Sciatica Self-Care & Interventional Pain Treatments in Asheville NC
Sciatica is a common condition—as many as 40% of people will deal with some form of sciatic pain in their lifetime. The sciatic nerve is the largest nerve in the body. It branches from your lower back through your hips, buttocks and down each leg. Pain happens when the nerve becomes pinched or irritated—sending pain, numbness, soreness or tingling anywhere along the nerve branch. The team of pain care doctors near Asheville at The Comprehensive Pain Consultants of the Carolinas have a few recommendations for sciatica self-care and in-office interventional treatment options.
Learn more about this common condition on our dedicated sciatica page right here.
Self-care Treatments for Sciatica
For many, sciatica responds well to self-care treatments and lifestyle adjustments. Below are a few of the most popular at-home treatments:
Ice & Hot Packs: Heat and ice therapy can be a quick and effective way to curb the symptoms of sciatica.
Cold Therapy: Place an ice pack over your rear pelvic area. The cold causes a constriction of blood vessels and a decrease in blood flow. It can also decrease muscle spasms, reduce inflammation and decrease swelling.
Hot Therapy: Apply a heating pad over your rear pelvic area, just as you had with the ice pack. Heat helps to promote tissue healing, increases tissue metabolism, improves range of motion in your joints and decreases muscle tension.
Note that heat and ice packs should not be used for prolonged periods of time as it can negatively impact your skin and nerves.
Regular Exercise & Stretching: Movement matters when it comes to combatting sciatica pain. Prolonged inactivity can actually make your symptoms worse! Try low impact activities such as walking and swimming. Light stretching through your back, hips and legs are also a great way to manage symptoms. Check out these simple stretches for sciatica pain right here.
Over the Counter Pain Medicine: The occasional use of over-the-counter pain medication such as Aleve, Advil, Aspirin, Tylenol or Motrin can be used to manage sciatica symptoms. If you find yourself relying on over-the-counter medication to get through your day, reach out to a pain management doctor right away.
Interventional Pain Management Treatments for Sciatica
If you’ve been struggling with sciatica for more than a month, seek help from a pain management doctor—even if your pain is mild. Below are common interventional pain management treatments for sciatica pain:
Physical Therapy: The first area of treatment for sciatica tends to be physical therapy. This provides activity and education around your body and the pain you’re feeling. The main goal of physical therapy is to restore function and make you feel more independent! The pain management clinics in Asheville at Comprehensive Pain Consultants of the Carolinas have trained physical therapists who specialize in sciatica pain management. We offer customized treatment plans with clear goals and benchmarks for pain relief.
Prescribed Pain Medication: When over-the-counter medication is not enough, your pain management team may prescribe one of the following:
Muscle relaxants
Anti-inflammatories
Tricyclic antidepressants
Anti-seizure medication
Narcotics
Spinal Cord Stimulation Therapy: If relief is not found by self-care, physical therapy or pain medication, spinal cord stimulation therapy may be recommended. This is a common procedure that provides relief from persistent pain. Spinal cord stimulation therapy uses a low voltage stimulation of the spinal nerves to block the sensation of pain from reaching the brain and, in turn, causing the feeling of pain. This is an option to better manage your pain while also decreasing use of medications.
Sciatica Pain Treatments in Asheville NC
If you have been experiencing chronic sciatica pain, give us a call today! Our dedicated medical staff will perform a comprehensive physical exam and develop a custom, innovative treatment plan for your sciatica pain.
Get in touch with us by calling 828-483-4438
Disclaimer: You should always seek the advice of a physician or other qualified health care provider before beginning any exercise program. The information contained in this article does not constitute medical advice, nor does reading or accessing this information create a patient-provider relationship. Comments that you post will be shared with all visitors to this page. All comments are not governed by HIPAA and you should not post any private health information.