Natural remedy for sciatica / back pain?

Question

my husband was recently diagnosed with scatica. his doctor told him there is no cure -- there is surgery, but its 50/50 on relief. if you're unfamiliar with scatica click this link (http://www.back.com/symptoms-sciatica.html) ...i try to stay organic, pure and natural whenever possible -- i have my own beliefs on the americanized medical 'world'. does anyone know of home remedies, natural medicines, etc?

Answer 1

Sciatica has its origin from the back.  The nerve gets compressed.  Relaxation of the back muscles and the back is the best alternative.  Acupressure on the back of the palm between the thumb and index finger there will be a painful spot.  Press there fore two minutes a day only on both hands and on the legs it is in the inner side of the bridge almost in the middle on the bone.  press there for two minutes a day.  This will relax the back muscles and while turning in the bed, the carteleges responsible for the compression gets back to their slot and the stenosis is reduced as well as the compression.   The following Asanas in the yoga will help in permanent solution.  

1.  Markadasana(Monkey posture):  lie flat on the ground keep the legs in inverted V position heels close to the buttocks.  keep both legs together.  Keep both hands stretched on the sides at shoulder level.  Turn both legs together until the knees touch the ground. first to the left and then to the right. The head will be turned towards where the heels of the legs are present and not towards the knee.   Do it as much times as possible starting from 5 on the first day.  This is done with split legs also.  Then will one leg raising 90 degrees and taking it to the other side of the body towards ground while catching the thumb with the hand in the same lying poisition.  

2. Bhujangasan,

3. ushtrasan

4. Marjarasan,

5. Vyagrasan,

6. Shalabhasan

7. Chakrasan

8. Dhanurasan

9. Shavasan.  

          Following medicines will help in sciatica.

1. Colocynthis 200 -Dull pain through hip to feet through thighs.  pain worse on movement.  

2. Lycopodium 1M one dose - Sciatica worse right side.

3. Arnica 30 or 200 maximum three doses.

4. Mag phos - right sided sciatica

5. Guaiacum off. Q  Gouty, tearing lancinating pains.  

6. Eupatorium perf 200 - shooting pain left sciatic nerve.

7.  Kali bromide - left sciatic pain -normally females.

8.  Rhus Tox : Pain on starting and relieved by movement.

course :  

1. Rhus Tox 1M one single dose 2 globules

2. Causticum 30 one dose 3 globules

3. Gnaphalium Q 5 drops in one ounce water three times a day as long as back pain is present.

      It is important that no exercise should be done bending forward.  Do not lift anything, do not push anything heavy.  If lifting is to be done, use the power of the leg to lift, do not bend from the back to lift anything.   Those who have sciatica will also have gas problems in the stomach.  To large extent they could be controlled by lycopodium and arsenic album.  with best wishes.

Answer 2

Well, there certainly is a variety of answers for you!  The most common appears to be "See a Chiro".  However, that would work if it was bone related.  But most don't have the money or the patient (no pun intended !) to continue to see a chiro over a long period of time and still be in pain.  

As one poster stated, most "sciatica" isn't true sciatica, but muscle related.  As a massage therapist, I can help relieve the pain of sciatica in one session.  Depending upon body posture and sitting/walking/sleeping habits, it might return, so a couple more sessions might be needed.  Find a massage therapist that specializes in sports medicine.  

If it is truly a compressed nerve in the spinal cord, surgery might be needed, but you might want to try an inversion table first.  This is where you strap your feet into these boots and turn yourself upside down.  It works by relieving the compression on the discs in your back through gravity.  You have to start out slow, like 5 minutes a day and work your way up to 30 or more minutes.  Its great for circulation and general all-over health.  

While I am an Herbalist and a holistic practitioner, I really don't see the need to waste money in buying herbals and homeopathics when the cause is mechanical.  

A simple stretch that your hubby can do is this:  Sit on a chair and bring one leg to rest the ankle on the opposite knee.  Guys like to cross their legs like this all the time.  Then, have him lean forward, trying to touch his forehead to either knee.  He probably won't be able to do it, and it will be painful, but when he stands back up, the pain will be lessened.  Do this again and hold for 20 seconds if he can.  

A second simple remedy that massage therapists use on themselves:  sit on the floor on a tennis ball.  Yep, put it right there under that butt check and roll it around.  Yep, it will be painful for a few minutes, but again, he will be able to walk pain-free.  

These are things that I do for myself.  For years I thought that I suffered from sciatica, but only during massage school did I find out that it was the muscles, not true sciatica.  Only once did I have true sciatica when I was pregnant and my boy was HUGE!!!  (my pelvis rotated outward to make room for my son, and that caused true sciatica).

Also, your husband might want to see a Kinesiologist, which is a Chiropractor that specializes in muscle movement.

Answer 3

Ice, rest & massage.......

Answer 4

First off Doc's don't know a lot about the muscle system. It cant kill you therefore they don't see any reason to know it.

There are a few things that could be causing his pain.

1) The Hips are two different bones that attach at the base of your spine. If they are shifted that can cause the pain. The joint that i'm talking about is the SI joint (chiropractors can fix that)

2) There is a muscle in the glutes (bum) that if it gets tight it can make the nerve acted up.

When this muscle gets tight it can refer pain down the leg. This is not sciatica but its what everyone thinks it is. (massage therapist or RMT (in Ontario CA thats what they are called)

I would do both! hope you find something that helps

Answer 5

Hi,

I've researched this topic lately for a report, so happy to share resources (links no affil).:

Sciatica treatment

http://www.sciaticatreatmentorg        

http://hubpages.com/hub/Sciatica-Treatme...

Answer 6

I'm surprised nobody mentioned this yet, but I would talk to a Chiropractor about it. I was told that I had Sciatica a while back and it was indirectly causing pain in my hip. I saw a Chiropractor that worked on it over the course of a few months and I haven't had much of any trouble with my hip since (not to mention that my back has straightened out).

That would be my first suggestion based on my personal experience and research. Good luck!

Answer 7

I would have to agree with Paterson on this one.  I am a Massage Therapist and from my experience, massage is a great way to relieve the pain.  Maybe have your husband talk to a massage therapist, try to find one that knows about sciatica and has had past experience working with people that have had it.

Good luck

Answer 8

My herbal drink is the solution to your problem.  It is comprised of 5 power herbs.  The most powerful herb, moringa, is even known to cure cancer.  Search the web for Moringa and you’ll know what I mean.

If you are interested, email me at [e-mail].  Let’s discuss this in detail.