Relaxation and movement of sciatica

Relaxation and movement against sciatica

08/10/2014

The sciatic nerve is described as the most powerful nerve in the body. Powerful are the torments caused by sciatica. In the acute case, not only medication can help, but also warmth, relaxation exercises and exercise.

An unfortunate movement can be enough
Often an unfortunate movement, heavy lifting or bending over is enough to trigger the strong stabbing pain in the back that pulls to the leg. The sciatic pain not only comes suddenly and makes the most ordinary movements agony, but also gives no rest at night. Most of the pain is caused by the sciatic nerve being pinched, and this usually due to a herniated disc. Affected persons are the exact cause of the acute case often not superficially important, they just want to get rid of the pain as quickly as possible.

Biggest and thickest human nerve
The sciatic nerve is the longest, not inside the body and at the same time the largest and thickest nerve of the human body. The fibers of the nerve control the movement of the muscles and the sensibility from the spinal cord to the leg and are formed of several roots in the lowest part of the spine. This is where the cause of all evil is usually located. „When one of these nerve roots is damaged by compression, usually due to a herniated disc, it causes pain that can radiate from the area of ​​the lumbar spine over the buttocks on the outside of the leg and sometimes reach into the foot“, said Professor Hans-Christoph Diener of the German Society of Neurology (DGN) to the news agency dpa.

Break mechanism as soon as possible
The "nerve root between the fifth lumbar vertebra and the first sacral vertebra is very often affected". Causes of damage to one of these nerve roots may also be thickened vertebral joints due to wear, lack of exercise or an untrained musculature. But the processes around the nerve are comparable regardless of the cause or the specific cause of the pain. So pressure is exerted on the nerve tissue, it is irritated and swells. This narrows the nerve even more, thus increasing the pressure and increasing the irritation. It is important to break through "this mechanism" as quickly as possible. „It is important to quickly remove the pressure from the nerve, so that the swelling recedes“, said Bernd Kladny of the German Society for Orthopedics and Traumatology (DGOU). If the irritation of the nerve takes too long, not only will the pain be prolonged, but the nerve will also be damaged and tissue will die. „Then new fibers have to grow. This takes a long time - about a millimeter grows per day.“

Medications with dual effects
In an acute case, medications can help in combination with relaxation. „If you have no feelings or symptoms of paralysis, can normally let water and has defecation, then in the acute phase, the pain can initially be treated symptomatically with painkillers“, so Kladny. But the pain killers not only bring relief, but can also ensure that the patient does not get into a spasm posture, thereby increasing the pressure on the nerve or building up elsewhere in the body painful tension. The short term solution is to lie down, ideally in the step bed storage. The knees and hip joint each form a right angle. So the spine is relieved.

Heat helps quite well
Professor Joachim Nadstawek, Chairman of the Professional Association of Physicians and Psychological Psychotherapists in Pain and Palliative Medicine in Germany added: „In the acute case, heat helps quite well.“ He recommends: „Lie on a heating pad or on a cherry stone pillow.“ Diener added that those who only have pain and no neurological deficits can observe the development for a few days before going to the doctor. However, neurological deficits are often typical complications of sciatic pain.

Many patients receive physiotherapy
Diener explained: „Those affected have a numb feeling in the leg, can not stand on tiptoe, or the Achilles heel reflex is impaired.“ In such cases, a doctor will examine posture and reflexes to be able to prescribe targeted anti-inflammatory and pain-relieving agents or even inject them under certain circumstances. Most patients would be prescribed physiotherapy to be fully mobile as soon as possible. Diener explained: „Ergonomically favorable posture and correct lifting of loads are taught in the back school. There are also mobility exercises for the spine and training for the back muscles.“

Exercise and relaxation exercises
Physiotherapy is often combined with heat, for example with a heat lamp or fango packs. A similar effect, such as warmth, which primarily helps to relax and loosen up cramped muscles, can also have relaxation exercises. „For example, Progressive Muscle Relaxation according to Jacobsen is very well-proven“, so servant. Aquajogging, the movement in the water, is almost the best way to relax your muscles. The exercise and relaxation exercises are best practiced when the pain subsides.

Best possible prevention concept
Although this costs a lot of self-discipline, it is the best possible prevention concept. Because if the muscle corset stably supports the back and certain areas are not permanently biased by bad postures, then helps to avoid that a sciatic nerve root ever comes under pressure and causes pain. According to other experts, classical natural remedies, such as those of Sebastian Kneipp or Hildegard von Bingen, or manual therapies such as the fascial distraction model (FDM), rolfing or osteopathy have proven to be helpful in the treatment of sciatic pain. (Ad)