Sciatica Pain Treatment

Your medical insurance may help cover the cover cost of sciatica treatment in Cincinnati, Ohio. Most plan are suject to deductibles and co-pays.

There is no “quick-fix” for sciatica and recovery from nerve irritation will take time. A complete recovery usually happens without surgery will typically occur within 6-12 weeks with proper care and activity restrictions. Many times your sciatica symptoms may start to reduce as you take medications and symptoms will subside within 2-3 weeks of care.

You can get sciatica from many risk factors that include:

• Herniated discs or bone spurs from spinal degeneration
• Being overweight or obsese which puts more stress on your spine
• Work activity that involves twisting your back or lifting heavy stuff
• Sitting at a desk all day or being a couch potato can also contribute
• Diabetes also increases the risk of  nerve damage

Sciatica in Cincinnati, Ohio can occur from anything that compresses the nerve in your low back, like a disc herniation of bone spur. These can develop slowly over time as we age from normal wear-and-tear.

Sciatica does not always come from a trauma and may have many different reasons for its cause. Things like diabetes, work stress, a sedentary lifestyle, age, and neuropathy can also lead to sciatic nerve damage.

While sciatica will sometimes go away with rest and medication, sciatica lasting longer than 2 weeks, or cases that some and go very frequently will typically require professional care. A treatment plan developed by a healthcare professional  including medication, chiropractic, therapy, and activity modifications should be followed to achieve the best results. If these recommendations are carefully followed, your sciatica is more likely to go away without surgery and not reoccur. However, it might not be quite possible for it to subside without any sciatica treatment.

Sciatica can worsen from many activities, like bending, lifting, twisting or sitting/standing for extended periods. Quick movements and repetitive motion can also worsen sciatica pain. These movements and positions can aggravate disc herniation’s and inflammation which will lead to more pain.

Adjustments for sciatica by your chiropractor will usually help your recovery. A licensed chiropractor routinely treats sciatica and may use spinal adjustments to reposition the herniated disk and relieve your sciatic nerve pain. Cincinnati, Ohio has plenty of certified chiropractors to help with your sciatica treatment.

Ice packs over the low back and sciatic nerve can numb the pain and reduce inflammation. Heating pads will improve blood flow and help relax tight muscles. 15-20 minutes with heat or cold is usually enough.

Sciatica will typically only affect one leg at a time, although bilateral sciatica does exist. In cases of fluctuating disc herniation’s the sciatic pain may come and go from one side to the other. Bilateral sciatica is uncommon and can occur from degeneration in the low back, from spinal stenosis, or from conditions like cauda equina syndrome or a spondylolisthesis.

Sitting can add pressure to the disc and joints in the lower spine, making disc herniation’s and sciatica worse. Sitting also adds tension to your piriformis and psoas muscles which may also worsen your sciatica symptoms. It is best to avoid extended time in a seated position during active bouts of sciatica.

Yes, some people may experince relief from sciatica by sitting on a pillow. This will reduce the sciatic nerve root irritation. Sitting on a pillow can help and reduce sciatic pain, but don’t sit on the pillow for more than 30-45 minutes max. 

• Ibuprofen, Naproxen and Acetaminophen can ease your pain and inflammation but are usually temporary measures.
• Rubbing the back, buttock and legs with a topical pain gel may also offer some relief. Many people find temporary relief with topical CBD ointments.
• If your sciatica pain last more than three days, and limits your quality of life, it’s best to see a doctor for the proper workup and sciatica treatment.