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Conditions

5 Tricks to Beat Your Sciatica Without PainKillers

Approximately 40% of the population worldwide will at some point in their lives experience sciatica. Sciatica usually causes weakness, pain, numbness and tingling in the lower leg and back.

Medical illustration of the sciatic nerve running from the lower spine through the buttock and down the leg

Approximately 40% of the population worldwide will at some point in their lives experience sciatica. Sciatica usually causes weakness, pain, numbness and tingling in the lower leg and back. In its beginning stages, there is a pinch in the nerve which later leads to pain all the way down to the thigh.

Usually sciatica is treated with powerful medications, but there are also some ways to treat it without painkillers:

1. Ice packs

Yes, traditional ice packs are great for lots of things, one of them being sciatica. Wrap a cold pack in a towel and place it where the pain is for 20 minutes. Try to use ice packs every two hours if possible.

2. Yoga

Unfortunately, when one deals with sciatica the last thing thought of is movement due to the profuse pain, but practicing yoga will help with the pain and alleviate stress.

3. Massages

Massage therapy is great for dealing with sciatica. When receiving massages it is best to use essential oils.

4. Herbs and Oils

Many herb-infused oils are great for decreasing inflammation and are natural painkillers. Here is a list of herbs that can be used to infuse with oils for topical use:

  • Devil’s claw
  • Jamaican dogwood
  • Turmeric with black pepper
  • Arnica
  • White willow bark
  • Skullcap
  • St. John’s wort
  • Roman chamomile
  • Clary Sage
  • Lavender
  • Linden flower
  • Milky oat tops

5. Acupuncture

Acupuncture is when extremely fine needles are inserted into certain parts of the body where there is pain or tension. For many people, acupuncture is good for increasing energy, relieving stress and improving nerve functions. Acupuncture is strongly recommended for sciatica!

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    Dr. Melemed is truly the best! He genuinely cares about his patients, and it shows in every aspect of the care he provides. I recently had an outpatient procedure, and I cannot say enough about how impressed I was with the surgery center. …

  • Melina Rodriguez
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    Dr. Melamed is an exceptional physician. I initially came to him for my spine concerns, but he took the time to look at the bigger picture, truly listen, and help me find the right resources and specialists for a separate, complex medical condition outside his specialty. …

  • Mark Myers
    Rated 5 out of 5.

    I was incapacitated, couldn’t stand, sit or walk. The pain was excruciating. I’ll spare you the diagnosis, but it was serious. I could only lie down with my foot up to reduce the pain. It required EMERGENCY surgery. …

  • Eric Nepomnaschy
    Rated 5 out of 5.

    I want to thank Dr. Melamed for taking great care of me. Dr. Melamed performed a minimally invasive microdiscectomy to free nerve that was being pinched and causing pain in my back and in my leg. Dr. Melamed’s approach is a very conservative, which I very much appreciate. …

  • Salvador Duran
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    Dr. Hooman Melamed: An Outstanding Surgeon and a Blessing to Our Family If you or a loved one are suffering from severe back pain and feel like you have run out of options, please read our story. For a long time, my wife lived in a state of constant agony. …

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