Sunday, December 11, 2011

How to Sleep Easy with Sciatica Pain

Sciatica is the pain associated with the sciatic nerve that runs from your spinal cord through your hip bone down your legs to your feet. Your lower back pain can be caused by a herniated disk that applies constant pressure on your sciatic nerve. This pressure produces muscles spasms, numbness in legs and feet, a sharp stinging pain, tingling and sometimes loss of movement. Simple tasks from walking, sitting, standing and even sleeping can greatly be affected by these symptoms. Treatment for sciatica depends on the severity of the pain and its symptoms. If there is no disk or nerve degeneration or difficulty moving then more conservative, natural treatments are most effective.

According to sciatica research most people with sciatic pain find that the problem will go away naturally within six to twelve weeks. During this time, over-the-counter acedeminophin or aspirin will help ease the pain. Some apply ice packs over the affected are where the pain is the deepest to reduce the inflammation. Others alternate ice packs with heat therapy to find relief while anti-inflammatory prescription medication may be necessary if the pain proves too hard to manage.

[caption id="attachment_1690" align="alignright" width="240" caption="One avocado has enough potassium to help those with sciatica"][/caption]

Donald Lepore, N.D. who wrote the book The Ultimate Healing System stated that sciatica in the right leg is caused by a potassium deficiency. Some drugs like Metformin (Type II diabetes) and Lisimipril (high blood pressure) can cause a potassium deficiency then people get sciatica pain. Molasses, avocados, peanuts, potatoes, lima beans, apricots, bananas, potatoes and pears have potassium, but out of those foods one entire avocado can give sciatica relief in one hour for some people Other natural remedies include taking potassium with a B complex, using an Icy Hot spray or stick and take baths with Epsom and lavender. Some like very hot baths followed by a cold water sitz bath, while others take cold showers. One man described his condition after taking a cold shower that he had the first peaceful night of sleep in a long time. He felt no pain in his legs at all, no numbness, no prickly tingles so he continued his cold shower regimen for an additional three days with the same results and has now vowed never to take a hot shower again! A woman that has dealt with horrible sciatica pain with muscle spasms in her back tried many doctors and a chiropractor and after many modern therapeutic treatments (stretching exercises, pain medications, acupuncture and massage therapy) her pain continued. She hated taking prescription medication and looked for an alternative natural cure. She read up on how ginger is a great anti-inflammatory and decided to give it a try. She went straight to the source and ate slices of ginger throughout the day. After two days she started to feel better and by the third day her pain was almost gone.

[caption id="attachment_1688" align="alignright" width="294" caption="Ginger for Sciatica Pain"][/caption]

Another woman wrote that after trying ice packs, heating pads, ibuprofen, etc she elected to make ginger syrup and dried ginger slices. She found that ginger enhances the anti-inflammatory benefit from the ibuprofen so she doesn’t have to take as much to control her pain. She hopes to only take ginger and eliminate ibuprofen altogether. Her recipe called “Ginger Ale and It’s Candy” by Ming Tsai consists of:

• 2 cups ginger slices, peeled (1/8 inch thick)
• 2 cups sugar
• 2 cups water
• 1 quart soda water
• 1 lime cut in wedges
• 4 mint sprigs

Direction:s Mix ginger, sugar and water in a saucepan and bring to a slow simmer. Reduce mixture by 50 percent until a syrupy consistency is reached. Keep in mind that the syrup will thicken as it cools. Strain warm syrup.

Allow to cool. While syrup is cooling, make ginger candy. Take ginger slices that have been drained out of the syrup and completely coat in sugar. Spread on sheet pan and slowly dry out in a 225-degree oven for 3 hours. Ginger slices should be dried but still chewy.

In a tall glass of ice, add mint sprig and a ratio of 1 part ginger syrup to 7 parts soda water. Squeeze lime wedge and add to drink. Use more syrup if desired. Stir and enjoy. Can also make drink with chilled soda water and add a scoop of vanilla ice cream for a tasty Ginger Ale Float.

While eating foods rich in potassium or trying some ginger slices it may be important to stretch every night before you go to bed to keep your muscles from tensing up during the night. Here are a couple stretches:

1.Sit on the floor. Cross on right leg over the other with the heel lined up with the knee of the left leg and then twist towards the right. Balance with your arms. Hold for a few seconds and then do it with the other leg.

2.Sit on the floor or in a chair. Clasp your hands over the right knee (leg is bent) and push against your hands and hold. Then put your hands on top of your bent knee and push up against your hands. Repeat with the other leg.

Many times natural home remedies just aren’t enough to alleviate the pain associated with sciatica. Many times sciatica pain is caused by an injury or another medical issue and is not a condition by itself. Physical Therapy proves beneficial to some sufferers. A medical professional should prescribe therapy. A professional physical therapist will avoid exercises that irritate the nerve and bring on attacks. Therapy that strengthens the muscles holding the spine in position promote good posture. Yoga, undertaken carefully, is beneficial for sciatica sufferers. Some yoga positions, such as forward folds or twisting, may exacerbate sciatica. The benefits of yoga include mental and physical balance, and many people find Yoga exercise offers permanent healing for sciatica.

You may consider trying acupuncture, where very slim needles will be applied to your skin. Believe it or not, many don't even feel these, and do find significant relief here, from lower back sciatica. Of course, you will want to be working with an experienced and licensed practitioner. The idea behind this practice is that your energy is unblocked and your health is thereby improved.

The content provided in How to sleep easy with sciatica pain is for information purposes only, intended to raise the awareness of different solutions for you or your families sleep problems and should not be considered medical advice. For medical diagnosis and treatment, please see your qualified health-care professional.
GLG America Logo

3 comments:

  1. My knee pain was serious and i'm still finding natural ways to end it. Many thanks for sharing such beneficial post. Giving your health suggestions a shot.

    ReplyDelete
  2. This site truly has all of the information and facts I needed concerning this subject and didn't know who to ask.

    ReplyDelete
  3. Great site you have got here.. It's hard to find good quality writing like
    yours nowadays. I really appreciate individuals like
    you! Take care!!

    ReplyDelete