Sciatica pain can be bothersome since it radiates through the back of your leg. There are a number of sciatic pain causes, including degenerative discs, poor posture or even overuse. No matter what the cause is, however, sciatica pain is very treatable. Acupuncture, stretching at home and injections are just a few ways to help relieve sciatica pain.
Acupuncture
Acupuncture can help heal sciatica pain. An acupuncturist would start by finding out what the source of the sciatica pain is. For example, it could be from Piriformis muscle pressure, degenerative disc diseases or simply from sitting on your wallet too often. After a diagnosis, the acupuncturist would find the relative pressure points and insert sterilized needles into them, keeping them there for at least 30 minutes in order to promote healing fluids. Acupuncturists would also recommend additional self-maintenance such as stretching techniques and, in some cases, dietary changes.
Home Stretch
A few home stretches may cure or at least provide temporary relief for sciatica pain. Making use of floor space and an empty wall can provide a stretch of the Piriformis muscle, which sits on top of the sciatic nerve root. Star by lying on your back relatively close to a wall. Raise the unaffected leg up and place your foot on the wall. Your upper and lower legs should form a 90-degree angle with the wall. Put your "sciatic" leg's ankle on the raised leg's knee, forming a triangle shape. Now place your hands behind your sciatic leg's knee, gently pull it forward, and lift your shoulders off the floor. You should feel a deep stretch radiating from your lower back to your sciatic leg's hip and through your thigh. Hold this position for 30 seconds, breathing deeply. Rest for 30 seconds and then repeat. Do this three times a day.
Botox
A Botox shot can do more than prevent facial wrinkles. It can be helpful for treating sciatic pain as well. A physician would inject Botox to the Piriformis muscle and sciatic area via the affected leg's buttock. A Botox shot would essentially paralyze or relax the muscle, making it easier to manipulate for stretching. Pain relief is temporary, though, and shots would have to be repeated every few months.
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