As the longest nerve in the body, the sciatic nerve has the potential to cause significant discomfort and pain. If you’re like most who suffer from this condition, you probably have a lot of questions about sciatic nerve treatment, including the following:
How do I Get My Sciatic Nerve to Stop Hurting?
Relief from sciatica pain typically involves a multilayered approach customized to the individual needs and preferences of each patient. Regular, gentle exercise that stretches and strengthens the back muscles and core muscles is a key component of managing sciatic pain. In addition, maintaining proper posture while standing and sitting, sleeping on a supportive mattress, and avoiding long periods of inactivity can help keep your pain at bay.
However, many people find more in-depth treatments necessary to manage sciatic nerve pain. Nonsurgical sciatic nerve treatment methods include the following:
Injection-based Treatments
Injection-based therapy is a common method for providing patients suffering from sciatic nerve pain with the relief they need to regain their mobility and return to their routine with less pain. These may include epidural steroid injections, interscalene and intercostal blocks, lumbar and cervical injections, lumbar sympathetic blocks, sacroiliac joint injections, and trigger point injections. These injections are often a starting point for beginning a customized rehabilitative exercise program.
Physical Therapy/Rehabilitative Exercise
Low-impact aerobic exercises such as swimming, yoga, and walking increase the brain’s production of endorphins, which act as natural painkillers as well as promote good circulation, reducing inflammation around the sciatic nerve.
Responsible Pain Medication Management
Responsible pain medication management can act as a temporary solution that provides short-term relief from sciatic nerve pain, thereby allowing patients to participate in beneficial physical therapy and exercises to address the root cause of the problem.
Minimally Invasive Procedures
When conservative approaches don’t result in sufficient relief, minimally invasive procedures may be used. Designed to cause less damage to the body than their surgical counterparts, these procedures also offer shorter recovery times and less post-procedure discomfort. Common minimally invasive procedures include the following:
- Radiofrequency ablation
- Spinal cord stimulator implantation
- Kyphoplasty
- Disc decompression
All of the treatment options listed above can be augmented with the use of back braces to provide spinal support, promote proper posture, and aid in pain management when engaging in activities that might otherwise strain the sciatic nerve.
How Long Does it Take for Sciatica to Go Away?
Although there is no one-size-fits-all answer for how long it takes for sciatic nerve pain to subside, most people experience relief after a few weeks to a few months of consistent targeted treatment.
Contact MAPS Today for More Information
Chicagoland residents have been depending on MAPS Centers for Pain Control for state-of-the-art pain management for years. Our physicians hold double-board certifications in pain management and anesthesiology that bring a whole new level of compassionate care, unmatched by any other pain specialist in the Chicago Metro Area.
Contact MAPS today to schedule an appointment for treatment for herniated disc and sciatica or call (773) 917-8400.
