Treatment of Sciatica Symptoms

Pain from sciatic nerve irritation is frequently severe and disabling. There are a range of causes of sciatic nerve symptoms, but most cases are related to herniation of one or more discs in the lower spine and/or abnormal tightening in a muscle located in the lower buttock region known as the piriformis. Fortunately, most cases of sciatic nerve pain can be managed without having to resort to surgical intervention. The truth is, most cases can be cared for with straightforward home exercises and other self-care strategies.

Protruding discs, also called bulging or herniated disks, can develop after serious injuries to the body such as an vehicle accident, or from recurring damage over a long duration such as years of sitting in a slumped position or from bending and lifting activities. In severe cases, intervertebral disc protrusions can progress to extrusions - full spinal disc ruptures. Disc ruptures typically create very severe disabling symptoms that can leave even the toughest human being basically debilitated. Disc bulges and ruptures can directly place pressure on nerves, but can also trigger swelling from inflammation which creates further nerve compression and irritation in addition to the lumbar disc protrusion itself. Based on the place and severity of nerve compression, symptoms of sciatica can extend anywhere from the buttock to the foot.

Sciatica symptoms caused by disc bulging can often be alleviated with easy exercises to help shift bulging intervertebral discs and using anti-inflammatory medications and ice to lessen swelling from inflammation. Certain sciatic nerve pain exercises are not fitting for cases of disk bulging though, so it is critical to carefully choose the suitable self-treatment strategies. For example, the yoga position, "downward facing dog" will at times help with sciatica symptoms stemming from muscle tightening, but can make symptoms related to disk bulging much worse. Although a lot of people are tempted to apply heat when suffering with sciatica, heat tends to amplify inflammation and will usually increase and/or prolong sciatic nerve symptoms. Cold packs applied to the lower back for 15 to 20 minutes at a time as much as every few hours will help cut inflammatory swelling and normally provide far superior results than heat.

Long durations of sitting or unusual action of the hip muscles can prompt contraction of the piriformis and cause sciatica. The position of the piriformis in relation to the sciatic nerve varies from one individual to another. In situations where the muscle runs across the top of the sciatic nerve, or when the nerve passes through the center of the muscle, piriformis tightening can definitely set-off sciatic nerve pain. In these situations, excessive contraction of the muscle can squeeze the sciatic nerve adequately to create pain and other symptoms. Piriformis tightening and resulting sciatic nerve pain can commonly be alleviated by means of massage and stretching of the muscle.

Although sciatica symptoms can be extremely painful, the majority of individuals can get relief without resorting to surgical treatment. Once the particular cause of the person's sciatica symptoms is determined, reduction of symptoms can generally be achieved within a week or less with the appropriate exercises and home treatment methods.

To receive additional information on the subject of sciatica treatment, look at the writer's web site: The Sciatica Self Care Website