Amazingly, four out of ten people will suffer with sciatica sometime during their life. Your sciatic nerve is the largest nerve in your body and any irritation or undue pressure on it can cause excruciating pain. This nerve is on both sides of your lower back and runs through your pelvic area and onward down through your buttocks and upper legs. It divides into two branches at your knees and continues its journey to your feet. Sciatica pain can run from a dull ache to the most extreme pain you have ever known. It can also can weakness in your legs as well as numbness and that feeling you get when a body part falls asleep and is now waking up.
Ways to Treat Sciatica
There are many ways to get sciatica treatment in Toronto, ON, ranging from cold and hot packs, medications, exercises, and other alternative natural methods including:
- OTC medications like aspirin, naproxen, and ibuprofen
- Prescription pain and muscle relaxing medication
- Physical therapy may help treat sciatica, but only to the extent you can tolerate it
- Acupuncture
- Chiropractic treatments
- The last treatment resort is surgery for persistent sciatica
Exercises that Can be Helpful
Not only can exercises learned in physical therapy be helpful, you might find that low-impact yoga is beneficial. There are six positions that are best for you to try to treat your sciatica:
- Sitting pigeon
- Reclining pigeon
- Forward pigeon
- Knee to shoulder
- Sitting spinal stretch
- Standing hamstring
Any qualified naturopath can assist you in finding a yoga studio or instructor.
Pregnancy Sciatica
Sciatica symptoms are quite common during pregnancy. Causes can include the stretching of your pelvis, joint pain particularly in your hips and knees, and the baby may be in a position to cause stress on your sciatic nerve. Another treatment that can help with sciatica pain is massage. If you think your pain might be caused by sciatica, you will receive the very best treatment at Back in Balance Clinic.
