Sciatica can make you lose the meaning of life due to pain. The pain starts from the lower back and transcends to the lower extremities. The good news is that you can get relief from this problem while at home before visiting a doctor for comprehensive treatment. If you are suffering from sciatica in Greenacres, there is hope. Bart Gatz, MD, and his team at American Interventional Pain Institute have years of experience and modern technology to help you live a fulfilled life.
Besides treatment, several lifestyle changes can help ease your pain and prevent the condition from reaching an advanced stage.
- Keep Moving
Moving around if you have sciatica can be the least among your priorities due to shooting pain. Contrary to this, movement helps relieve back pain, originating from a pinched or compressed nerve in the lower back. Bart Gatz, MD highly recommends you go for a regular jog, but be alert not to overdo it. Your doctor will advise you on the right exercise regime. Besides freeing up the compressed nerves, movement enhances blood circulation.
- Massage it out
A deep massage can help provide relief against sciatica and has the following benefits:
- Promotes blood circulation
- Eases muscle tension
- Stimulates your body to release endorphins, which act as the body’s natural painkillers.
If you can’t get a massage, you can substitute this by intermittently applying heat and cold on your lower back at various times throughout the day. Place a pack of ice for 10-15 minutes to help reduce inflammation, followed by 20-30 minutes of penetrating heat. Doing this for three to five sessions in a day helps manage pain and discomfort due to sciatica.
- Stretch it out
Stretching is another effective method to ease pain from sciatica. This can range from small stretches including touching your toes, to exercise such as yoga, which helps reduce muscle spasm in the whole body. Stretching enhances the free-flow of the body’s natural healing properties.
- Avoid Sitting for Extended Periods
Spending prolonged periods seated is among the worst things that can increase your suffering from sciatica pain. If you have to spend time seated, be cautious of your posture: Both of your feet should touch the floor, with your spine straight and shoulders laid back. Ensure to frequently get up and stretch to ease pressure on your back.
- Get Proper Rest
Your mind shuts down when you sleep, allowing cellular activity in your body to help in the restoration of lost nutrients and healing. However, during this time, your body responds fast to inflammation, which can have adverse effects on the healing response, if you are not sleeping well. When you get good sleep, your body’s inflammatory agents work for a shorter time, allowing you to wake up feeling relaxed and no pain.
It is time to be liberated from the shackles of sciatica pain. If you or a loved one has sciatic pain, consult your physician to learn more about lifestyle changes to help deal with sciatica.
