Whats the best treatment for sciatica?
Yes, there are lots of different ways of treating sciatica. Sciatica is the name given to pain that is felt in the buttock, and down the outside of the leg. It’s caused by pressure on the sciatic nerve – either from a slipped disc (the pad of cartilage that acts as a cushion between the individual vertebrae), or alternatively, directly from bone itself, which can happen if the bones are deformed from arthritis. Anti-inflammatory painkillers, such as ibuprofen, can help to ease both pain and inflammation, and diazepam (available on prescription) can help to ease any associated muscle spasm, which can make sciatic pain worse. But better still is to tackle the muscle spasm with physiotherapy, or some other form of physical therapy, such as osteopathy or chiropractic. This treatments can also help to adjust the position of bones that may have been slightly out of alignment. No treatment for sciatica works instantly – rather it often takes weeks of intensive treatment, combined with regular
