For most who experience it, the nerve pain that threatens the sciatic nerve can be debilitating, and only with age does this get worse. Fortunately, there are many tips and treatment options that help with sciatic pain relief.
Foods to Eat and Avoid
Developing an eating routine rich in whole grains, regular foods, natural products, vegetables, nuts, fish, and fiber may effectively reduce sciatica pain by reducing inflammation through better nutrition.
Many foods are packed with beneficial ingredients that may help fight sciatic pain, for example:
- Tomatoes – loaded with antioxidants, vitamins, and minerals.
- Kale, broccoli, and sprouts – These vegetables restore cellular health (helps nerve pain), regulate weight, insulin, blood sugar, and contain vitamins A, C, and K.
- Almonds or cashews – These nuts contain Omega-3, anti-inflammatory properties, and phytonutrients that help promote healing.
- Extra virgin olive oil – Promotes healing and contains strong anti-inflammatory compounds.
- Salmon or Tuna – These oily fish contain Omega-3 fatty acids, essential vitamins and pack a ton of protein.
- Bok Choy – These green veggie contains 70 different antioxidant minerals and has a high quercetin content, which lowers inflammation and promotes immunity.
- Pineapple – This fruit helps break down the inflammatory cells in the body.
- Coconut oil – This oil contains antioxidant ingredients that help relieve sciatic pain, improve the skin, blood pressure, and reduce hunger.
Focus on avoiding foods that may cause inflammation in the body, such as sugar, processed foods, vegetable oil, dough, and flour.
Exercises That Help Relieve Sciatic Pain
Gentle stretches aimed at the lower back and hips can help reduce sciatic pain and improve the range of movement. In addition to reducing pain, the stretches performed in your lower spine and legs can also help build strength and stability and prevent future recurrences of sciatica.
The pain along the sciatic nerve, which runs from your lower back to your feet, can be made worse by tightness in your lower back, abdominal, and/or hamstring muscles. A simple knee-to-chest stretch can help alleviate some of that pain.
Water therapy exercises can help improve nerve and muscle function in the lower body; try walking in waist-deep water. For a seated sciatic stretch, try the sciatic nerve glide. This exercise helps to relax and desensitize the sciatic nerve.
Causes and Symptoms of Sciatica
Sciatica pain usually affects one side of the lower body. The pain may continue down the lower back, through the leg and buttocks area, and even affect the foot or toes, depending on where the sciatic nerve is afflicted.
Pain is frequently created by irritation of the sciatic root in the lower spine. For example, a herniated disc, bone spur on the spine, or spinal stenosis can irritate and compress the nerves, causing pain, inflammation, and numbness.
There are many different symptoms when experiencing sciatica pain including:
- Pain in the lower back
- When in a sitting position, pain in the buttocks or legs that worsens
- Burning or tingling sensation in the legs
- Hip pain
- Decreased movement of the legs due to numbness or weakness
- Increased and consistent pain in the buttocks area
- “Shooting pain” causing it to be difficult to stand
If you or a loved one are suffering from sciatica pain in the city of Bakersfield, Shafter, or any other surrounding areas in California, call Envista Medical at (661)-587-0700 for a complimentary consultation to help relieve your pain.