skin to avoid an ice burn.

#5 – Massage – Certain forms of massage therapy have been shown to have a number of benefits for back pain, including increased blood circulation, muscle relaxation, and release of endorphins (the body’s natural pain relievers).

#6 – Activity – When you’re suffering from sciatic nerve pain, it’s tempting to stay in bed and limit your movement to avoid the pain. However, this can create a cycle of increasing muscle spasm and increasing pain so keep moving.  Get up and walk for short periods of time with breaks in between, stretch the muscles in your low back and buttocks and practice good posture.

#7 – Natural Anti-Inflammatories – To reduce the inflammation around your sciatic nerve, try supplementing turmeric, ginger and boswelia. Turmeric contains curcumin a powerful anti-inflammatory and you should take 500 mg twice daily.

Ginger can be taken as a supplement or as a tea by steeping two slices of ginger in hot water before drinking.

Boswelia is an Ayurvedic herb that has a long history of use for connective tissue and joint support. Boswelia can be taken internally in capsule form or can be applied topically to an area in pain to relieve inflammation.

So, if you want simple sciatica relief without the side effects of prescription drugs, use the seven tips above to get pain-free fast.