Poor sleep causes sciatic nerve pain. Pinched sciatic nerve: how to relieve and treat inflammation of the nerve in the lumbar region? Massage treatment at home

Pinched sciatic nerve is a pathological condition that develops as a result of compression of the nerve without damaging the myelin sheath. The sciatic nerve is the longest nerve in the human body, it begins in the sacral region and reaches the phalanges of the fingers of the lower limb and heel. Contains motor and sensory nerve fibers, innervates the knee and hip joints.

Herniated discs are one of the causes of pinched sciatic nerve

Most often, pinching of the sciatic nerve occurs in the area of ​​the piriformis muscle (lumen of the sciatic foramen) or vertebral discs. The pathology is accompanied by pain in the leg. In most cases, the pinching is unilateral; much less often, both limbs are involved in the pathological process. The condition can lead to inflammation (sciatica), complicated by severe pain. Men engaged in heavy physical work are more susceptible to pinching the sciatic nerve.

Synonyms: sciatica, lumbosacral radiculopathy.

Causes of pinched sciatic nerve

Pinching of the sciatic nerve often occurs during any activity that requires sudden movements, as a result of prolonged stay in an uncomfortable position, limitation of motor activity, or excessive load on the lumbar region.

Often, pinching occurs against the background of other pathologies, which include:

  • spinal injuries with vertebral displacement;
  • abscess or neoplasm in the area of ​​the sciatic nerve;
  • osteochondrosis of the lumbosacral spine;
  • displacement of spinal structures (spondylolisthesis);
  • inflammatory diseases of the pelvic organs;
  • infections (most often influenza, whooping cough, rubella, bone tuberculosis, malaria);
  • blood clots;
  • hypothermia.

In addition, the cause may be muscle spasms along the sciatic nerve.

The sciatic nerve in women is often pinched during pregnancy due to the pressure of the enlarged uterus on neighboring organs and increased load on the spine due to a shift in the center of gravity of the body, as well as in cases where a pregnant woman takes an uncomfortable body position. Another period of increased risk of symptoms of pinched sciatic nerve in women is menopause, due to changes in hormonal levels.

Risk factors include:

  • poisoning with alcohol, heavy metals, neurotropic toxic substances;
  • smoking;
  • herpes zoster in the projection of the sciatic nerve;
  • overweight;
  • deficiency of minerals in the body.

Forms

Depending on the severity, there are three forms of pinched sciatic nerve:

  • light;
  • moderate severity;
  • heavy.

A severe form of sciatic nerve pinching may be accompanied by signs of spinal cord damage and immobilization of the patient.

In most cases, the pinching is unilateral; much less often, both limbs are involved in the pathological process.

Pain syndrome is the most typical manifestation of sciatic nerve pinching. The pain can be of different types (sharp, aching, shooting, throbbing, pulling). As a rule, pain is noted in the lumbar region, buttocks; along the back of the thigh, the pain goes down to the lower leg and heel, radiating to the fingers of the lower limb. Sometimes there is numbness along the nerve, as well as burning and/or tingling of the skin. Pain can increase in a sitting position, when coughing, laughing, muscle tension, etc. In addition to pain, difficulties arise when walking, standing for long periods of time, and lameness may develop (on one leg with unilateral pinching or on both legs with bilateral pinching).

In men, signs of pinching may resemble manifestations of prostatitis. Symptoms of a pinched sciatic nerve in women vary depending on the cause and extent of the damage. It has been noted that women often have no discomfort in the lower back.

The most common symptoms of a pinched sciatic nerve include:

  • muscle atrophy and muscle weakness;
  • sensitivity disorders (increase or decrease);
  • dry skin;
  • the appearance of pathological reflexes;
  • feeling of crawling sensations;
  • increased sweating of the feet;
  • restriction of leg/leg movement.

Diagnostics

Diagnosis of a pinched sciatic nerve is usually not difficult due to the specific clinical picture. As a rule, the diagnosis is made during an objective examination of the patient, collecting complaints and anamnesis. However, in order to avoid relapses, it is necessary to determine the factors that contributed to the occurrence of pinched sciatic nerve.

To determine the cause that determined the development of the pathological process, the following instrumental and laboratory diagnostic methods are used:

  • X-ray examination of the lumbar and pelvic area;
  • magnetic resonance or computed tomography of the lumbar region;
  • electroneuromyography;
  • radioisotope scan of the spine (if the presence of neoplasms is suspected);
  • general and biochemical blood test;
  • general urine analysis ; and etc.

A study of reflexes is carried out, the presence of Bonnet's symptom, Lasegue's symptom, a decrease in the plantar, Achilles and knee reflexes is determined, and sensitivity on the affected side is assessed.

Pain syndrome is the most typical manifestation of sciatic nerve pinching. The pain can be of different types (sharp, aching, shooting, throbbing, pulling).

Differential diagnosis with intervertebral disc herniation is necessary. A hernia is characterized by a longer development of the pathological process, as well as relapses of neuralgic manifestations.

Treatment of pinched sciatic nerve

The traditional treatment regimen for pinched sciatic nerve is a combination of drug therapy and physiotherapeutic methods. In some cases, surgical intervention is required.

In case of pinching of the sciatic nerve, hospitalization of the patient is not necessary. Provided the patient complies with the doctor's instructions, treatment can be carried out at home. For acute pain that prevents the patient from walking and/or being in an upright position for a long time, bed rest is indicated for a period of several days to a week. Due to the need for a fixed body position during periods of acute pain, it is recommended to use a hard mattress.

In the treatment of sciatic nerve pinching, the drugs of choice are non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, which are prescribed as intramuscular injections or orally (capsules or tablets). With the oral route of administration of non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, there is a risk of developing gastritis and/or peptic ulcer, therefore the administration of proton pump inhibitors is indicated.

When the sciatic nerve is pinched due to muscle spasms, the therapeutic effect is achieved by using medications that improve blood circulation (venotonics). For severe muscle spasms, antispasmodic drugs and/or muscle relaxants are prescribed. In addition, the prescription of vitamin complexes, as well as drugs that improve metabolism, is indicated.

General therapy is complemented by local therapy - anti-inflammatory and warming agents are used in the form of ointments or gels.

Men engaged in heavy physical work are more susceptible to pinching the sciatic nerve.

Physiotherapeutic methods are also prescribed to complement the action of medications. These methods include:

  • electro-, phonophoresis of medicinal substances;
  • UHF therapy;
  • During the rehabilitation period, physical therapy, swimming, yoga, Pilates provide a good effect, however, these methods can only be used if the patient’s condition is satisfactory and he does not have acute pain. During the period of remission, patients are recommended to undergo sanatorium-resort treatment.

    Possible complications and consequences

    Pinched sciatic nerve can be complicated by the following conditions:

    • intense pain syndrome;
    • disruption of internal organs;
    • decreased libido;
    • menstrual cycle disorders in women;
    • infertility;
    • exacerbation of chronic diseases;
    • violations of the evacuation function of the intestines and bladder;
    • a sharp decrease in motor activity, up to immobilization.

    Forecast

    With timely and adequate treatment for sciatic nerve pinching, the changes caused by it are completely reversible, and the prognosis is favorable.

    Prevention

    To prevent pinching of the sciatic nerve, it is recommended:

    • adjust body weight if you are overweight;
    • avoid carrying heavy objects; lift loads only with correct weight distribution and with a straight back;
    • control posture;
    • periodically resort to general massage;
    • sleep on a surface of moderate hardness.

    In order to prevent relapses and complications, patients with pinched sciatic nerve are recommended to:

    • balanced balanced diet;
    • avoid prolonged sitting, especially on soft chairs;
    • avoid sudden turns of the body, bending;
    • Avoid hypothermia, especially the lumbar region.

    Video from YouTube on the topic of the article:

Content

Anyone can experience pinching in the lower back. Unpleasant sensations affect the lower back, sacrum and both limbs. The disease interferes with normal movement and causes pain. Learn in advance about the main symptoms of sciatica and how to treat a pinched sciatic nerve. Practical tips will help you quickly get back into shape without disrupting your usual way of life.

Symptoms of a pinched sciatic nerve

The main sign of the disorder is pain that occurs in the sacral region. If at first it is just a tingling sensation, then over time the unpleasant sensations intensify. There may be several reasons:

    pinching of the sciatic nerve by a hernia;

  • influenza, malaria and other infections that lead to inflammation;
  • stenosis;
  • spondylolisthesis.

The nature of the pain must be taken into account. This helps doctors make an accurate diagnosis and then begin treatment. Pinching in the lower part of the spine is divided into three groups:

    sitting symptom - the patient cannot sit down;

  • Lasegue's symptom – the patient cannot raise his straight leg;
  • Sicard's symptom - pain increases with flexion of the foot.

Signs of entrapment also include unusual gait. When experiencing pain, a person involuntarily tilts the body towards the healthy leg, pulling up the painful one. In addition, when pinched, the sensitivity of the integument and muscles of the affected side changes. The patient may feel a strong burning sensation or numbness. Unpleasant sensations are aggravated by coughing and physical exertion on the body.

Treatment at home

Before you begin procedures to eliminate inflammation, you should consult your doctor. He will determine the nature of the disease and give useful recommendations. The tips will ensure proper sciatic nerve treatment at home. An integrated approach to solving the problem will help you quickly get rid of pain and discomfort. To provide first aid for severely pinched nerves, you must:

    Lie on your stomach on a flat surface. The head and chest should be on a pillow, the body covered with a warm blanket.

  1. It is prohibited to use heating pads, compresses or massages on your own.
  2. Urgently call a doctor or consult a neurologist. The specialist will prescribe painkillers and give recommendations for treatment.

Exercises

When pinching in the lumbar region, one of the most effective methods for eliminating disorders is physical therapy. Exercise will help relax your muscles and relieve tension. Check out the most effective gymnastics exercises:

    While lying down, pull your knees towards your chest. Lower your legs alternately to the left, then to the right, without spreading your limbs.

  1. Lying on your stomach, stretch your arms forward and arch your back. Try to hold this bar for as long as possible.
  2. Lying on your back, bend your knees. Alternately tense and relax your back muscles, pressing them into the floor.
  3. Massage

    Manual therapy and massaging sore spots is a proven way to treat pinching. The procedure begins with warming up the buttocks, lower back and tailbone, and ends with intense movements in the area of ​​sciatic nerve pain points. Everything is done as carefully as possible. Massage for illness is carried out using warming ointments and gels.

    Folk remedies

    With the right approach, you can get rid of the disease at home. Simple folk remedies can remove inflammation, relieve pain and restore pinching. The effect is noticeable only in the early stages of sciatica. The most popular methods include:

      Revitalizing compress made from rye flour. It is necessary to knead a tight dough. The mixture is applied to the sore spot and wrapped in a towel or scarf. The compress is applied every day for several hours.

    1. Warm bath. Grated horseradish is thrown into the water and immersed for half an hour. This procedure will show its effect after 2 weeks of regular use.
    2. Wax treatment. A melted candle is applied to the affected area in 30 layers. The procedure is repeated every 3 days.

    Traditional methods of treatment are strictly contraindicated when a nerve is pinched by a hernia. Only surgery will help. One of the best clinics that deals with such issues is the center of Dr. Bubnovsky in Moscow. According to patient reviews, the treatment is painless and the results are excellent.

    Medicines

    Determining the patient’s condition, the doctor prescribes drug therapy. You should not buy pills yourself, so as not to suffer from side effects. The most popular anti-inflammatory drugs include:

    Ibuprofen;

  • Ketoprofen;

  • Anaprox.

When exercise therapy and pills alone are not enough, doctors prescribe injections for pinched sciatic nerves. This is an extreme measure, but it always gives tangible results. For this treatment method, steroids are used. Pain blockade is carried out using anesthetics based on novocaine. The dosage and frequency of use are determined by the doctor depending on the severity of the case.

What to do if the sciatic nerve is pinched during pregnancy

Girls during pregnancy and after childbirth need a special approach to treat sciatica. Permitted, effective methods include:

    manual therapy;

  • massage;
  • salt baths;
  • yoga.

During treatment for pinching, a pregnant woman should wear shoes without heels and sleep on a hard mattress. You cannot start treatment on your own: any type of therapy is allowed only after consulting a doctor. Special exercises to strengthen the pelvis will not be superfluous. They will reduce pain during sciatica and help childbirth go easier.

Video

Unpleasant sensations near the sacrum haunt many people. For those who don’t know what to do if the sciatic nerve is pinched, the video will give some useful tips. You can relieve pain and reduce nerve inflammation on your own without the help of a doctor. Simple exercises from a professional chiropractor can easily relieve pinching.

Attention! The information presented in the article is for informational purposes only. The materials in the article do not encourage self-treatment. Only a qualified doctor can make a diagnosis and give treatment recommendations based on the individual characteristics of a particular patient.

Found an error in the text? Select it, press Ctrl + Enter and we will fix everything!

Pain in the legs and buttocks is called sciatica. It is associated with chronic osteochondrosis or intervertebral hernia. The material discusses the main symptoms, exercises and treatment of the sciatic nerve at home, which will help cope with the pathology.

Symptoms of the disease

The main symptoms of pinching, which lead to its inflammation: the sciatic nerve hurts, neurological disorders appear. Signs may also be:

  • pain in the buttock becomes stronger if you stand or sit for a long time without changing position;
  • burning and tingling in the buttocks, in the leg;
  • muscles are tense, weakness is felt, and a feeling of numbness may occur;
  • when walking or other movements of the leg, a sharp piercing pain occurs;
  • Initially, the pain is often felt only in the lower back, but gradually moves to the buttock, and through it is transmitted to the thigh, then to the foot.

If the sciatic nerve is affected by an injection, the consequences for a person can be expressed in the following symptoms:

  • the person may begin to limp. Due to severe pain, the body, when moving, deviates in the direction where there is no pain;
  • on the side of the body where the infringement is present, sensitivity may be lost. In some cases, the sensitivity of this part of the body does not decrease, but increases;
  • a general increase in body temperature is possible, but only against the background of other symptoms.

It is worth noting that these symptoms can be observed when a nerve is pinched in both women and men.

The sciatic nerve is affected by injection - symptoms

If the injection touches the sciatic nerve, then unilateral pain in the buttock, lower back and leg appears, and tingling and numbness may also occur. The inflammatory process manifests itself in different ways, depending on the degree of nerve damage. Clinical disorders can be expressed in different forms and last for a long time.

Important! The doctor will tell you the correct treatment if the injections hurt a nerve. In this case, do not self-medicate.

Symptoms of strangulation during pregnancy

The main signs of infringement manifest themselves in pain when walking, when a woman stands, shooting begins in the lumbar region, pain can interfere with sitting and sleeping. These symptoms negatively affect not only the physical condition of the expectant mother, but also the psychological one.

Important! Self-medication during pregnancy is unacceptable. A diagnosis cannot be made based on symptoms alone, and the list of approved medications during this period is limited. Contact your doctor!

Treatment at home

The process of home treatment for infringement is lengthy; it requires patience in following all instructions and attention to your health. The main methods of treatment include massage, the use of special ointments, and physiotherapeutic procedures (warming the diseased area with red light is effective).

The massage should be performed by a specialist for at least 30 minutes every day or every other day. If you cannot complete the required course of therapeutic massage, you can use dry cupping.

Important! If the pain is severe, warm baths will help to cope with it. They need to be taken twice during the day.

What is important to observe if the sciatic nerve is often pinched and how to treat it at home:

  • try not to sit for more than two hours at a time;
  • place your feet straight when walking;
  • keep your back straight, constantly ensure that there is no slouching;
  • lower your knees;
  • At night, your back should rest, which means you need to sleep on your side with your knees bent;
  • get rid of extra pounds;
  • eat foods high in B vitamins;
  • stop wearing high heels all the time.

Gymnastics for treatment

When considering the symptoms, exercises and treatment of the sciatic nerve at home, you need to pay special attention to therapeutic exercises. The emphasis is on sciatic stretches, which allow the muscles surrounding the sciatic nerve to relax.

  1. While lying on your back, grab your knee with your hands and pull it up. Move to the opposite shoulder and hold for a few seconds. Lower your leg and repeat exactly the same actions with the second leg.
  2. Lying on your back, bend your knees, placing your feet on the floor. Cross your arms over your chest and raise your torso so that your shoulders come off the floor. Repeat 15 times in a row, try not to rest.
  3. Any leg stretching exercises that are done in a lying position will do.

What folk remedies will help?

You can numb the nerve at home using folk remedies. We provide the most effective recipes.

Sauerkraut

Even in the old days, pinched sciatic nerves were treated with cabbage. This is an extremely useful product that creates favorable conditions in the intestines for the development of beneficial bacteria. The high content of B vitamins in sauerkraut will also help. This remedy is used for prevention, but cabbage cannot relieve pain during the acute period.

Brew the beans

Use peeled green bean leaves as tea leaves. This remedy has a good diuretic effect, helps eliminate unpleasant symptoms, and saturates the body with B vitamins, which are necessary for the regeneration of nerve fibers.

Decoction of aspen leaves

Brew a large spoonful of aspen leaves in 1 liter of boiling water. Drink the decoction four times during the day, it is better to do this before meals.

Calendula infusion

During the day you need to drink 250 g of infusion. A tablespoon is brewed in a glass of boiling water. Then boil for an additional 5 minutes and strain. Drink in two doses, each time before the main meal.

Natural wax

If natural beeswax is melted, it can be used for compresses in home treatment. First, it is recommended to rub the sore spot, and then apply hot wax to it, distributing it evenly over the entire surface. Next, wrap it in a warm scarf and leave until the wax cools completely.

Warming baths

Grind the horseradish root and wrap it in several layers of gauze. Then dip the gauze into the bath water. You can brew a kilogram of pine shoots in three liters of water, strain and pour into the bath. You need to take baths every day for 10 days before going to bed.

Treatment with drugs

It is not possible to cure the sciatic nerve with prayer or a conspiracy; you will only delay time and aggravate the situation. For treatment, use traditional medications: ointments, injections.

Ointments

What ointments will help to treat a pinched nerve:

  • Finalgon. Use to rub problem areas. Relieves pain and has an anti-inflammatory effect.
  • Viprosal. The product contains viper venom. Apply to a preheated area to relieve pain.
  • Betalgon. In addition to the analgesic effect, this ointment improves blood supply to the skin in the problem area.
  • Karmolis. A drug created on the basis of plant components. The composition contains menthol and mint, Chinese lemongrass, cloves, anise and thyme oils. Has an excellent analgesic effect.

Injections

To cure an inflamed nerve, drugs with anti-inflammatory properties are used. Some of them can be purchased at the pharmacy:

  • Aspirin;
  • Ibuprofen;
  • Ketoprofen;
  • Naproxen.

Medicines have contraindications and side effects; you should not use them yourself so as not to harm your health.

Diclofenac, Ibuprofen, Indomethacin are used not only orally, but also intramuscularly, in the form of injections.

This is the minimum necessary information you need to know on the topic of symptoms, exercises and treatment of the sciatic nerve at home. Before starting therapy, you will need to consult your doctor. Only such an integrated approach will help to quickly get rid of the pathology.

In this article we will look at how to treat the sciatic nerve at home. Let's consider the advice of doctors, the most effective folk remedies, reviews on the treatment of inflammation of the sciatic nerve, which helped readers of the newspaper “Herald of Healthy Lifestyle” get rid of pinching quickly and forever.

What is the sciatic nerve?
Sciatic nerve– nerve of the sacral plexus. It is formed from plexuses of nerve fibers arising from the lumbar and sacral segments of the spinal cord. As it descends the leg, the nerve branches into two directions - the tibial and peroneal nerves.
The sciatic nerve is the largest and thickest nerve in our body.
A nerve is a bundle of nerve fibers that are covered with a membrane called the endoneurium.
The sciatic nerve is responsible for sensation, strength and reflexes in the lower extremities.

Where is the sciatic nerve located? The nerve begins in the lumbar region, passes through the buttocks, the back of the thighs, shins, heels, and reaches the fingertips. You can see more details in the figure.

Inflammation and pinching of the sciatic nerve are the cause of a disease accompanied by pain in the lower back and lower extremities, which modern medicine calls neuropathy (outdated names are sciatica and radiculitis). Sciatica occurs due to damage (pinching or inflammation) to the roots of the spinal nerves of the lumbosacral spine.
The disease occurs in 10% of the adult population. Especially often - after the age of 40.

  • The main symptom of inflammation or pinching of the sciatic nerve is severe shooting pain.
  • When small nerve fibers are damaged, the pain is burning, stabbing, shooting, reminiscent of the pain of a burn.
  • When the spinal roots are compressed, the pain is most often pressing, pulling, aching.
  • In addition to pain, other symptoms are present: tingling, burning, numbness in the lower leg.
  • If the disease is long-standing, then the knee begins to work with difficulty, weakness appears in the gluteal-gastrocnemius muscle, which leads to lameness and curvature of the spine.

The main symptom of sciatica is pain in the area of ​​the sciatic nerve.

  • As a rule, the pain is localized on one side of the body, and on the opposite side there is numbness in the corresponding area, which is periodically replaced by tingling. However, it happens that both legs hurt at the same time.
  • The intensity of the symptoms of inflammation may vary. At first, the pain is mild and intensifies with physical activity, coughing, sneezing and laughing. As inflammation develops, the discomfort increases. The pain is constantly present, becoming especially intense at night. The patient may wake up from attacks. In severe cases, the patient cannot move due to severe pain.
  • With sciatica, there may be decreased mobility in the joints of the knees or feet.
  • Weakened or abnormal neurological reflexes.
  • Increasing pain when trying to lift a straight leg up

To make a diagnosis, you should consult a neurologist. A general and biochemical blood test, x-rays taken in different projections, standing and lying down, and magnetic resonance imaging will help confirm the diagnosis.

Sometimes an additional visit to another specialist may be required: a rheumatologist, a vascular surgeon, a vertebrologist.

Urgent medical consultation is required:

  • if, against the background of pain, body temperature rises to 38 degrees Celsius,
  • swelling appears on the back or the skin turns red,
  • the pain gradually spreads to new areas of the body,
  • there is a strong burning sensation in the pelvic area, thighs, legs, which makes it difficult to walk,
  • there is a burning sensation when urinating, problems with holding urine and feces arise.

Elena Malysheva about the symptoms of sciatica:

The cause of nerve inflammation can be:

  1. Hypothermia
  2. Hard physical work
  3. Stress, nervous breakdown
  4. Intervertebral hernia
  5. Overweight
  6. Sitting for long periods of time in an incorrect position (for example, in front of a monitor)

Comprehensive treatment of inflammation.

Treatment of sciatica is a complex of procedures; it is selected differently for each patient and depends on the specific symptoms and severity of the condition.
Treatment includes:

  • Bed rest during periods of acute pain.
  • Medicines: non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, muscle relaxants, vitamins are used, ointments and gels of irritating action are applied topically, which relieve pain and reduce spastic syndrome.
  • Physiotherapy: Warming compresses, heating, electro or phonophoresis are prescribed.
  • Massage begin to be carried out after the acute process has subsided, it helps reduce pain, increases the conductivity of the damaged nerve, improves blood supply and lymph flow, and prevents muscle wasting.
  • Physiotherapy: After establishing the cause of inflammation of the sciatic nerve, an exercise program is individually selected for the patient, some of which must be performed already in the first days of the illness, while lying in bed. As motor activity is restored, the load is gradually increased. Activities in the pool are also recommended.
  • Surgical treatment indicated in cases where conservative methods do not work and severe pain becomes chronic, as well as in severe disorders of the pelvic organs

Disease prevention

To prevent inflammation of the sciatic nerve, it is necessary to pay attention to maintaining the tone of the back muscles, you should do strengthening exercises and control correct posture during sedentary work, take regular breaks and warm-up, avoid injuries, do not lift heavy objects, and avoid hypothermia.

How to treat the sciatic nerve - advises 1st category doctor O.V. Antonovskaya.
If you experience symptoms similar to those of inflammation of the sciatic nerve, you should consult a doctor to clarify the diagnosis before starting treatment. Similar symptoms can be caused by renal colic, which occurs when sand passes through the ureter, and acute inflammatory diseases in the pelvis.
Sciatic nerve diseases are diagnosed using MRI and X-rays.
Only after an accurate diagnosis can you begin treatment at home.

Treatment of inflammation of the sciatic nerve - what to do at home?

First of all, the patient should lie down on a flat bed and wrap a warm scarf around his lower back. Quickly apply any dry heat - it will only be beneficial.

Drug treatment of the sciatic nerve (sciatica).

To remove the symptoms of inflammation or pinching, complex treatment will be required.

  • If the sciatic nerve hurts so much that it is impossible to tolerate, painkillers are used. Pain is very exhausting for a person, and this slows down the recovery process.
  • Tablets and injections. In the first 3-4 days, non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs are prescribed in the form of injections to treat inflammation of the sciatic nerve: ibuprofan, declofenac, voltaren. Then they are replaced with tablets from the same group. For problems with the gastrointestinal tract, tablets can be replaced with corresponding suppositories, ointments, gels and patches with the same names.
  • In especially severe cases, when the patient is bedridden, hormones are used in the treatment of sciatica under the supervision of a physician. They very effectively relieve swelling and inflammation of the nerve roots.
  • Physiotherapy will help relieve sciatica pain and inflammation: Bernard currents, electrophoresis, phonophoresis, detensor therapy. Swimming, massage, and hirudotherapy are useful for sciatica.

Treatment of the sciatic nerve with folk remedies will complement the effect of medications and help you quickly cope with the disease at home. You will find recipes and reviews from those who were cured in this article.

Treatment of inflammation of the sciatic nerve with folk remedies.

  1. The most effective and fastest folk remedy for treating the sciatic nerve is dry heat on the painful area.
  2. Another available folk method for treating sciatica is a radish compress. Grate the black radish on a coarse grater, place it on a waterproof mat, cover the radish with 2-3 layers of gauze and lie on a compress with your sore back for 30-40 minutes.
  3. Salo with pepper is a simple homemade way to quickly cure sciatica. Grind hot peppers in a meat grinder. Mix with the same volume of pork fat and grind well. Rub this mixture into the skin of the lower back 2 times a day.
  4. Traditional medicine recommends a clay cake for the treatment of sciatica. You need to knead the dough from rye flour or clay, make a flat cake and bandage it to the sore spot until the morning.
  5. Treatment of sciatica with saline solution. If the sciatic nerve is inflamed, rub your body with salt water 2 times a week: 2 tablespoons of sea salt per 1 liter of water.
  6. All these measures will help in the rapid treatment of the sciatic nerve. The speed of recovery depends on the patient’s persistence. Source: newspaper “Bulletin of Healthy Lifestyle” 2013, No. 19 p.12-13.

How to treat inflammation of the sciatic nerve with herbs.

Herbs for sciatica are a simple and affordable home remedy.

  • Indian onion rub is an effective home method for treating inflammation. Fill a half-liter jar with Indian onion shoots, add alcohol and leave for a week. The tincture is hot and can burn the skin. Rub once a day at night.
  • Rubbed from wild rosemary. Mix 2 tablespoons of chopped wild rosemary herb with 5 tablespoons of sunflower oil. Simmer over low heat for 1 hour, leave for 6 hours, strain. Rub the sore areas once a day, preferably at night.
  • Herbal compresses. Nighttime wraps made from steamed leaves of birch, coltsfoot, and wormwood help relieve inflammation of the sciatic nerve. Herbs are taken in equal parts and mixed with curdled milk 1:1
  • How to treat sciatica with harmala herb.
    Harmala herb is a very effective remedy in the treatment of the sciatic nerve, paralysis, diseases of the spleen, intestines, kidneys, rheumatism, and neurasthenia.
    Pour 1 teaspoon of herb into 400 ml of boiling water and leave for 20 minutes. Drink 2 tablespoons 3 times a day half an hour before meals. A decoction of harmala herb cannot be stored for more than a day, so a new decoction must be made every day. Source: newspaper “Vestnik ZOZH” 2013, No. 14 p. 16.

Burdock for inflammation of the sciatic nerve.

A 20-year-old girl caught a bad cold. The cold sciatic nerve became inflamed. The pain was so piercing that she could not even lift her leg onto the step. The clinic tried to treat sciatica with various means, but to no avail. And the burdock helped. First, they rubbed the lower back with ointment with bee venom, then applied burdock and wrapped it up for the whole night. Several procedures helped for life. Review of the treatment of sciatica with burdock from the newspaper “Vestnik ZOZH” 2014, No. 1 p. 29.
For sciatica and radiculitis, fresh burdock leaves are washed with water, and dry leaves are steamed. Apply a layer of 5-6 leaves to the sore spot. Cover the top with paper for compresses and a warm scarf. Folk method of treatment with burdock from the newspaper “Vestnik ZOZH” 2001, No. 11 p. eleven.

Compress with herbal infusion for sciatica. Pour 1 tablespoon of aspen leaves or 1 tablespoon of pine buds into 1 glass of hot water, boil for 10 minutes, leave for 1 hour. Soak a cloth in the warm broth, apply it to the sore spot, put polyethylene and a warm scarf on top. Keep the compress for half an hour.
An ointment made from burdock roots relieves sciatica pain.
1 tablespoon of burdock roots and 100 grams of pork fat were simmered until softened, everything was mixed well and rubbed on the inflamed area. Source: newspaper “Vestnik ZOZH” 2014, No. 3 p.33.

Massage treatment at home.

Massage is one of the most popular and effective home treatment methods.

Treatment of the sciatic nerve with massage - advice from the newspaper Vestnik ZOZH.
A nagging, aching pain due to pinching and inflammation of the sciatic nerve did not give the man peace, especially intensifying at night. A reader of the newspaper Vestnik ZOZH learned how to cope with sciatica using folk remedies and massage.

  1. A man massages the sciatic nerve with some burning ointments for 25-30 minutes every day. Make the ointment yourself: 2 parts vegetable oil and 1 part ammonia.
  2. When it was not possible to massage, I placed dry cups on the sacrum and the back of the thighs.
  3. I rubbed the sore spots with the juice of agave - a houseplant: the leaf was cut lengthwise, the spines were cut off and the leaf was rubbed on the skin. Agave, especially its old leaves, can burn the skin, so do the procedures carefully.

How to relieve sciatica pain with honey massage.

The woman suffered from neuropathy of the sciatic nerve, the pain was so severe that she could not sleep for a week. After they started giving her a honey massage, the pain went away.
For honey massage you need to take 1 tsp. honey, spread on the lower back, wait until the honey is absorbed. Then lightly rub it in with your palm, and then rub in, patting harder and harder. The sensation is painful, as if the skin is being removed. Massage until the skin is covered with plaque.
Source: newspaper “Vestnik ZOZH” 2009, No. 18, p. 31.

Vacuum massage helped with a pinched sciatic nerve.

The man had a pinched sciatic nerve. He was given a prescription that helped a patient friend cure his sciatic nerve in 9 procedures. The man underwent many more procedures, but he forgot about the pinching forever. You need to find painful spots on the buttocks and lubricate them with cream. Cut the potatoes in half, insert 7 matches into each half. Place one half of a potato on each buttock on the sore spots and light matches on them. Cover with half-liter jars and keep for 10 minutes. The wife treated her husband for 5 months, doing procedures once every three days. Review from the newspaper “Vestnik ZOZH” 2006, No. 1, p. 35.

How to quickly cure the sciatic nerve with massage.

The woman constantly had problems with the sciatic nerve, which caused her right leg to go numb. I read in Healthy Lifestyle that an 81-year-old grandmother solves a similar problem with the help of a rubber hammer - tapping herself on the sore spots. The woman did not have such a hammer, so she used an empty plastic bottle for massage. The neck must be screwed on with a lid to ensure elasticity. He taps himself along the nerve, the condition quickly improves. Source: newspaper “Vestnik ZOZH” 2003, No. 7, p. 6.

Treatment of inflammation of the sciatic nerve at home - advice from those who have recovered.

  • Grinding vodka with salt.
    Use this folk remedy to treat the sciatic nerve at home: add 1 glass of salt to 500 ml of vodka and stir. Rub this mixture onto the sore area overnight. This remedy will help both with inflammation of the sciatic nerve and with pain in the joints and spine. (Source: newspaper “Vestnik ZOZH” 2014, No. 2 p. 31).
    Treatment of sciatica with salt. An example of recovery.
    The woman’s sciatic nerve became inflamed and was very painful. She was suggested a folk remedy for sciatica - rubbing with salt, and was told that she needed to rub for 10 days. She dissolved a glass of salt in two glasses of vodka, stirring the mixture until completely dissolved. She rubbed the sore spot with this solution and went straight to bed. After five days, the pain went away and she stopped rubbing. But after 3 days the pain returned again. Then the patient completed a full course of 10 procedures, as expected. Since then there has been no more inflammation of the nerve. (Source: newspaper “Vestnik ZOZH” 2014, No. 1, p. 29).
  • Salt wool compresses are a simple folk method for treating the sciatic nerve.
    In folk medicine, a salt compress made from wool has been successfully used to treat sciatica. It is better to take unkempt wool. The wool was soaked in a hot saturated saline solution and dried, after which it was applied to the sore spot.
    You can simply take a piece of woolen cloth that is the size to cover the sore spot. Soak this flap in salt water (2.5 tablespoons per 1 liter of water), squeeze, apply to the sore spot and secure with a bandage. (Source: newspaper “Vestnik ZOZH” 2013, No. 21 p. 33).
  • Treatment of sciatica with beets. Review.
    The woman's sciatic nerve became inflamed and the pain was unbearable. She grated 200 grams of beets, squeezed them out, added 1 tablespoon of tar, put them on a napkin and applied them to the sore spot, with paper for compresses and a sheet on top. I kept it for 5 hours, the pain subsided quickly - after the first compress. But to consolidate the success, the woman performed the procedure 2 more times. (Source: newspaper “Vestnik ZOZH” 2013, No. 2, p. 33).
  • How to treat the sciatic nerve with turpentine ointment.
    Turpentine ointment was effective in treating sciatica. The woman rubbed the painful areas with ointment 3-4 times a day, tied it and walked around, as if wearing a belt, to warm it up. The tablets relieved the pain only temporarily, but turpentine ointment was able to cure sciatica forever. (Source: newspaper “Vestnik ZOZH” 2012, No. 21, p. 33).
  • Comfrey ointment is a good way to treat the sciatic nerve.
    In the treatment of sciatica with folk remedies, the use of comfrey ointment has a good effect. The ointment can be made from one comfrey, or you can add 1 part of white acacia flowers and 1 part of chestnut flowers to 5 parts of comfrey. Moisten this mixture or just the comfrey with vodka and let stand for 30 minutes. Then, for 1 part of the raw material, take 3 parts of lard, or better yet, horse fat. Simmer all this in the oven for 2-3 hours, avoiding boiling.
    Apply the ointment to the sore spot, cover with a linen cloth, or better yet, burdock, and bandage it. Source: newspaper “Vestnik ZOZH” 2011, No. 10, p. 28.
  • Comfrey tincture.
    Pre-moisten 50 grams of dry comfrey root, then pour in 700 ml of moonshine, leave for 7 days, shaking 3 times a day. Do not strain. Rub the tincture on the sore spot from bottom to top 2-3 times a day. The course of treatment is 10 days, break 3 days. The courses are continued until the condition improves. (Source: newspaper “Vestnik ZOZH” 2008, No. 14, p. 28).
  • Treatment of the sciatic nerve at home by fasting.
    A woman suffered from inflammation of the sciatic nerve in her leg. The pain in my leg was terrible. At the hospital, she was prescribed medicines worth 1.5 thousand rubles. She didn’t have any extra money, so she decided to treat sciatica by fasting. I didn’t eat food for 4 days, the pain began to subside, and then completely disappeared. Now she fasts for 36 hours once a week. There were no relapses of the disease. (Source: newspaper “Vestnik ZOZH” 2011, No. 5, p. 4).
  • Pine buds.
    Pour 2 tbsp into a thermos. l. pine buds 500 ml boiling water, leave for 8 hours. Drink 50 ml of infusion, diluting 1:1 with warm water for 20 minutes. before meals, 3-4 times a day. Make warm compresses from the same infusion on sore spots. (Source: newspaper “Vestnik ZOZH” 2011, No. 3, p. 13).
  • Bed made of poplar leaves.
    A woman can save herself from inflammation of the sciatic nerve using poplar leaves; they relieve inflammation and pain well. He sleeps on them at night and often lies down during the day. He lays an old sheet on the bed, scatters leaves on it and sleeps. In the morning the leaves become black and dry, and the pain disappears. (Source: newspaper “Vestnik ZOZH” 2009, No. 19, p. 31).
  • Horseradish compresses.
    A woman managed to cure an inflamed sciatic nerve in this way: she took half a glass of grated horseradish root and potatoes, added 1 tbsp. l. honey and stirred. I laid out the resulting mass in a layer of 1-1.5 cm in gauze folded in half. I lubricated the lower back with vegetable oil, applied a compress, secured it with polyethylene and insulated it. I kept the compress with horseradish for about an hour, it burned very much.
    The woman treated sciatica with horseradish 4 or 5 times every 2-3 days. I forgot about the pain. Source: newspaper “Bulletin of Healthy Lifestyle” 2007, No. 11, p. 30, 2005, No. 17, p. 29, 2000, No. 13, p. 18.
  • "Shitty milk."
    Do not spare 12 liters of milk to get rid of sciatica forever.
    Grind 1 kg of dry or fresh horseradish and mix with 12 liters of milk. Heat the mixture, pour it into a basin and sit in this basin. Sit until the milk cools down. Then pour the milk into jars and put it in the refrigerator. Repeat the procedures every other day, do 6-8 procedures. (Source: newspaper “Vestnik ZOZH” 2005, No. 6, p. 32).
  • When the sciatic nerve is pinched, tincture of golden mustache helps.
    About 30 knees of the “golden mustache” plant are infused in 0.5 liters of vodka for 21 days, shaking. At night you need to rub the sore spots with the tincture. Take the same orally 3 times a day, adding a drop every day. Start with 3 drops and work up to 30 drops. Then back, decreasing one drop at a time.
    You can also treat pinching with cinquefoil - make a tincture and apply it in the same way as a golden mustache. (Source: newspaper “Vestnik ZOZH” 2006, No. 17, p. 31).
  • Treatment of the sciatic nerve with red brick and turpentine.
    A man suffered from a severe cold after swimming in a cold river. A neurologist gave him “informal” advice: heat a red stove brick, wrap it in a blanket and place it under the sore spot. When the brick has cooled, rub in turpentine. The brick helped the man quickly get rid of inflammation of the sciatic nerve. And then he helped his friends too. Source: newspaper “Vestnik ZOZH” 2004, No. 9, p. 24.

Pinched sciatic nerve - symptoms and treatment at home.

The second cause of severe shooting pain in the back is pinching of the sciatic nerve. Let's look at the symptoms of pinching and figure out how to cure it at home.
Advice from a neurologist at the Moscow Medical Complex on Polyanka, Doctor of Medical Sciences Toropin G.G.

What is a pinched sciatic nerve, its symptoms

Pinching (pinching) of the sciatic nerve- this is a pathology that develops as a result of compression of the nerve, while the nerve sheath is not damaged.
Previously, this disease was called lumbar radiculitis or lumbago.

Symptoms of a pinched sciatic nerve.
The main symptom of a pinched sciatic nerve is severe pain in the lower back and legs.
What nerve damage leads to pain?

Causes of neuralgia (pinching) of the sciatic nerve.

In 90% of cases, the cause of neuralgia is compression (pinching) of the nerve roots at their exit from the spinal cord.
The causes of pinching can be different:

  1. Intervertebral hernia - if an intervertebral disc ruptures, a hernia protrudes from it, and a vertebra sag and compresses a nerve, then the pain hits the person, sharp and unbearable. If the disease is not treated, skin sensitivity and muscle strength in the legs are soon lost. In an even more advanced stage, the leg muscles die, the foot sags, ulcers appear on the skin of the legs, and urinary incontinence occurs.
  2. Osteochondrosis. This is the most common cause of pinching of the sciatic nerve; the nerve roots are compressed by bone growths, and since they do not grow quickly, neuralgic pain intensifies gradually. They are not as strong as in the first case.
  3. Incorrectly given injection in the buttock may cause neuralgia. Injections should always be given only in the upper outer quarter of the buttock.

How to treat a pinched sciatic nerve at home?

If you fight only pain and do not try to eliminate the causes that disrupt the functioning of the nerve, then the pinching of the sciatic nerve will go into an advanced stage, which is very difficult to cure.
First of all, you need to find out the cause of neuralgia, To do this, immediately after the first painful attack, consult a doctor. The doctor will order an X-ray of the spine or magnetic resonance imaging. These examinations can detect tumors, osteoporosis, and spinal disc herniations. In the first case, antitumor therapy is prescribed; in the latter, surgery may be indicated.
The operation is prescribed only in the most extreme cases, when the hernia causes severe pain, muscle strength in the legs is impaired, and skin sensitivity disappears. Such spinal decompression surgeries are performed free of charge through small incisions, and complications are rare. The patient begins to walk after 10-14 days.

How to cure a pinched sciatic nerve without surgery.

Tips from the newspaper “Bulletin of Healthy Lifestyle” 2013, No. 19, pp. 12-13.
Here are the top tips for treating a pinched sciatic nerve at home:

  1. Movement and gymnastics. Those who are engaged in sedentary work or work where the body is motionless and tense for a long time, do a warm-up for 5-7 minutes once an hour. Walk with a relaxed gait, stretch, swing your arms, legs, smooth turns left and right, and squats as you walk.
  2. Listen to the pain. If a nerve is pinched, heavy loads are contraindicated. Start working gradually, if pain occurs, rest and relax. The pain that appears will tell you what movements should not be made and what weights should not be lifted.
  3. Warm. The most reliable way to relieve pain when the sciatic nerve is pinched is heat in any form, preferably dry. Heat relieves muscle spasms that cause pain. To make heat work better, it is useful to combine it with a relaxing muscle massage and warming ointments. The irritating effect of the ointment blocks pain signals from the damaged nerve and relieves pain. It is better to combine these three actions (ointment, massage, heat) in a strong rubbing massage of the sciatic areas with irritating ointments and subsequent warming. The sciatic zones are the inner surfaces of the thighs and lower legs, the top of the foot. Massage for pinching should last at least 30 minutes in the morning and at night. After massaging the sciatic nerve, apply bags of hot sand, salt or cereal to the sore spots.
  4. Nerve restoration. It is impossible to cure sciatic neuralgia if you only fight pain. It is necessary to use special means to treat the sciatic nerve itself.
    Treatment of the sciatic nerve is carried out in four directions:
    a) Restore blood microcirculation in the “vascular sheath” of the sciatic nerve. To do this, use the drug trental - 1 tablet 3 times a day in courses of 1 month.
    b) Relieve swelling of the compressed nerve. For this, diuretics are used (furosemide, 1 tablet in the morning)
    c) Relieve inflammation (prednisolone in the form of injections and blockades)
    d) Restore the nervous system with the help of B vitamins (B1, B6, B12)
  5. If damage to the sciatic nerve is a consequence of a severe form of diabetes, alpha-lipoic acid preparations should also be included in the treatment of neuralgia.

Treatment of pinching with folk remedies.

How to quickly and permanently cure pinching at home? Below are reviews of successful treatment from the newspaper “Vestnik ZOZH”.

  • Treatment of pinched sciatic nerve with honey, horseradish and potatoes.
    A woman managed to cure a pinched sciatic nerve with the following folk remedy: she took half a glass of grated horseradish root and potatoes, added 1 tbsp. l. honey and stirred. She folded the gauze into 2 layers, placed the resulting mass there in a layer of 1-1.5 cm. The granddaughter lubricated her back with vegetable oil, applied a compress, on top of it was polyethylene and a heavy pillow. The patient covered herself with a warm blanket and lay there for about an hour. The skin burned very much, it seemed that it would peel off, but the skin only turned red. The woman performed several such procedures, with an interval of 1-2 days. I completely forgot about pain and sciatica.
    Review from the newspaper “Vestnik ZOZH” 2001, No. 10, p. 19.
  • How to cure the sciatic nerve forever at home with fir oil.
    In the evening, the woman made a compress with fir oil, covered the top with a plastic bag and leaned against the hot stove (you can use a heating pad or a bag of heated salt). It stung very much, but she endured it for two hours, after which she removed the compress. The next morning there was a small burn from the fir oil, but the patient forever forgot what sciatic neuralgia was. Those who are afraid of burns can apply vegetable oil to the skin under a compress.

Nerve endings are located throughout our body, extending from the brain and spinal cord, they send important messages throughout the body. When there is pressure (compression) on the nerves, the body sends warning messages in the form of a pain symptom. It is strongly recommended not to ignore such signals.

Location of the sciatic nerve

The sciatic nerve is the largest in the human body; it crosses 5 sections of the spine at once, going down to the leg from the lumbosacral plexus, and is responsible for innervation in the hip joint and knee joint. Where this nerve formation is located and where it passes can be seen in the figure above.

Pain in the sciatic nerve is a fairly common phenomenon, which manifests itself if the nerve roots are pinched where they exit the spine. This happens as a result of osteochondrosis, hernial protrusions, arthritis, various injuries, constant stress on the spinal column and diabetes. Regardless of the cause of the disease, patients have the area and legs.

It is important to know why your lower back hurts! After all, only in 5% of cases the cause of pain is hidden in damage to the sciatic nerve. In most cases, excessive tension and muscle strain are to blame. For a correct diagnosis, you should definitely consult a doctor, who will find out how long the pain has been, whether the nerve has been cold, and will conduct a series of examinations and tests.

Pain syndrome reduces the quality of life, interferes with movement, and in the absence of adequate treatment leads to dire consequences. That is why many people are interested in additional information about this pathology. Where is the sciatic nerve located, what are the causes and symptoms of its pinching? How does this disease progress in a person? How to prevent relapse? Are there any restrictions?

Symptoms

Pain in the area of ​​the sciatic nerve is the most typical manifestation of its pinching. Symptoms of the lesion can be varied, pain in the buttock and along the entire length of the nerve differs in nature (it can be sharp, shooting, pulling, aching, pulsating), also, if the nerve is pinched, numbness in the leg is one of the standard manifestations of the disease.

It is important to know how the disease manifests itself! Symptoms of the disease are felt in the following areas:

  • buttocks;
  • small of the back;
  • hip;
  • shin;
  • toes.

Depending on how the leg or lower back hurts, the doctor diagnoses the disease:

  • the leg hurts, unpleasant sensations go down the back of the thigh to the shin and heels;
  • patients complain that their leg is numb, tingling or burning;
  • symptoms of pain increase when sitting, as well as when coughing, laughing and muscle tension;
  • minimal dulling of pain when taking analgesics.

In addition to pain, compression of the nerve can manifest itself in difficulties during movement, prolonged standing, and chroma develops.

Signs of the disease in men are similar to the symptoms of prostatitis, the buttock hurts on the left, and numbness of the lower leg occurs on the same side.

Signs of the disease in women may be somewhat different, they vary depending on why the nerve is pinched. There is often discomfort in the lower back, the leg and buttock hurt on the right. Infringement of nerve roots during pregnancy is quite common; this is due to an increase in the size of the fetus and its pressure on the walls of internal organs. Most often, such a clamp does not require treatment; the symptoms go away after childbirth.

Sciatica can also occur if the patient has a cold in the area described. Symptoms of a cold nerve are pain concentrated in the lumbosacral region, radiating to the leg.

How to understand that this particular neuralgia has befallen you? Patients experience:

  • muscle atrophy and weakness;
  • sensitivity decreases or, conversely, increases;
  • the skin becomes dry;
  • During the examination, pathological reflexes appear;
  • limited movement of limbs.

Causes of pinched sciatic nerve

Pinching is caused by irritation of the nerve roots of the lower lumbar and lumbosacral spine. The most common causes of infringement:

  • lumbar spinal stenosis (narrowing of the spinal canal in the lower back);
  • degenerative diseases of the vertebral discs, leading to their destruction;
  • spondylolisthesis (a special condition in which the vertebrae begin to slide incorrectly;
  • pregnancy;
  • bruise from a fall;
  • muscle spasm in the lower back or buttocks.

Other causes of pain that aggravate the patient’s condition are excess weight, lack of regular exercise, wearing high-heeled shoes, and a mattress that is too soft.

The sciatic nerve is pinched, what to do?

When your lower back hurts or your leg goes numb, it’s natural that you want to relieve yourself of the discomfort by taking urgent measures. However, when pinched, as in any other case, self-medication is not the answer.

The first thing to do if a nerve is pinched is to consult a doctor, without whose consultation you should not resort to any procedures. A qualified physician will determine the nature of the disease and give certain recommendations to ensure the correctness of treatment. Only an integrated approach will help get rid of discomfort in the short term.

What to do if a nerve is pinched and your lower back hurts (procedure):

  1. lie on your stomach on a flat surface, place your head and shoulders on a pillow, cover your body with a warm blanket;
  2. do not use heating pads, warm compresses and massages;
  3. Urgently contact a therapist or neurologist to receive a prescription for painkillers and physiotherapy.

Treatment of the sciatic nerve

Pinched sciatic nerves are treated with both conservative and surgical methods, depending on the severity of symptoms and progression of the disease. Moreover, doctors usually give preference to non-invasive treatment methods, since with their help they can relieve pain with minimal risks to the patient’s health.

An integrated approach to the treatment of strangulation, involving the combination of drug therapy, therapeutic and preventive measures and adjustment of the regime, allows you to loosen the clamp and get rid of pain.

It is important to know which doctor treats this type of disease! An experienced neurologist will tell you how to relieve pain, help you quickly cure a cold or pinched nerve, and tell you how to treat during an exacerbation.

If the lower back hurts badly, what should the patient do?

In this case, bed rest is recommended; you need to lie on a hard mattress in a fixed position. After you have succeeded in calming the pain and reducing the inflammation a little, you are allowed to stand up and move around using a cane as a support.

It is also customary to treat pinching by adjusting the nutritional system, switching to a healthy and proper menu, enriched with vitamins and nutrients that promote weight loss.

Under no circumstances follow the advice of well-wishers who “know” exactly why a nerve in your leg hurts and is pinched, and how to cure such an ailment. Practice shows that with the best intentions, but due to ignorance of the true situation, you can cause even more harm to your body than in the complete absence of any action at all.

How to treat the sciatic nerve with medication

Medicines for pinched sciatic nerve are divided into several groups:

  • analgesics and anti-inflammatory drugs;
  • immunomodulators;
  • Medicines for the sciatic nerve also include special ointments and gels that help improve blood circulation, relieve swelling and reduce the inflammatory process;
  • B vitamins.

The doctor decides which drugs to treat depending on the individual needs of the patient, the severity of symptoms and the presence of allergic reactions.

Treatment with medications is prescribed in the form of tablets (the choice lies in a wide range from ordinary analgin to opioids) or injections with non-steroidal drugs. Most of these substances have a number of contraindications, so the doctor prescribes what to treat. Narcotics and muscle relaxants are used for severe pain for an extremely short period of time (from a couple of days to several weeks).

Injections for pinched sciatic nerve

In case of significant pain, pinching injections show good results. Steroids effectively relieve inflammation. Injections for pain are placed directly into the affected area located around the nerve.

Steroid injections to treat pinching have a temporary effect (relief occurs for a period of one week to a year). However, they have significant consequences, so the choice of what to inject the patient should remain with a qualified doctor.

Sciatic nerve massage

Is it possible to do massage if the sciatic nerve is pinched?
As with most other diseases of the musculoskeletal system, this type of exposure helps to relax muscles and reduce soreness.

Massage for pinching can be performed even in acute stages of the disease, avoiding sudden movements and strong pressure. Only light stroking and rubbing are allowed, which helps improve blood flow in the damaged area.

How to knead and which area is determined by the specialist based on the cause of the pinching. Massage of the buttocks, lower legs, feet, and back of the thighs is allowed.

Painkillers

To alleviate the patient's condition, non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs are prescribed in the form of tablets and injections. The attending physician determines how to relieve pain in each specific case; Ibuprofen, Piroxicam, Ortofen and others are most often prescribed.

Ointments

Creams and ointments for pinched sciatic nerves help relieve muscle spasms and reduce inflammation.
Homeopathic ointments for the treatment of this disease and alleviation of its symptoms, Traumeel S and Zel T, are successful.

Products with a warming-irritant effect are also used. The name of the ointment is Finalgon, Nicoflex and others.

Sciatic nerve block

Drug blockade for pinching is used only in complex cases when traditional therapy methods are not effective. The following drugs are used to relieve pain with medication:

  • novocaine;
  • lidocaine;
  • diclofenac;

The technique for performing this procedure involves injecting the drug into a specific point directly above the nerve. When giving consent to a blockade, you should be confident in the skill of the specialist, as there is a risk of nerve damage.

Manual therapy

Manual adjustment of the position of the spine (manual therapy) is performed by a specially trained specialist and helps reduce pain. However, the choice of a chiropractor should be approached with maximum responsibility and procedures should be performed only on a massage table.

Surgery for pinched sciatic nerve

Surgery on the sciatic nerve is prescribed only in emergency cases, with progressive weakness in the legs, loss of bowel and bladder control.

Exercise therapy for pinched sciatic nerve

A specially designed set of exercises allows you to develop the affected area. Initial attention is paid to the fingers and feet, and after the pain has decreased, gymnastic exercises are supplemented with tasks for other muscle groups.

Acupuncture

Hair-thin needles are inserted into specific points on the body located near the affected area. Usually the effect is painless and shows good results.

Swimming

Exercises in the pool under the supervision of an experienced instructor help you return to your normal pace of life and eliminate the consequences of pinching.

Kuznetsov applicator

This device is an effective measure for treating a pinched sciatic nerve at home. It is commercially available and shows impressive results.

Droppers

To increase the rate at which medications enter the bloodstream, they can be administered in the form of an intravenous drip. This is how B vitamins or painkillers are administered.

Yoga

Electrophoresis

A course of electrophoresis with no-shpa is often prescribed as a physiotherapeutic procedure for the described disease. Allows you to quickly get rid of unpleasant symptoms.

Physiotherapy

The list of possible procedures is quite large, in addition to those already mentioned - UHF, paraffin baths, magnetic therapy and others.

Treatment of the sciatic nerve with leeches

To avoid complications, it is strictly not recommended to perform this procedure yourself. With a qualified approach, it helps to establish blood supply in the affected area and relieve swelling and inflammation.

Folk remedies for treating sciatic nerve

Treating strangulation with folk remedies is a fairly common practice. However, it is worth approaching this process wisely and combining traditional medicine methods with traditional therapy.

Popular folk methods:

  • treatment with apple cider vinegar and honey (a compress of a glass of honey and a tablespoon of vinegar);
  • a heated honey-alcohol mixture (300g per 50 ml) is rubbed in during massage;
  • crushed burdock root for the sciatic nerve, mixed with a glass of Cahors, heated, strained and drunk in two doses;
  • bathroom with pine shoots.

The listed methods and any other methods are used only after consultation with a doctor.

Treatment at home

Most often, pinching treatment is carried out on an outpatient basis (at home).

After the examination, the doctor makes a diagnosis, thinks through how to treat the patient in each specific case, prescribes a course of medications, most often non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs in the form of tablets and injections, as well as analgesics if necessary. Usually the patient is told how to calm the pinched nerve and heal himself as quickly as possible at home.

Naturally, treatment of pinching with the help of massage, acupuncture, acupuncture and a number of physiotherapy procedures should be carried out in rooms specially designed for this, but you can help yourself in some ways on your own.

Treating the nerve at home can be done by taking warm sitz baths to relieve acute pain, aromatherapy, and performing prescribed physical exercises. All this will help in unblocking the nerve root compressed by spasm and speed up your recovery.

You can find out more about how to treat a nerve in your leg from your neurologist.

Sciatic nerve restoration

The duration of the recovery period after pinching depends on the timeliness of contacting a doctor. Therefore, you should not ignore alarming symptoms, self-medicate, or use dubious methods.

After the symptoms disappear, to avoid relapses, it is recommended to control your weight, sleep with orthopedic massage, perform morning exercises and resort to regular physical activity.

How to sleep with a pinched sciatic nerve

In the acute stage of the disease, you should limit your own activity, adhere to bed rest for several days, doctors recommend sleeping exclusively on your stomach, on a hard mattress. In this case, the head and shoulders should be located on the pillow.

Consequences and limitations

In the absence of adequate treatment for this neuralgia, the patient’s quality of life and his ability to care for himself are significantly reduced. Constant severe pain when pinched affects the emotional state, leading to depression and insomnia. Also, such a disease is dangerous due to possible damage to internal organs and curvature of the spine.

Patients are often interested in whether it is possible to heat the sciatic nerve. The answer to this question depends on the specifics of the disease. In some cases, dry heat is indicated; in some cases, it is recommended to replace it with cold heating pads. Therefore, to obtain personal recommendations, you should contact a qualified specialist.

Follow all the neurologist’s prescriptions, wisely combining methods of traditional and traditional medicine, physiotherapeutic procedures and reasonable stress, then a positive result will not be long in coming.