The sciatic nerve shoots what to do. Sciatic nerve entrapment: disease or symptom. Sanitary spa treatment and mud therapy

Pinched sciatic nerve is a pathological manifestation that occurs when the largest nerve in the human body, located in the musculoskeletal tunnel, is compressed and manifests itself in severe pain in the leg.

Usually the pathology develops on one side.

Men who engage in heavy physical activity are at risk of developing the disease. Most often, pinched sciatic nerves appear at the age of 30.

The pathology can be completely eliminated if you promptly consult a neurologist for diagnosis and proper treatment, as well as if you follow all the instructions and recommendations of a specialist.

Causes of the disease

Factors influencing the occurrence of sciatic nerve pinching are:

  • Osteochondrosis of the lumbar region. In this case, the nerve is compressed between the displaced vertebrae.
  • Intervertebral hernia in the lumbar region.
  • Spinal injuries characterized by displacement of the vertebrae - subluxations, dislocations and fracture-dislocations.
  • Pregnancy, especially in the 3rd semester.
  • Muscle inflammation.
  • Significant and frequent physical activity.
  • Abscesses of peri-rectal tissue, localized in the lumbar region.
  • Spinal tumors.
  • Spondylosis of the lumbosacral region.
  • Degenerative spondylolithesis.

Reasons that increase the likelihood of developing a pinched nerve include:

Symptoms of pathology

The main manifestation of a pinched sciatic nerve is severe pain in the buttock and leg.

Painful sensations have the following characteristics:

  • cutting, burning and stabbing;
  • the pain reaches such intensity that a person may lose consciousness;
  • the condition improves when taking a lying position;
  • an attack often occurs at night after heavy physical work or hypothermia, as well as a combination of both negative factors;
  • pain increases with coughing, sneezing and laughing;
  • in a standing position, a person cannot lean on the sore leg;
  • there is increased pain when standing, walking and sitting on a hard surface;
  • the symptom first appears in the area of ​​the back of the thigh, then in the area of ​​the lower leg and leg;
  • When the attack subsides, residual pain remains in the lower back.

In addition to pain when the sciatic nerve is pinched, there is excessive sweating of the feet, gait disturbances, weakness of the muscles in the affected area, inability to bend the leg at the knee or difficulty in performing this action, burning and tingling in the foot and lower leg, disturbances in turning the foot and bending the toes.

Diagnosis of the disease

First of all, the specialist will interview the patient to identify complaints characteristic of the pathology and carry out a qualified examination, during which a decrease in sensitivity on the affected side and changes in tendon reflexes are noted.

To determine the cause of a pinched sciatic nerve, the doctor prescribes the following diagnostic tests:

  • Computed tomography - allows you to see minimal changes in the spinal column.
  • X-ray of the spine - examinations can detect gross bone pathologies.
  • Ultrasound examination of the pelvic organs.
  • Magnetic resonance imaging.
  • Radioisotope scanning of the spine allows you to diagnose a tumor.

It is important to start proper treatment on time to avoid the development of unpleasant complications: spontaneous defecation, urinary incontinence, significant increase in pain, distorted posture, loss of sensitivity or complete limitation of limb mobility, necrosis of nerve roots.

A long-term absence of medical care from a neurologist and neuropathologist can cause disability.

Treatment of pathology

There are two main directions of treatment - conservative and surgical.

In case of exacerbation, the patient is recommended to rest in bed., the bed must have a hard mattress. It is necessary to limit physical activity and perform hygiene procedures only with outside support. As the condition improves, it is allowed to expand the regimen, but be sure to use a cane.

Special diet important during periods of exacerbation, when a person is on bed rest. It is recommended to exclude smoked, fried and spicy foods from your daily diet. Dishes must be warm. To avoid constipation, you should include liquid foods in your diet - meat, dairy and vegetable soups, porridge with milk.

Among the medications prescribed are the following drugs:

  • Non-steroidal drugs against inflammation - Ibuprofen, Ortofen, Dexalgin, Denebol, Ketanov. At the initial stage of therapy, drugs are administered intramuscularly, then it is possible to use drugs in the form of tablets.
  • Ointments and gels – Voltaren, Finalgon, Diclofenac.
  • Means for protecting the gastric mucosa - Kvamatel, Ranitidine, Rabeprozole in combination with Phosphalugel, Almagel, Maalox.
  • Preparations for relieving back muscle spasms - Sirdalud, Mykodalm.
  • B vitamins to normalize the interaction of tissues with the affected nerve - Neurorubin, Milgamma.
  • For unbearable pain, novocaine blockades are used.

On the second day after the onset of the disease, special therapeutic exercises, representing the movements of the foot and fingers. Further, during therapy, the patient is selected an individual gymnastic complex in accordance with the causes of pinching of the sciatic nerve.

Exercise therapy may include the following exercises:

  • bending the legs at the knees;
  • "bike";
  • lying with your legs raised at an angle of 90 degrees with your buttocks resting on a hard surface;
  • hip rotations and others.

Has a positive effect on the patient's condition physiotherapeutic effects, including the following procedures:

  • electrophoresis with Mydocalm, No-shpa, Novocaine.
  • magnetic therapy;
  • paraffin applications;
  • phonophoresis;
  • magnetic laser therapy.

After a period of exacerbation Sanatorium-resort treatment has a positive effect on the condition, allowing for complete recovery and eliminating the risk of relapse of the disease.

In severe and advanced cases, surgical treatment of the disease is used– laminectomy, microdiscectomy, laser puncture discectomy, radiofrequency thermal annuloplasty, facetectomy and percutaneous automated discectomy.

ethnoscience

In folk medicine, there are many recipes that help alleviate the patient’s condition, which are not refuted by medical professionals. But before using any product based on natural ingredients, you should definitely consult with your doctor.

The most effective folk recipes include the following:

  • 200 ml of vodka should be infused for 3 days at a cool temperature of 18-20 bay leaves medium size. It is recommended to rub the resulting healing mixture into the sacral area. The positive effect is noticeable after 4-5 procedures.
  • To prepare a medicinal product, you need to form a cake of 200 grams flour and 1 tablespoon honey. The resulting mass is applied to the sacrum area before a night's rest, covered with cellophane and insulated with thick woolen fabric. The reduction in pain is noticeable in the morning.
  • You can rub the affected areas infusion of spruce or pine buds, pine needles or dandelions. To prepare the product, medicinal components are placed in a 0.5 liter jar and filled with vodka. Next, the product should be infused in a dark place for 1 week.
  • K carefully crushed hop cones add 1 tablespoon butter or lard. The ingredients are mixed well and the product is rubbed into the area of ​​the pinched sciatic nerve.
  • 5 liters of water are combined with 1 kg oak and spruce bark, the resulting mass is boiled for about 30 minutes, filtered and added to the water prepared for taking a bath. The overall water temperature should be a maximum of 37 degrees.
  • Dissolve 1 teaspoon in 1 glass of boiled water lingonberry leaves. It is recommended to use the product 0.5 cups orally 3 times throughout the day.
  • The following has a calming and analgesic effect healing collection: blackberry leaves, oregano herb, thyme fruits and are combined in a ratio of 2:5:3:3, ground into a fine powder and used to brew medicinal tea that can be drunk throughout the day.

For maximum safety and effectiveness of folk remedies, it is recommended to strictly follow the rules for preparing and using recipes.

Disease prevention

To prevent pinching of the sciatic nerve, it is recommended to follow simple measures to prevent pathology:

  • Eliminate vertebral diseases in a timely manner.
  • Carry out preventive examinations of the spine - computed tomography or x-rays.
  • Get rid of extra pounds and try to maintain a normal weight.
  • Don't wear high heels or platform shoes too often.
  • It is useful to conduct general massage courses.
  • Do not lift weights suddenly.
  • Take regular walks outdoors.
  • It is recommended to sleep on a hard surface.
  • Do morning exercises regularly.
  • Maintain proper posture.
  • Do not sit on excessively low or soft chairs.
  • Avoid hypothermia.
  • To strengthen and stretch your back muscles, it is useful to do yoga or swimming.


If you notice the first alarming signs of the disease, you should consult a doctor as soon as possible
to carry out diagnostics and prescribe competent treatment, including traditional and folk effective methods of eliminating pathology.

Only with timely assistance will the patient be able to avoid surgical intervention, quickly return to their previous lifestyle without pain and avoid deterioration of the condition.

Also watch a useful video on the topic of the article:

The sciatic nerve is considered the largest in size in the human body. It begins in the lumbar spine and travels down the leg, dividing into smaller nerves. Sciatic neuralgia causes severe pain in the legs and lower back.

A pinched sciatic nerve, or sciatica, is severe back pain, usually in the lower back, that can radiate down the leg, in some cases into both, extending behind the knee and even down to the foot. In this case, there may be a violation of sensitivity and numbness of the areas along which the sciatic nerve passes, muscle weakness, up to complete loss of performance. Almost everyone is familiar with this disease, which used to be called lumbar radiculitis or lumbago.

Diseases of the sciatic nerve create discomfort and pain in both the lower back and any part of the leg. One of these diseases is sciatica. Those suffering from this disease are often in no hurry to see a doctor, preferring to endure the pain until sciatica disrupts their normal lifestyle. That's why it's so common among people treatment of the sciatic nerve with folk remedies at home.

Sciatic nerve begins in the lumbosacral spine at five different levels of the spinal cord, travels along the buttock, and divides into smaller nerves that pass into the hip, knee, lower leg, foot and fingers. Pinching of the sciatic nerve and its inflammation is called sciatica. Another name for the disease is sciatic neuralgia. It should be remembered that inflammation of the sciatic nerve does not in itself represent the presence of a separate ailment, but is a consequence of the manifestation of a certain pathology or disease, the treatment of which will make it possible to get rid of sciatica.

Causes of inflammation of the sciatic nerve


In approximately 90% of cases, this is compression of the nerve roots at the exit from the spinal cord. There may be several reasons for pinching. If an intervertebral disc ruptures, a hernia protrudes from it, the vertebrae sag and compress the nerve, then unbearable pain literally falls on the person. Sensation in the legs is lost, muscle strength in the legs weakens. If the disease is not treated, then the person will experience muscle atrophy, sagging feet, and impaired urination.

Mostly sciatica develops as a complication osteochondrosis(dystrophic change in the intervertebral discs, which occurs due to uneven load and due to disruption of metabolic processes in the disc tissues). The second common cause of the disease is intervertebral hernia.

But more often sciatic nerve compressed by bone growths in osteochondrosis. In this case, compression occurs gradually, and the pain comes on slowly.

The sciatic nerve can also be damaged by incorrectly placed injections. In any case, you should fight not only the pain, but also the causes that cause the pain. If the disease reaches an advanced stage, then sciatic nerve neuritis is guaranteed and it will be much more difficult and longer to treat.

The sciatic nerve gets pinched for many reasons, including

  • displacement of intervertebral discs;
  • narrowing of the spinal canal;
  • complicated osteochondrosis;
  • inflammatory processes;
  • past infectious diseases;
  • the presence of malignant tumors;
  • hypothermia;
  • overexertion, physical activity or injury leading to damage to the pelvic organs or muscular system.

Symptoms of sciatic neuralgia

The main manifestations are constant pain in the back and the back of the leg, burning and tingling in the lower leg, limited mobility and weakness of the lower limb.

Depending on the stage of development and the causes of sciatica, the symptoms of this disease may vary. Sometimes the pain may only appear in the lower back. Very often, the disease makes itself felt with pain throughout the entire leg, starting from the lumbar spine and down to the toes. There are cases when the patient complains only of discomfort in the knee. However, in each case the manifestations of pain may be different. The patient may have a burning, stabbing, “shooting” sensation in the back, and a feeling of numbness may appear.

Most often, sciatica affects one lower limb. But sometimes there are cases when pain manifests itself simultaneously in both legs.

Pinched sciatic nerve

To begin treatment, it is necessary to find out the cause of the pinched nerve. You should consult a doctor and get an X-ray of the spine or magnetic resonance imaging. If no intervertebral hernia or destruction of the vertebrae is detected, then the sciatic nerve can be cured with folk remedies.


It is a simple and effective way to cure neuralgia without resorting to medication. By using time-tested traditional medicine recipes in the treatment of the sciatic nerve, you can quickly achieve excellent results.
How to treat sciatic nerve

Before the start of leIn this case, you need to use exercises for the sciatic nerve:

1. For those who spend a lot of time in a sitting position, you should walk with a “relaxed gait” once an hour for 5 minutes. While walking, you should make smooth body movements to the sides, stretching with your arms, lifting your hips, if there is no pain, then do a few squats.

2. If the sciatic nerve is inflamed, heavy physical activity is strictly contraindicated. Listen to your pain. They will tell you prohibited movements and the volume of weights to lift.

3. The surest way to get rid of pain in the sciatic nerve is heat in any form. The heat will relieve muscle spasms that cause pain. Also, a relaxing massage and reflex therapy, using strong irritants, should be added to the heat.

Treatment of this pathology lasts a long time and includes taking medications, heating, rubbing and massages. Using unconventional methods to combat sciatica gives positive results and leads to a fairly quick recovery.


To treat the sciatic nerve, you need to apply a warm compress. Grind fresh horseradish root in a meat grinder, add the same amount of grated raw potatoes and 1 tablespoon of honey. Mix everything thoroughly and place the mixture on gauze folded in half. Then smear the lower back with vegetable oil and put gauze with the resulting mass. On top there is polyethylene, a heavy pillow and a blanket. During treatment you can neither walk nor sit - lie down for an hour. The burning sensation will be such that it will seem like you have a burn there. In fact, the skin will turn slightly red. Such procedures should be done every other day.

Also, folk remedies for treating the sciatic nerve at home include compress with fir oil. Soak the cloth in oil and apply it to your lower back, or simply rub it into the skin, place cellophane on top, and then a heating pad. The burning sensation will also be very strong. To avoid burns, you should smear your lower back with vegetable oil. Keep the compress for 1 - 2 hours.

Agave remedy- cut a fresh leaf of the plant lengthwise and lubricate the sore spot with it in the direction of the affected nerve. You need to rub the affected area in the morning and evening. It is very important to use a leaf that is not too young (it has a weak effect) and not too old (it can burn the skin). Over time, you can cut the leaf into small pieces and apply it daily for several hours.

Healing ointment- Crush and grind the iris root in a meat grinder. Mix 3 tbsp. l. chopped root and a glass of vegetable oil. Rub the product into the area of ​​pain twice a day.

Mumiyo- has been widely used for the treatment of sciatica since ancient times. For manual therapy, preparing the remedy, you need to mix 2 g of mumiyo with 1 tsp. purified sulfur powder. Rub the mixture with a small amount of warm water until dry immediately after taking a bath. Rub in daily. You can also take 0.1 g mummy half an hour before breakfast and before bed for 5 days. Carry out several courses of treatment until complete recovery.


Decoction of aspen leaves- cook 1 tbsp. l. green leaves in a glass of water. After 30 minutes of boiling, turn off. Drink 30 ml decoction every 4 hours. It is good to use the product in the form of hot compresses.

Compresses- knead the dough from rye flour. When the dough becomes sour, apply a thick layer of dough to a gauze folded into several balls and place it on the sore spot. Apply the compress overnight for about 10 days.

Treatment with leeches- it is recommended to place them as follows - place the first leech 3 cm below the popliteal fossa, after 3 cm place the second and after the same amount, place the third. Do the same on the second leg.

Therapeutic baths- pour boiling water over the pine shoots in a ratio of 1:3 and cook over low heat. Turn off after a few minutes of boiling. Strain the finished infusion and use it to prepare a bath in a ratio of 1:15. The water temperature should be 34−35 °C. The duration of the procedure is about 15 minutes.

Grate black radish weighing approximately 300 g on a fine grater and mix with 0.5 cups of honey. Soak in the bathhouse until exhausted and place the resulting mixture on the lower back and sore leg along the movement of the inflamed nerve for 5 to 10 minutes. Then rinse with water and immediately go to bed and sweat thoroughly. Usually one procedure is enough to be healthy.

Infuse a glass of potato sprouts with half a liter of vodka for 2 weeks in a dry and dark place, shaking from time to time. Rub it into the sore spot, then wrap it with something warm on top.

Prepared from a bottle of cologne, a standard bottle of iodine and 6 powdered analgin tablets, rub the composition into the affected area, then wrap it in a warm scarf.

Prepare herbal balm from the following ingredients: a tablespoon of celandine leaves, an aloe leaf older than three years, crushed hot pepper, half a liter of vodka. Apply the product infused for a week, then rub it into the affected area.


Rub pure radish juice or radish juice mixed with honey in a 1:1 ratio into the sore spot.

Place wax heated to an elastic state on the sore spot in the form of applications, covering the top with polyethylene and something warming. It is recommended to leave this compress on all night.

After kneading the dough from 3 cups of rye flour and 3 tablespoons of propolis or honey, making a flat cake from the resulting mass, apply it to the sore spot for as long as possible, covering it with plastic on top and wrapping it in something warm.

Gives excellent results decoction bath, prepared from 50 gr. angelica roots and half a liter of boiling water, infused for 2 hours and then boiled for 30 minutes. The bath must be taken daily at night for 2 weeks. Other beneficial herbs used for baths include chamomile, sage, and knotweed.

Another method of treating the sciatic nerve with folk remedies at home: take 1 leaf of aloe, at least 3 years old, chop it and cover it with hot red pepper. Mix thoroughly, place on the sore spot, cellophane on top, then insulate. Do it at night. Repeat the procedure in the morning. Usually 5 - 6 such procedures and you are healthy.

Traditional recipes for inflammation of the sciatic nerve for oral administration

Treatment of inflammation of the sciatic nerve with folk remedies involves ingesting infusions and decoctions prepared from medicinal plants. The following folk remedies have been tested by time and folk experience:

  • Pour 2 tablespoons of calendula flowers into 400 ml of boiling water and leave for 2 hours under the lid. Take half a glass before each meal.
  • Boil a tablespoon of chopped burdock root with a glass of red wine over low heat for 5 minutes. Take half a glass twice a day.
  • Horse chestnut seeds, steamed in a water bath for a quarter of an hour with 2 cups of boiling water, taken in the amount of 2 teaspoons and filtered, take 100 ml before meals.
  • Brew a tablespoon of crushed elecampane root in a glass of boiling water and boil for a quarter of an hour. Take for the treatment of chronic forms of sciatic nerve entrapment twice a day, an hour before meals.
  • Mix a teaspoon of hazel powder with a tablespoon of its leaves and simmer for 10 minutes over low heat in 200 ml of water. Cooled and filtered broth, take 100 ml 4 times a day.
  • Treatment with the fairly common “race of salts” method involves taking infusions of rose hips and parsley, as well as watermelon rind powder. Thanks to their excellent diuretic properties, these drugs help normalize metabolic processes, reduce swelling and inflammation of the nerve roots.
  • Herbal decoction - take 1.5 tbsp. l. colors of viburnum and calendula, thyme herb, 3 tbsp. l. horsetail and mix everything. Place 2 tbsp in an enamel container. l. herbal mixture, pour 450 ml of water. After a few minutes of boiling, turn off and leave for some more time. Drink the product warm, half a glass three times a day, immediately before eating.

So that no funds aimed at sciatic nerve treatment, are not needed at all, it is necessary not to overcool and not lift weights, monitor your posture and take care of your spine, which contains the core of the whole body, its strength and health.

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 the 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.

The longest nerve in the human body is the sciatic nerve, which is formed by five pairs of spinal roots.

The anatomical structure of the sciatic nerve begins with the iliosacral plexus, emerging from the gluteal region, and then passing down the thigh. In the popliteal fossa, the nerve divides into two branches with inversion into the lower leg and foot. Pinching or inflammation of the sciatic nerve is accompanied by severe pain. Sciatica, or inflammation of the sciatic nerve, symptoms and treatment, which is very similar to another neurological disease, osteochondrosis. The difference between these diseases is that with sciatica, pain is present only on one side.

Sciatica, inflammation of the sciatic nerve: causes

Pain in the lumbar back can occur for a number of reasons. The most likely ones could be:

  • residual complications of osteochondrosis;
  • formation of herniation on intervertebral discs;
  • spinal column injuries;
  • hypothermia;
  • rheumatoid arthritis;
  • infectious lesions of the pelvic cavity;
  • blood clots, abscesses, etc.

In addition to the above causes of the disease, sciatica, an inflammation of the sciatic nerve, can occur against the background of muscle spasms located in the piriformis muscle, which compresses the sciatic nerve. This manifestation is very difficult to diagnose. With piriformis syndrome, pain spreads to the gluteal region, moving to the groin, lower leg and upper thigh. Pinched sciatic nerve symptoms and signs of inflammation in piriformis syndrome are very similar to lumbosacral radiculitis.

One of the causes of inflammation or pinching of the sciatic nerve may be spondylolisthesis. This type of disease may have a congenital or acquired nature of displacement of the vertebrae relative to each other.

Among other things, sciatica can be caused by a spinal cord tumor. The percentage of the cause of sciatic nerve disease with such an abnormal manifestation is quite low, but it does occur.

Pinched sciatic nerve: symptoms and treatment of the disease

In its symptomatic manifestations, inflammation of the sciatic nerve can vary significantly depending on the severity of the lesion, location, duration and nature. Inflammation of the sciatic nerve, symptoms and clinical signs of manifestation:

  1. Pain syndrome. Since the nerve endings are equipped with a large number of receptors that are highly sensitive, any damage to them causes severe pain. Bilateral inflammation of the sciatic nerve is extremely rare, so the main manifestation of the disease is unilateral. The pathological symptoms of sciatica affect the gluteal area with subsequent location in the lower limb. Depending on the degree of damage, the area of ​​​​pain has different intensity. Sometimes the pain reaches the feet and toes.
  2. The patient's movements are limited. In this case, pain intensifies with the slightest muscle tension, walking, bending the body, coughing, and sometimes even when breathing.
  3. If the sciatic nerve is pinched, symptoms of the disease may manifest as numbness in the legs. Very often, patients complain of complete or partial paralysis of the limbs.

The severity of pain syndromes can be very different, from the mildest to the most intense form of damage. The pain has a shooting character, reminiscent of an electric shock.

An accurate diagnosis of sciatica can be made based on the clinical picture, which has specific signs and symptoms of the disease. A hardware examination helps to clarify the location and severity of pinching of the sciatic nerve:

  • Radiography. Using this technique, disorders and changes in the structural structure of the spine are determined;
  • Computed tomography (CT) is a high-tech fluoroscopic examination method that allows layer-by-layer scanning of tissue components and gives the most accurate picture of the localization of inflammatory processes in tissue structures.
  • Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) is the most informative method of layer-by-layer scanning of tissues. This diagnostic method does not cause radiation exposure to the human body.
  • Ultrasound examination (ultrasound) of joints allows you to visualize the structure of soft tissues (tendons, cartilage, ligaments, etc.). Using ultrasound, you can easily determine the presence of tumors that cause inflammation of the sciatic nerve. Treatment, which requires immediate medical action.

The last method for diagnosing sciatica is the most effective. The advantages of the ultrasound method include:

  • No radiation exposure to the patient;
  • Repeated use of the research method throughout the entire course of treatment;
  • No contraindications;
  • High visualization of small structural fibers.

Treatment of sciatica

Inflamed sciatic nerve symptoms and treatment, which must be considered strictly individually based on the physiological characteristics of the patient, and age criteria are also taken into account. The choice of the optimal set of therapeutic effects must be carried out after a complete examination of all the constituent factors. To effectively treat the disease, complex therapy is carried out, which includes:

  • Drug treatment;
  • Physiotherapeutic effects;
  • Therapeutic exercise and preventive rehabilitation;

How to treat inflammation of the sciatic nerve with drug therapy? The main goal of treating sciatica with the help of pharmacological drugs is to relieve pain and reduce the inflammatory process. Proven pharmacological components to eliminate the intensity of the development of the disease are diclofenac, ortofen, denebol, rheumoxicam and other anti-inflammatory and analgesic drugs. The therapeutic attack of drugs is used through intramuscular or intravenous injection of these pharmacological agents.

To normalize the condition of articular tissues, chondroprotectors are used, which restore damaged cartilage fibers and enrich them with additional nutrition.

The method of physiotherapy involves the use of magnetotherapy and electrophoresis.

Therapeutic exercise is an integral part of a comprehensive medicinal approach to the treatment of the disease. The entire set of exercises is selected according to an individual program, taking into account the causes and severity of the pinching.

Treatment of sciatica at home

Therapeutic procedures of official medicine can be effectively alternated with time-tested traditional methods of treatment, which will contribute to a speedy recovery.

Inflammation of the sciatic nerve treatment with folk remedies:

  • Bee products, honey. An excellent traditional medicine would be a “honey” massage. To do this, you will need 300 g of natural honey, which must be brought to a boil in a water bath. After this, add 50 g of alcohol drop by drop to the heated honey. Stir the resulting mixture well and let cool. After this, you can perform a “honey” massage.
  • Beeswax compress. Heat the processed product until elastic. Apply a thin layer of wax to the affected area and wrap it with plastic wrap. This procedure should be performed before going to bed. The next morning, the remaining wax must be removed.

  • Herbal balm. Grind one tablespoon each of celandine, aloe and hot pepper. Mix all ingredients and add 250 g of vodka. Infuse the resulting medicinal mixture for seven days in a dark place. After this, you can begin treating sciatica. It is necessary to rub the sore area daily for one week. The course of treatment lasts 10 days.
  • Agave. Split the leaves of the plant and apply the inside side to the diseased area, wrapping it with a tight bandage on top.
  • Marsh rosemary. Pour two tablespoons of chopped plant with five tablespoons of vegetable oil. The resulting mixture should be infused for at least 12 hours. Rub the mixture into sore spots affected by sciatica.

  • An effective remedy for home treatment of inflammation of the sciatic nerve is medicinal pine baths. To do this, pour boiling water over the pine shoots in a proportional ratio of 1:3 and cook over low heat for half an hour. Strain the finished tincture and pour into the bath. The duration of the procedure at a water temperature of 35-37º C should be no more than 15 minutes.
  • Treatment with leeches will be a good preventive measure in the fight against the disease.

It should be remembered that any treatment with folk remedies at home has a number of contraindications. Therefore, it is necessary to seek advice from a specialist before starting treatment.

It is very important to maintain the most proper and balanced diet during treatment. Eating food should be fractional, in small portions 4-5 times a day. At least half of the daily diet should consist of foods with sufficient amounts of fiber, calcium, magnesium and iron, as well as vitamins A, B, C and E. Sufficient amounts of fiber are found in all fresh fruits and vegetables.

Foods rich in calcium:

  • Fish and fish products;
  • Milk, eggs;
  • Seafood;
  • Nuts, beets, cauliflower;
  • Heart, kidneys, liver.

Magnesium can be provided by foods such as:

  • Avocado;
  • Sunflower seeds;
  • Legumes, peas, beans, etc.;
  • Peanuts, hazelnuts, pistachios;
  • Millet, oatmeal, barley.

Essential iron can be found in the following foods:

  • Spinach, lentils, peas;
  • Pine nuts, peanuts, pistachios;
  • Dogwood, cashew, corn;
  • Wheat, beans, peas, etc.

Vitamin support for a sick body can be provided by the following foods:

  • Vitamin A: viburnum, garlic, broccoli, seaweed, low-fat cottage cheese;
  • Vitamin B: rose hips, mushrooms (honey mushrooms, boletus, chanterelles, porcini mushrooms), spinach.
  • Vitamin C: sea buckthorn, kiwi, hot pepper, Brussels sprouts and red cabbage, black currant, orange, lemon, strawberry.
  • Vitamin D: butter, sour cream, liver, sea bass, chicken egg.

It is worth excluding sweets, salty, fatty and smoked foods from your diet. All these components provoke fat deposits, which create additional stress on the spinal column. Tea, coffee, carbonated water, and alcoholic drinks are also excluded from the patient’s daily diet during treatment. Quitting smoking tobacco products will also be effective.

In order to avoid a possible recurrence of inflammation of the sciatic nerve or to minimize re-exacerbation, it is necessary to carry out preventive measures. Prevention of sciatica makes it possible to prevent up to 90% of cases of exacerbation of the disease. To do this you need:

  • Control your posture;
  • Avoid injury;
  • Stabilize body weight;
  • Do not overcool;
  • Avoid chronic and infectious diseases.

All preventive measures should be aimed at strengthening the back muscles. For this, gymnastic exercises and swimming lessons in the pool will be an excellent general strengthening remedy. In addition to all the above preventive actions, it is necessary to lead an active lifestyle. This will help keep your back muscles toned and strengthened.

Inflammation of the sciatic nerve (sciatica) can occur unexpectedly even in people who consider themselves healthy. The sciatic nerve is the longest in the human body. It begins in the lumbar region, passes through the tailbone, the back of the pelvis and both lower extremities, and reaches the feet. Therefore, pain and sensory impairment with sciatica affects not only the lumbar region, but also spreads to the legs along the entire nerve.

Inflammation itself is not a separate disease and usually serves as a manifestation of another pathology.

Causes of sciatica

The most common cause of sciatica is pinching of the sciatic nerve by spinal structures due to some pathological process in them.
  • Complete or partial displacement of the intervertebral disc, accompanied by pinching of the sciatic nerve, narrowing of the spinal canal, growths on the spine;
  • Piriformis syndrome;
  • Damage to organs or the muscular system of the pelvis due to injury or heavy physical exertion;
  • Hypothermia, infectious processes;
  • Presence of neoplasms.

Symptoms of inflammation of the sciatic nerve

The main symptom of this condition is pain in the area of ​​the sciatic nerve. As a rule, it is localized on one side of the body, and on the opposite side, numbness is felt in the corresponding area, which is periodically replaced by tingling. But it happens that both legs are involved in the process at the same time.

The intensity of pain may vary. At the beginning of inflammation, they are mild and intensify with physical activity, sneezing, and laughter. As the disorder develops, the unpleasant sensations increase and are 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.

Diagnostics

If symptoms appear, you should consult a neurologist. The doctor will conduct a general examination. With sciatica, there may be decreased mobility of the joints of the knees or feet, weakened or abnormal neurological reflexes, and increased pain when trying to lift a straight leg upward.

A general and biochemical blood test, x-rays taken in different projections in a standing and lying position, and magnetic resonance imaging will help confirm the diagnosis. Sometimes you may need to additionally visit another specialist - a rheumatologist, vascular surgeon, or vertebrologist.

Urgent consultation with a doctor is required if:

  • Against the background of pain, body temperature rises to 38 o C;
  • Swelling or reddened skin appears on the back;
  • The pain gradually spreads to new areas of the body;
  • There is severe numbness in the pelvic area, hips, legs, making it difficult to walk;
  • There is a burning sensation when urinating, and there are problems with holding urine and feces.

Treatment of sciatica

The set of procedures is selected differently for each patient and depends on the specific symptoms and severity of the condition. It includes:

  • Mode. During the period of acute pain, the patient needs to lie on a bed with a hard mattress, and also limit physical activity until the inflammation subsides;
  • Medicines. Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, muscle relaxants, and vitamins are used. Ointments and gels of irritating action are applied topically to relieve pain and reduce spastic syndrome;
  • Physiotherapy. Warming compresses, heating, electro- or phonophoresis are prescribed. When combining the use of medications (antispasmodics, anti-inflammatory drugs, muscle relaxants, vitamins) with physiotherapy, their effect increases significantly;
  • Massage. They begin 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 determining the cause of inflammation of the sciatic nerve, an exercise program is individually selected for the patient. Some of them need to be performed already in the first days of illness, while lying in bed. As motor activity is restored, the load is gradually increased. Activities in the pool are also recommended. Water reduces pain, relieves muscle spasms, facilitates movement;
  • Surgical treatment. Indicated in cases where conservative methods do not work and severe pain syndrome becomes chronic, as well as in severe disorders of the pelvic organs.


Prevention


In the subacute period of the disease, one of the effective therapeutic measures is massage.

To prevent inflammation of the sciatic nerve, it is necessary to pay attention to maintaining the tone of the back muscles. You should practice and monitor correct posture. When working sedentarily, take regular breaks and stretch.

It is necessary to avoid injuries, do not lift heavy objects and avoid hypothermia. It is also necessary to contact specialists in time to treat pathologies that cause sciatica.

Which doctor should I contact?

If you have inflammation of the sciatic nerve, you should consult a neurologist. Additionally, consultation with a neurosurgeon, vertebrologist (for diseases of the spine), or vascular surgeon (for differential diagnosis of damage to the vessels of the extremity) may be required. The treatment also involves a physiotherapist, a specialist in physical therapy and massage, and you can also contact an osteopath.

Video version of the article:

About sciatica in the program “Live Healthy!” with Elena Malysheva:

In the “Health” program with Elena Malysheva about paralytic sciatica syndrome:



Random articles

Up