There are many ways to approach herniated disc sciatica treatment. But first, let’s analyze what a herniated disc is, and how it’s related to sciatica.
Your spinal column is made up of alternating vertebrae – small segments of bone – and cushioning discs made of a material similar to cartilage. As your body ages and wears out, so do the discs in your spinal column. As this happens they can easily be dislocated or damaged, resulting in what’s known as a herniated disc.
This condition can result in sciatica if it occurs in your lower back. Sciatica happens when the sciatic nerve becomes compressed. This results in pain in the lower back, as well as a numbness or tingling sensation in the buttocks and lower extremities. When a herniated disc presses on the sciatic nerve, it’s identified as sciatica. Often, this is how a herniated disc makes itself known and is diagnosed.
So, what can you do about it? One of the more effective ways of treating a herniated disc is through inversion therapy. The method turns patients completely upside down, and uses the physics behind gravity to help realign your spine painlessly and naturally. It’s has virtually no adverse side effects and isn’t nearly as costly as surgery is. It doesn’t require time off work, and in fact can be practiced in the comfort of your own home. The Healthy Back Institute offers several inversion therapy tables for sale through their website – losethebackpain.com – and they even offer free shipping on some of their tables.
Another method that can help relieve your sciatica pain that may be due to a herniated disc is massage therapy. It soothes muscles in the area that may have become tense as a result of the injury, and helps provide lasting pain relief from sciatica.
Acupuncture is also very successful at relieving back pain, sciatica and pain from a herniated disc. A person’s Chi – or what the Chinese identify as your life’s energy – should always be flowing and active. Stagnation is what leads to pain and ailments. Acupuncture is the way to get your Chi moving again. Eastern cultural beliefs aside, acupuncture is a scientifically proven way to relieve pain, so however it works, it can be an effective way to relieve your sciatica. Just make sure you find a reputable acupuncturist in order to lessen the risk of infection and maximize the effectiveness of the treatment.
Exercise and strengthening your core can help to prevent sciatica and herniated discs from happening in the future. Exercises that are easy on your muscles and joints like walking, swimming and yoga are ideal for this purpose. Making sure you have a strong core and healthy back will help to support your spinal column from within, which prevents future injuries to the area. The Healthy Back Institute carries a variety of ebooks and DVDs to help you learn what exercises are best to maintain a healthy back. Visit their website to find the right resource for you.
For more information on herniated disc sciatica treatment, visit losethebackpain.com today.