Alternative Treatments for Sciatica
Many people who suffer recurrent bouts of sciatica
are looking for alternatives to modern and traditional
medicine in their attempt to get relief from the pain
and other symptoms of sciatica. More and more patients
are concerned about taking pain medication too frequently
and are searching for alternative treatments for sciatica.
Relief is the top priority for sciatic sufferers, regardless
of whether they experience episodic, acute or chronic
sciatica. Alternative sciatica treatments often are
able to give this relief without the use of drugs. Many
people find that a combination of therapies and treatments
gives them the best results in relieving sciatica.
These are some of the alternative therapies you might
like to try to relieve sciatica pain:
Acupuncture
This ancient form of Chinese medicine is gaining in
popularity with Westerners. The aim of acupuncture is
to restore the normal flow of energy around the body
to allow the body to heal. Very fine needles are gently
inserted into very precise points, called acupoints,
around the body to give relief from a variety of illnesses.
The needles only just pierce the skin and may be heated
or stimulated in some way to increase the efficacy of
the treatment. You would need to have several acupuncture sessions
to get relief from your sciatica symptoms but a trained
and accredited therapist will be able to advise you.
Those patients who use acupuncture to treat a range
of symptoms report that the process is not painful and
they find the sessions are relaxing.
Acupressure
Acupressure is closely related to acupuncture and uses
the same Meridian acupoints to return the healthy flow
of energy around the body, giving relief from pain and
other symptoms. Instead of using needles, the acupressure
therapist applies firm pressure to the precise points
on the body, using fingers, thumbs and elbows. Again,
make sure you seek a fully trained and accredited therapist.
Yoga
Yoga is an ancient activity that aims to balance the
mind, body and spirit and is wonderful for giving relief
for sciatica sufferers. The gentle exercises stretch
and strengthen the muscles and create awareness of the
body. Breathing and meditation practices help with relaxation
which can be helpful in controlling pain. The best way
to try yoga is to attend a class but it is important
to talk to the instructor first about your sciatica.
There are some yoga classes that are designed for people
who suffer back pain.
Biofeedback
This is a mind body alternate therapy that teaches you
how to alter or control your reaction to pain and stress.
Techniques of deep breathing, visualization, mental
exercises and physical movements are taught. While some
patients have found benefit from biofeedback, there
has been very little research done on this therapy and
its effectiveness on sciatica pain.
Naturopathy, Homeopathy, Herbal Medicine
All these alternative therapies have sciatica treatments
which some people find effective in relieving the symptoms
of sciatica. Plants have been used for centuries to
treat a wide range of ailments and some are still in
use today. While each of these therapies has a different
philosophy, they are also similar in many ways. To see
if you can benefit, consult a trained and accredited
therapist. Prevention
It has been said that prevention is the best cure and
there are many ways that you can help yourself and prevent
or limit further sciatica pain. A well-balanced nutritional
diet gives your body the correct fuel to function properly;
limiting overly processed and fast foods keeps your
body functioning well and at a healthy weight; including
regular moderate exercise as part of your lifestyle
is vital for body strength, fitness and freedom from
pain; specific sciatica exercises which strengthen and
stretch the core muscles of the torso will help your
posture and protect the spine from further injury.
Ergonomics refers to how you sit, stand and move and
correct posture during all activities will help keep
your spine protected. Learn how to lift heavy objects
correctly, bend the knees when leaning forward or bending
over, maintain an upright posture when sitting and standing
for long periods and take regular breaks from a task
that keeps you sitting for more than an hour.
Video: Alternatice Treatments for Sciatica
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