Chronic Sciatica Pain: 3 Proven Steps to Prevent Recurrences
The sciatic nerve extends from the lower back to the heel of each foot. As the largest nerve in your body, the signs of damage are noticeable almost immediately, including inflammation, numbness, and pain. Though such issues usually clear up within a few weeks, sometimes these symptoms recur without warning. Learning how to combat chronic sciatica pain ensures your routine isn’t altered.
Movement is a vital aspect of sciatica treatment. Your doctor may recommend physical therapy, including regular exercises tailored to the cause of your pain. It can be highly effective in helping to relieve chronic sciatica pain, addressing the root causes of sciatica and relieving symptoms through exercises, stretches, and other techniques.
Why Do You Keep Getting Recurring Chronic Sciatica Pain?
Pressure or injury to the sciatic nerve results in tingling, aching, burning, or painful sensations. For some, the pain only lasts for a month or two, but for others, it comes back regularly. Treating the underlying cause may be the only way to prevent future recurrences.
Chronic sciatica pain could have several causes. These include a pelvic injury or fracture, slipped or herniated disk, tumor, spinal stenosis, piriformis syndrome, or spondylolisthesis. Men are also more likely to develop chronic sciatica pain than women.
Treatment options
The most common treatment for chronic sciatica pain is medication. Your doctor may recommend options for pain management, anti-inflammatories, or muscle relaxants, depending on the symptoms. Hot and cold therapy are also possible treatments to reduce swelling and discomfort. Let’s see a few other alternative but long-lasting treatments you may want to consider, including stretching, yoga, or aquatic therapy, depending on your goals and limitations.
Yoga
High levels of discomfort may require rest, but too much sitting doesn’t benefit chronic sciatica pain. Movement relieves the symptoms, especially the slow stretches of yoga.
Yoga poses align, lengthen, and twist the spine safely while strengthening the back, hips, buttocks, and legs. Doing so reduces the pain and pressure along the sciatic nerve, loosening the muscles and easing discomfort. Regular yoga sessions keep sciatic pain at bay, while breaks cause it to return, so maintaining a routine is best.
Regular exercises and physical therapy
A regular exercise program can help manage and potentially eliminate chronic sciatica pain over time, especially when targeted at strengthening and stretching the muscles that support the spine. Exercises that focus on improving core strength, flexibility, and posture can relieve pressure on the sciatic nerve by stabilizing the spine and correcting muscle imbalances.
According to recent studies, physical therapy and exercises may be a better option than other treatments in the condition’s early stages. Participants noted reduced back pain intensity and reported higher success after a year of treatment.
This therapy offers various options, including exercise programs, massage, and stimuli-based treatments to prevent recurrences of chronic sciatica pain. A trained therapist tailors the sessions to match your condition, including guided movements and those you can do yourself.
Aquatic therapy
Aquatic therapy can help relieve sciatica pain by providing a low-impact environment that reduces pressure on the spine and joints. The buoyancy of water supports body weight, which eases compression on the sciatic nerve, allowing for pain-free movement. The water’s resistance also helps gently strengthen muscles, improve flexibility, and enhance circulation, all of which aid in relieving nerve irritation and improving posture. The warmth of the water in a therapeutic pool can further relax tight muscles and reduce inflammation, providing both immediate and long-term relief from sciatica symptoms.
Experts believe aquatic therapy has the potential to benefit those with chronic sciatica pain. Studies show it reduces discomfort in those with lower back pain associated with the condition.
Aquatic therapy is advantageous since the water offers low resistance during movements. It can be heated or cooled, and many tubs or pools use pressurized jets for targeted pain relief.
Other treatments
If the common treatments don’t fully relieve chronic sciatica pain, a few other options may be available. Acupuncture, chiropractic adjustments, or massage therapy offer relief for some people. For severe cases, your doctor may even recommend surgery, though this is usually a last resort.
Resources:
- Penn Medicine, Sciatica
https://www.pennmedicine.org/for-patients-and-visitors/patient-information/conditions-treated-a-to-z/sciatica - NCBI, January 4, 2024, Sciatica
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK507908/ - The Art of Living Retreat Center, March 21, 2023,
https://artoflivingretreatcenter.org/blog/yoga-for-sciatica/ - ACP Journals, October 6, 2020, Physical Therapy Referral From Primary Care Acute Back Pain With Sciatica
https://www.acpjournals.org/doi/10.7326/M20-4187 - NCBI, March 19, 2024, In brief: Physical therapy
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK561514/ - Physiotherapy Evidence Database, The effectiveness of aquatic ve3rtical traction on lower back pain and associated sciatica
https://search.pedro.org.au/search-results/record-detail/53427 - Cleveland Clinic, Hydrotherapy
https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/treatments/23137-hydrotherapy - Mayo Clinic, Sciatica
https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/sciatica/diagnosis-treatment/drc-20377441
This article contains informational and educational materials and does not replace health or medical advice. For questions or concerns regarding your medical condition or health objectives, speak to a qualified physician or healthcare provider.
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