Irritation and compression of the nerve cause sciatica pain. It mainly disturbs only a single part of the body but tends to transfer to other parts of the body over a period of time. This pain normally spreads from the lower back to the rear thigh and further extends down the leg.

Major symptoms of sciatica pain include; burning, shooting pain, numbness, tingling down the legs, and weakness in the affected leg that causes difficulty in sitting down or standing up.

No doubt, there are many conventional sciatica nerve treatment methods available right now, but they only ease the pain for a limited time. Apart from this, steroid injections are also available for sciatica nerve treatment but can cause adverse effects as well.

Today, we are going to discuss some home remedies and natural therapies with you, through which you can reduce the inflammation and pressure on the disturbed sciatic nerve. The top home remedies forsciatica nerve treatment are discussed here as under:

1. Hot and cold compresses: Using the hot and cold pack can provide some relief from severe pain and irritation. The process to use this pack is:

• Place the hot then cold pack on the affected area for 20 minutes.
• Repeat the same process after every one hour until you feel some relief from the pain.

1. Turmeric: This is another natural and effective remedy forsciatica nerve treatment because turmeric has anti-inflammatory properties, which help in getting relief from the pain. The compound called curcumin contained in turmeric helps relieve pain and inflammation.

• Add a teaspoon of turmeric powder to a hot cup of milk. Boil it properly and drink it twice a day until you notice an improvement. If needed, you can add honey to sweeten the milk.
• Another alternative is to have 250 to 450mg of turmeric supplement three times a day, but you must consult a doctor before starting taking it.

1. Capsaicin cream: This cream contains a pain reliever called capsaicin, which helps in depleting the level of a substance called P that transfers the pain signal. Buy the cream from the market containing 0.025% to 0.075% capsaicin. Apply it to the afflicted area four times a day for at least one week.
2. White willow bark: This home remedy is used to get relief from long-lasting pain. The White yellow bark contains glycosides with salicin that contributes to anti-inflammatory and analgesic properties. Take the dosage as prescribed by the doctor.
3. Fenugreek seeds: For sciatica nerve pain, a powder prepared from the fenugreek seeds also acts as a great pain reliever. This powder is also helpful to get relieved from pains like gout and rheumatoid arthritis.

• Grind a small quantity of Fenugreek seeds.
• Mix it with enough milk so as to get a soft paste.
• Apply the paste to the affected area and leave it for more than two hours.
• Wash it off.
• Repeat the same process daily until you see some signs of improvement in pain.

1. Massage: This also comes under sciatica nerve treatment. Massage helps in mitigating the pain caused due to muscle contraction. Moreover, it helps in releasing the tension and encourages circulation inside the nerves. You can visit a massage parlor for taking a massage or buy the best massage chair consumer reports to enjoy massage in the comfort of your home.

Sciatica is the pain which is related with the area of hip and buttocks and even it continues all the way down the leg. The condition of sciatica pain is often accompanied by the problem of low back pain which may be more or less painful than the leg pain. In this condition of sciatica, the cause of the pain is the sciatica nerve which travels from the lower back through the buttocks and into the leg. In the condition of true sciatica, herniated lumbar disc compresses one of the contributing roots of the sciatic nerve. This type of lower back pain is not similar to the other causes and condition which results in back pain. Some of the activities like sports, recreational and heavy labor can result into back and leg pain and usually it is misdiagnosed as sciatica.Some of the most common symptom of true sciatica is posterior thigh, foot pain or lower leg. Sometimes this condition and symptoms may be much worse than accompanying lower back pain. In this condition, usually a patient will experience moderate to severe pain, which starts from buttocks and runs down through the leg or foot. In the condition of true sciatica, the pain is produced and radiates beyond the knee. If the patient is suffering from the problem of leg pain and if he or she has a previous history of lower back pain then in this condition the leg pain becomes worse than the back pain and in some cases it will even disappear completely.In the condition of long standing history of sciatica, gradually the pain becomes localized to the buttocks and back of the leg. In this condition the patient may suffer from vague aching pain. No specific condition, event or specific motion is associated with the cause of sciatica. Some postures like sitting, standing, sneezing, heavy lifting or even the bowel movement can aggravate the pain. Usually the most comfortable position in this condition is lying down. Some of its rare symptoms are paresthesias, weakness and diminished bowel or bladder function which may accompany the problem of sciatica.Usually many patients recover from the problem of sciatica spontaneously but some people are in urgent need of medical help. Those people have to offer a course of conservative treatment which includes a long period of rest and also the limitation to certain activities which is accompanied by anti-inflammatory medications. Physical therapy, some exercises and surgery are some other option to recover from this disorder.

What is Sciatica?

Sciaticais a common type of pain affecting the sciatic nerve extending from the lower back through hips, buttocks and down each leg. It typically affects only one leg at a time. It occurs commonly when there is any herniated vertebral disc, any bone spur on the vertebral column or there is the narrowing of the spine.

Causes of Sciatica

Sciatica occurs when the sciatic nerve is pinched usually by the herniated disc or bone spur on the vertebral column. In rare cases, it is seen that the nerve is compressed because of tumors or in diseases like diabetes it is seen more commonly.

There are certain risk factors for sciatica as follows-

• Age – Age-related issues as a herniated spine or bone spur are the most common causes.
• Obesity –Excess body weight can contribute to the stress on the spine which can trigger sciatica.
• Diabetes – in this condition due to nerve damage changes seen commonly, sciatica is seen more frequently.
• Occupation – Occupations which include carrying heavy loads drive a vehicle for a longer period are seen to have chances of getting sciatic pain.
• Prolonged sitting – People who have a sedentary lifestyle or who sit for a longer period are commonly seen affected by sciatica.
• Muscle spasms in the back.
• Pregnancy
• Spondylolisthesis.

Symptoms of Sciatica

Common symptoms of sciatica include –

• Lower back pain
• Hip pain
• Constant pain on one side of the leg.
• Pain is unbearable making one difficult to stand.
• Tingling pain down the leg.

The Hallmark sign of Sciatica is the pain radiates from your lower spine to your buttock and down the leg. There is discomfort along the nerve pathway.

This pain can vary from a sharp cutting pain to mild pain. It also feels like an electric shock sometimes. Sitting for a prolonged period can aggravate the symptom.

Some of the people have numbness, tingling, or muscle weakness in the affected leg.

Diagnosis for Sciatica

Personal checkups during the routine examination may reveal the condition. There are few imaging tests to confirm the diagnosis as –

• Xray – Xray of the spine is can reveal the bone spur.
• MRI – MRI spine helps to find out the details images of the spine and soft tissues surrounding helping to diagnose the case.
• CT Scan – it is used to do diagnose the case finally.
• EMG (Electromyography) – this test measures the electric impulse produced by nerves and the responses of your muscles.

Conventional Treatment of Sciatica

There are various conventional methods for the treatment of sciatica like as –

• Physiotherapy – it includes exercises to correct the posture, strengthen the muscles supporting the back improving the flexibility.
• Medications – The types of drugs in sciatica are anti-inflammatory, muscle relaxants, narcotics, etc.
• Steroidal Injection is also suggested in some cases where the nerve root is also involved.
• Surgery – it is the option usually reserved for patients when the compressed nerve causes prominent symptoms like loss of bowel or bladder control, or the pain do not subside though taking pain killers. Surgery can remove those bone spurs or the portion of the herniated disk that is pressurizing on the nerve.

Homeopathic remedies for Sciatica

Homeopathy does not treat a symptom but considers the unique set of symptoms as a whole to address the root cause of the problem. The Homeopathic remedies for sciatica are believed to enhance the structure and functions of the nerves. Homeopathic remedies for Sciatica are –

• Hypericum –Studies suggest that this homeopathic remedy may reduce spasms in the lower lumbar region. [Source:]
• Aconitum Napellus – Studies suggest that this homeopathic remedy may possess anti-inflammatory properties. [Source:]
• Colocynthis – Studies suggest that this Homeopathic remedy may relieve the pain caused due to pressure on the nerve ending. [Source:]

Preventive measure for sciatica

Some types of Sciatica like associated with pregnancy, degenerative disk disease, cannot be prevented. In some cases, it is possible to prevent to an extent by taking certain measures like

• Maintaining good posture.
• Quitting smoking.
• Maintaining a healthy body weight.
• Regular exercises like yogasanas, breathing exercises.
• Keeping safe from fall.

Ayurvedic Diet Suggested

Recommended foods are –

• Brown rice, whole wheat, green gram (moong), horse gram(kulatha), sesame(til), Louki(white guard), ginger, garlic, milk, and dairy products.
• An adequate amount of potassium is also essential for managing Sciatica as it provides toughness to the muscles and helps in neuro-transmission. Potassium-rich foods are green leafy vegetables, avocados, white beans, potatoes, mushrooms, banana, Salmon fish.
• Chicken, meat, and eggs should be consumed moderately as they cause constipation.

Foods to be avoided are –

• Green peas, karela(bitter gourd), Frozen meat, fermented foods, cold drinks, cold water too.

Ayurvedic dietary tips

• Take 5-6 pieces each of garlic and clove in a 10 ml sesame oil, heat on low flame for 5 minutes, allow to cool a bit and then apply it on your back with a gentle massage every day at bedtime. This remedy offers excellent relief from back pain, stiffness, and lumbago.
• Freshly prepared ginger and lemon juice with black salt is good to relieve backache.

Home care for Sciatica

Self-care at home is necessary to manage the pain factor in sciatica. Stretching or activities that place additional strain on the back must be avoided.

Sleeping one-sided with a pillow taking in between the knees is seen as comfortable in many cases.

Heat and ice therapy alternating can provide instant relief of sciatic nerve pain. Ice pack helps to reduce the inflammation, while heat increases the blood flow to the painful areas giving some relief. Apply an ice pack to the painful area for 15 minutes once every hour and then apply heat for 15 minutes every 2 to 3 hours.

Proper body posture is found essential in helping to relieve the pain many times. Varying the posture after every 15 to 20 minutes is also beneficial.