Sciatica can be a difficult and chronically painful condition to live with, but there are a number of ways to bring about sciatic nerve pain relief - and many of them do not involve invasive surgery. Both exercise and medicine can be used as an effective sciatica treatment, and using them in conjunction makes for the most effective treatment method. Sciatica actually has a number of different causes and that can effect which method you will ultimately choose for the most effective treatment. This article will discuss some of the things that trigger the condition of sciatica, and will introduce you to different ways that you can undergo sciatic nerve treatment safely and effectively.

The most common cause of sciatic nerve pain is pressure put on the sciatic nerve by the bulging or shifting of any of the soft discs between the bones in our spinal cord. This is a condition known as spinal disc herniation. If the outer layer of the disc should tear, then the fluid within may leak into the spinal canal, which can in turn cause further irritation. A similar cause is spinal stenosis, where irritation or dislocation can cause a narrowing of the spinal canal thus pinching the sciatic nerve. Other forms of sciatica can be caused by trigger points in several muscles in the hips, buttocks, and legs. Your habits can exacerbate these issues, with common ones being sitting on a wallet held in your back pocket or wearing a tool belt.   

While pain killers seem like the first thing to reach for when looking for a sciatica treatment, there are other options available. Instead of something that simply dulls your perception of pain, you will need an anti-inflammatory medicine to properly manage sciatica, since inflammation is often a route cause of the condition. When standard over the counter pills do not work, you may need to talk to your doctor about an oral steroid to help reduce inflammation and act as a sciatic nerve pain treatment. If neither of these methods shows results, you may have acute sciatica which can require surgery to deal with.

In milder cases though, exercise is a good choice for sciatica treatment. Even doing a few slow, gentle crunches can lead to some sciatic nerve relief. The most popular set of exercises are a part of the McKenzie method, which are a set of stretches developed by The McKenzie Institute. Many of these draw inspiration from yoga and Pilates, and help to reduce the pressure felt on the spine and the sciatic nerve. For example, one stretch starts with you laying down on your stomach and then slowing pushing yourself up with your arms, similar to a very slow push-up exercise.

There are other homeopathic sciatic nerve treatments available, and some are found right in your freezer. A cold compress of ice applied on the bothersome area for ten minutes every few hours can help to reduce swelling and inflammation. Some people who suffer from sciatica can find relief from acupuncture, but many more prefer massage to help ease the pain. A trip to a chiropractor can also help to soothe your pain. Sometimes, just loosing some weight can reduce the symptoms.

No matter which sciatica treatment you select, remember that you need more than self diagnosis to be sure of the cause. Talk to your doctor if you have pain in your lower back, hips or legs as these may be signs of sciatica. While you can certainly do some types of sciatica home treatment on your own, always follow your doctor's prescribed advice.