What Is The Best Sciatica Treatment?

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The sciatic nerve is the longest nerve of the human body. It branches off the lower spine and runs through the hips, hind-thighs and behind the knees all the way to the lower legs. If this nerve gets inflammation or swelling due to extra pressure from the lower back region, it may cause a wave of pain in parts that it passes through. This pain caused by inflammation or swelling of the sciatic nerve is called sciatica pain.

There can be several causes of sciatica pain. It may be caused by the dislocation of vertebral column, a strain in the hip bone or muscles which are closely linked with the sciatic nerve. There are some typical medical terms for these causes that we do not want to discuss in this article. If you are experiencing pain in any part from the lumbar or lower back all the way down to behind the knees or calves then you must immediately contact your doctor and get it diagnosed. If your case is diagnosed as sciatic pain then the doctor can prescribe a sciatica treatment for you.

There are two broad classifications of sciatica treatment in the first phase. One is the active sciatica treatment and the other one is the passive sciatica treatment. The active sciatica treatment includes sciatica exercise and sciatica stretching. This is termed as active sciatica treatment because it requires action on the part of the patient. The other kind is called passive sciatica treatment which includes sciatica relief massages, physiotherapies, deep tissue massage, hot and cold therapies, TENS and ultrasound. It is called passive treatment because it does not require any action on the part of the patient and all has to be done by the doctor or chiropractor dealing with the case.

The sciatica exercise includes exercises for sciatica relief such as sciatica stretch for piriformis muscle. It is a very simple one minute exercise which can provide great relief to the sciatica patients who suffer this pain as a result of strain in hip muscle being translated into inflammation in sciatic nerve. You just have to sit on a flat floor with your back straight. Pull one leg into your chest and cross your arms around it. This should be the leg on which you feel the most pain. Keep the other leg flat on the floor. You can repeat this with other leg if you feel pain in both legs, but doing it with one leg will suffice. This exercise will loosen up piriformis muscle located in your hip.

You can also go for other sciatica exercises like hamstring stretches that will loosen up your hamstring muscles. These exercises for sciatica relief are prescribed by the doctors themselves and you should do them as directed by your doctor. Do not, I repeat DO NOT, attempt any exercise or stretching or drugs without doctor's prescription. Spine is the hub of all nerves and muscles and if you pull any of them you will worsen your case.

In severe cases doctor may ask you for physiotherapy or even surgery in which there is no role of the patients and so you do not need to learn about them.

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