Your sciatic nerve runs from the base of your spine down the back of each leg to the soles of your feet. It’s the longest nerve in your body, and for many people, it’s a source of significant pain.
Sciatic nerve pain, often called sciatica, develops when the sciatic nerve gets damaged or compressed. Pain generally affects one leg, but it’s often an intense, burning ache that quickly makes going about your daily life next to impossible.
About 40% of the population will suffer with sciatica pain at some time during their lives. But the good news is that there are several treatment options you can try to get your sciatic nerve to stop hurting.
Amol Soin, MD and our compassionate team at Ohio Pain Clinic are here to help you understand the cause of your pain. We offer comprehensive evaluations for sciatica, and we can recommend stretches, physical therapy, and other treatments to help calm your sciatic nerve pain.
Sciatica pain is caused by inflammation around your sciatic nerve. Stretching your lower back and your hips is proven to be a very effective treatment method, because it can take pressure off the nerve that’s causing your pain.
Talk to Dr. Soin about the right types of stretches for your pain. Most stretches for sciatic nerve pain involve gentle hip rotation to increase your range of motion.
Sciatic nerve pain can make the thought of getting up and moving make you cringe, but the truth is that exercising actually improves pain over time. Sitting for long periods of time and living a sedentary lifestyle are two top causes of sciatica.
Talk to us before beginning a new exercise plan. But in general, your workouts don’t have to be intense to deliver pain-relieving benefits. Try walking, swimming, or yoga to get moving and slowly build strength in your back.
Many people living with sciatica find that at-home measures like stretching and exercise are enough to improve their pain. But when conservative treatments aren’t enough, Dr. Soin and our team can help.
We may prescribe medication to help you manage acute pain from sciatica. Depending on your symptoms, we can recommend anti-inflammatories, muscle relaxants, or other drugs aimed at reducing pain in your legs. Always follow Dr. Soin’s guidelines and dosage instructions when taking a prescription medication.
Dr. Soin recommends physical therapy for sciatic nerve pain in some cases. After the acute pain subsides, physical therapy can reduce your risk of future injury and sciatica flare-ups because it focuses on strengthening your back muscles.
Your rehabilitation program may include posture-correcting exercises, which are particularly beneficial for people who spend their days working at a desk. Maintaining proper posture when sitting and lifting heavy objects reduces your risk of low back pain and sciatic nerve injury.
You have options when you’re faced with sciatic nerve pain that won’t go away. Schedule an appointment with Dr. Soin online or call the office to get your personalized treatment recommendations.
