Sciatica Treatment with Medication

Sciatica Treatment with Medication

There just aren’t many drugs which are effective when used as sciatica treatments. It is widely believed that opium-based drugs are not very effective for nerve pain such as sciatica. New research, however, suggests that opioids could be an effective treatment option for managing chronic pain caused by sciatica. One recent study showed that patients who received a high-dose opiod treatment for spinal cord injuries experienced very good nerve pain relief. None of the study participants built up a tolerance to the medication, and no addictive behavior was observed during the study. While prescription drugs are not normally a cure-all for sciatica, opioids could possibly be an effective treatment for some kinds of nerve pain. The risks and benefits of long-term opioid use as a sciatica treatment are not well documented, however. Additionally, we have a few hundred years of anecdotal evidence that the use of pure opium nearly always results in some level of addiction. Consequently, the use of opioids – or any medication, for that matter – as a sciatica treatment should be carefully considered and closely monitored.

Alternative Sciatica Treatments

Sciatica pain is hard to find an effective treatment for, particularly if you want to avoid the risks associated with prescription painkillers. Fortunately, there are many non-addictive sciatica pain treatments which result in very few side effects, and require no prescription. Herbal remedies will not deliver the significant sciatica pain relief that a prescription drug treatment can. However, herbs like St. John’s Wart and Varvain may help heal any damage to your sciatic nerve, while prescription pain killers are only expected to mask the pain of the sciatica. An aromatherapy treatment can also ease nerve pain a bit, and this treatment appears to help people heal more quickly. Essential oils of lavender, chamomile, and marjoram are reportedly effective at easing nerve pain. Acupressure is also an effective sciatica treatment. Acupressure operates on approximately the same principals of acupuncture, but without the needles. There are many alternative sciatica treatments. Some require a bit of homework on your part and very few of them are completely free. However, if you need some help managing your sciatica pain and you aren’t comfortable with a prescription drug treatment, these relatively harmless options are worth looking into.

Sciatica Treatment Through Exercise

Some sciatica patients believe that avoiding physical activity is the best treatment for their pain. For the initial onset of severe sciatica, bed rest can be an effective treatment for a day or two, However, after a day or two, inactivity can be counterproductive. If your muscles become weakened and lose their elasticity, then more pain, not less, will be the result. The best long-term sciatica treatment is a gentle exercise program that includes stretching, strengthening and low-impact aerobic exercise. This program should be an individualized program developed by the patient and his or her doctor, or another health care professional. As with any effective pain treatment, the best sciatica treatment will not just mask the pain, but actually address the source of the pain. Sciatica is usually caused by a muscle or bone which is in the wrong place and compressing the sciatic nerve. The best treatment for that is not to mask the pain, but to fix the muscle or replace the bone and take pressure off of the nerve. A well-designed exercise program can offer sciatica treatment by helping muscles heal and possibly even re-align a disjointed spine.