What You Should Be Doing For Your Sciatica and Back Pain

Getting effective medical treatment is a very important part of finding relief from sciatica and back pain. Equally important is doing everything you can at home to keep your symptoms under control. With doctor-prescribed treatments and self-care methods, many patients are able to find relief from pain without invasive or lengthy treatments.

Exercising

Exercising and stretching are very important to treating sciatica and back pain. Exercising is important because it can strengthen the back, taking off pressure that can contribute to pain; it also reduces inflammation. Stretching is important for sciatica because it can reduce tension in the piriformis muscle and lower back, which can pinch the sciatic nerve.

You should never start an exercise or stretching program designed to treat a health condition without consulting a doctor. The best set of exercises will depend on what the exact cause of your symptoms.

Eating Well

Eating a healthy diet can help reduce symptoms as well. Fruits and vegetables rich in antioxidants enhance the body's ability to heal and fight illness. Minimizing inflammatory substances like simple carbohydrates can be helpful. Eating well gives you more energy to exercise and keep active even with your symptoms, and will assist you in reaching or maintaining a healthy weight.

Reaching a Healthy Weight

If you are obese, losing as little as 10% of your body weight can help reduce your symptoms of back pain and sciatica. Carrying excess weight places excess weight on the spine, which can exacerbate symptoms. Weight loss will also prevent the development of other spine and orthopedic conditions in the future.

Seeing a Doctor

Lifestyle changes are important, but they're no substitute for the advice of a physician who knows your situation. Your doctor will be able to diagnose the exact cause of your condition and determine which treatments might be most effective for you. This ensures that you'll get relief, and your condition will not worsen due to a lack of appropriate medical care.

To schedule a consultation about treatment for your back pain, please click below and enter your information or call the Datta Endoscopic Back Surgery and Pain Center at (646) 374-1799.