The 9 Best Treatments for Sciatic Nerve Pain

NSAIDs reduce inflammation throughout the body. Because some sciatic nerve pain may be due to inflammation related to the sciatic nerve, NSAIDs can sometimes provide atleast short-term relief.

糖皮质激素are a class of steroid hormones. Spinal injections of glucocorticoids are frequently used for lower back pain and related conditions such as sciatica.Researchhas shown a short-term decrease in leg pain after glucocorticoid injections with no subsequent need for surgery.

阿片类药物act on opioid receptors to produce morphine-like effects. In the past, opioids such as oxycodone and codeine were prescribed frequently for a variety of painful conditions, including back and sciatic nerve pain. However, due to their addictive qualities, many guidelines now recommend restrictions for their use.

Antidepressants and muscle relaxants have been shown to be helpful for sciatic pain. And, because chronic pain also can cause depression and muscle tightness, these drugs can have added benefits. The newer class of antidepressants is known to have fewer side effects than some of the older drugs.

Physical therapy is one of the most common initial treatments for sciatica. Although most think of resting when they have sciatic pain, movement can be just as helpful. Physical therapy may help with safe movements and to strengthen muscles that may have weakened as a result of the injury.

Another widely used treatment for sciatica is spinal manipulation, often applied in a chiropractic setting. The results for this type of treatment have been conflicting, but someresearchhave shown spinal manipulations can be effective for pain relief.

Yoga focuses on physical movement, mental focus, and breathing. There has been relatively little research on the impact of yoga on sciatica. However,researchis showing promise that yoga is an effective treatment for chronic lower back pain, including sciatica.

Even though sciatic pain often resolves without treatment, surgery can result inearlier reliefof pain. When considering surgery, the decision also depends on the reason for the pain. For example, surgery has been recommended for pain caused by large disk ruptures in the spinal column that may be causing other problems, such as bowel or bladder control.

Sciatica resolves without treatmentin the majority of cases. In one third of individuals, sciatic pain resolves without treatment within two weeks and in three quarters of individuals within three months. Your doctor will be able to recommend the best plan of treatment once the cause of the sciatic pain is determined.