Helping Hands: The Health Benefits Of Massage

Sciatica is a painful condition caused by a trapped nerve in your lower back. It typically affects one side of your body and can cause numbness and shooting pain down through your back and into your leg. The pain is often constant and can impact your ability to work and socialise.

Sciatica is commonly caused by a slipped disk, which bulges out and puts too much pressure on your sciatic nerve. Anti-inflammatory medication and painkillers are often prescribed to manage symptoms, but there are alternatives. Here are three drug-free ways to treat sciatica:

Massage

Massages works by promoting circulation, which can reduce inflammation and encourage healing. Your massage therapist will work on the muscles around the trapped sciatic nerve and the muscles that support your lower back, so you can expect work to be done on your glutes and hamstring muscles in addition to the lower back area. You'll need weekly sessions initially and may be asked to do some gentle stretches or self-massage between sessions, which will ensure your muscles stay relaxed. (For more information, contact Jun Lin Massage.)

Topical Preparations

Capsaicin is the active component in chilli peppers that gives them their heat, and it's recognised as having natural pain relieving properties. It works by inhibiting the release of pain signals from your nerves and is widely available in cream from pharmacies and online. Use it sparingly as too much can cause skin irritation and a burning sensation.

St John's Wort Oil has natural anti-inflammatory properties and is often prescribed for nerve pain by alternative health practitioners. It can interfere with some prescription medications, so you should only use this product with your GP's consent.

Physiotherapy

It may come as a surprise to learn movement is considered good for sciatica. You may not feel like doing any exercises, but staying active will increase the blood flow to your trapped nerve. A physiotherapist will assess your range of movement and give you tailored exercises to do a few times a day. The exercises are designed to strengthen and restore flexibility to your back.

The constant pain caused by sciatica can leave you feeling low and negatively impact on your quality of life. There are times when prescription medication may be necessary, but it's worth exploring alternative treatments that have been shown to be effective. Before undergoing any treatment, make the practitioner aware of any medical conditions you have as this allows them to carry out the treatment in the safest way possible for you.