4 Princess Way, Swansea SA1 3LW
01792 476 562Jonathan McCall • September 2, 2019
Sciatica is a term used to describe pain in the leg which comes from the low back where a nerve may be irritated or “pinched”. It affects more of us than we might think and is a cause of thousands of lost working days (as well as being extremely painful at the time!)
So how can we get relief from sciatica? This depends a lot on the route cause which would need investigating before any physical treatment could take place safely. However, there are one or two things that you can do to help to give you some relief from the pain of sciatica:
Use an ice pack (or frozen peas for example).
It may sound strange but we are actually going to suggest placing a covered ice pack on your low back. Yes we know it’s your leg that hurts but the likelihood is that it’s a nerve in your back that is the problem.
After your 15-20 minutes is up, put it back in the freezer for a whole hour then repeat the process. We wouldn’t suggest more than 6 times per day though and one of the best times to do it is right before you go to bed as it should be nice and numb and help you get a bit more sleep if it is generally keeping you awake at night.
Basic Movements & Stretches.
One of the most commonly prescribed exercises for sciatica involves lying on your back with your knees up and together. From here you can first move both legs to the left then to the right (imagine your knees start at 12 o’clock- first we are moving them to 9 o’clock then back to 12 o’clock then to 3 o’clock).
Another common stretch is again to lay on your back but this time hug your legs/knees to your chest and hold there for around 10 seconds.
It’s important to note that relief really depends on what is causing your sciatica in the first place but if any of these exercises are too painful then stop immediately and seek further advice.
It’s also worth saying that even though sciatica is painful you try and remain “gently active” as we say at SA1 Chiropractic. By that we mean that where possible it is a lot better for your long-term recovery to try and walk or potter around when you can as this will go some way to making any rehabilitation in the future more productive in less time.
Above all, if you are suffering we are here to help you find relief from sciatica by using a variety of techniques which can include manipulation, acupuncture and soft tissue massage. You needn’t suffer as most forms of sciatica are very treatable and Chiropractic can offer relief from your pain.
Either call us on 07539135842 or book your appointment online with us.
Ranked as Top 3 Chiropractic Clinic in Swansea 4 years running
Conveniently located in the heart of Swansea with plenty of parking opposite in St. Davids car park. We are a friendly, professional, experienced, integrity driven practice.
We are proud to say that we genuinely love what we do and have been doing so successfully for over a decade. However should you or we decide that chiropractic treatment is not suitable for you we will advise or refer you accordingly.
Currently we offer an online discount of 33% on your Initial Consultation (usually £60 - £40 with online voucher). So if you are suffering with Back Pain, Neck Pain, Sciatica or General Aches and Pains get in contact with us.
