The sciatic nerve is the longest nerve in the body, that starts from the lower back, and goes down the buttocks, thighs, to the legs.
Sciatica pain is a painful and debilitating issue that can be a result of various factors, such as a compressed or irritated sciatic nerve, a lumbar disc herniation, degenerative disc disease, lumbar spinal stenosis, piriformis syndrome, and more.
The main symptom is an intense pain along the sciatic nerve, starting from the lower back, through the buttock, and down the back of one or both legs.
The pain can range in severity and is usually aggravated by long periods of sitting. It is often accompanied by a tingling sensation in the toes and feet, as well as numbness in the leg along the nerve.
Fortunately, sciatica pain can be naturally relieved in the following ways:
— Acupuncture is among the most effective ways to treat the symptoms of this issue, as the needles inserted in the skin, alongside the meridian channels, cause a kind of micro-trauma to the muscles and release endorphins, which calm the nerves and alleviate pain.
— Heat and icy therapy soothe the pain and inflammation due to sciatica. While the heat packs loosen up the muscles, the ice reduces the swelling.
— Decompression and lumbar spine traction therapy are methods that spread the lumbar vertebrae and help the disc material to re-absorb in the outer disc material.
— Chiropractic care and physiotherapy alleviate sciatica pain and the accompanying symptoms and restore mobility and flexibility.
— McKenzie exercises are recommended by numerous chiropractors and physiotherapists as they ease pain and discomfort in the legs.
