Sciatica relief checklist Part 2: Corrective actions and treatments


Back pain, Buttock pain, Chronic pain, Healing, Leg pain, Low back pain, Neuromuscular therapy, Pain relief, Sciatic pain, Understanding pain / Tuesday, June 22nd, 2010

When sciatica type symptoms get the better of you and nothing you do seems to make it better, here is a guide, a checklist for suggested corrective actions and treatments. (Synthesized from my 19 years as a Neuromuscular Therapist in the Boston area and from the medical text by  Drs.Travell and Simons, Myofacial Pain and Dysfunction: The Trigger Point Manual, Vols I and II.)

6) Keep moving to keep the muscles limber and the blood and lymph flowing. Prolonged tension or inactivity can produce pain. Tai Chi is a gentle movement therapy to explore. I love the phrase “Rest is Rust.”
7) Keep hydrated. Water is essential to healthy muscles and joints. Every process in your body requires water.
8) Check for systemic conditions, vitamin and mineral inadequacies, food sensitivities, allergies, anemia, infections and parasites, yeast infections, toxic blood conditions, thyroid hypoactivity, circulatory disorders, acidic pH level. Limit intake of carbohydrates and other muscle stimulants like caffeine.
9) Have Trigger Point injections when appropriate (see a physiatrist usually, also medical pain specialists, neurologists and anethesiologists) Dry needling is a good option that doesn’t use an anesthetic.
10) Nerve blocks, radiofrequency treatments, facet blocks etc. can be performed in out-patient pain clinics.
11) Make physical changes in posture, repetitive tasks involving affected muscles, sleeping position, irritating activities. Alexander Technique and Feldenkreis are two reliable corrective therapies.