Conservative Sciatica Treatment
Sciatica treatment is designed to help people suffering from the effects of a compressed sciatic nerve lead happier, healthier lives. That's not the same as "finding a cure" for sciatica - a condition which often is a result of age-related degenerative spine conditions that are considered incurable. Rather, the goal of physicians in dealing with sciatica patients is to combat the symptoms at the source, as well as to improve the strength and mobility of the surrounding spinal anatomy.
Nonsurgical Sciatica Treatment Comes First
Once a sciatica diagnosis has been confirmed, the physician or spine specialist will work with the patient to formulate a treatment plan. The treatment prescribed will be determined by a number of factors, including severity of the symptoms, location of the symptoms, the underlying cause of the condition, and the overall health of the patient. In general, most patients are able to find relief using a combination of the following conservative sciatica treatment methods:
- Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) and/or pain medication (prescription or over-the-counter)
- Exercise
- Stretching
- Physical therapy
- Behavior modification
- Corticosteroid injections
- Alternative and complementary medicine, such as chiropractic therapy and acupuncture
Surgery: the Last Resort
It may take time to develop just the right combination of conservative treatments. A period of trial-and-error may be necessary, because no two cases are exactly alike and some people respond unpredictably to certain treatments. In most cases, the last resort for sciatica treatment is surgery. Normally, a physician will seek to provide relief using conservative methods for at least a few months before offering surgery as an option. Even then, it is incumbent upon each patient to research all of the risks and potential side effects of spine surgery before consenting to any type of procedure.
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