Is There a Cure For Sciatica?

thehealthy way
Nov 6 · 4 min read

Is there a cure for sciatica? That’s the question Richard used to ask every time we meet at the chess club with other friends.

Richard has been suffering from sciatica nerve pain for quite a long time. He has been using traditional medication with no good results.

Every time we meet around the chess table, Richard never stops complaining about the sciatica pain. He says that the painkillers have lost their effects, and they are no longer effective as they once were.

Richard’s bad experience with the painkillers didn’t stop there; he also noticed some unpleasant effects that come along with these non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs.

In fact, Richard has never experienced any severe stomach pain along with heartburn. But, that’s was the case when he started using the painkillers to relieve the sciatica pain. At first, he was trying to sooth the sciatica pain, but now he is dealing with more other health issues.

The sciatica pain has turned Richard’s life upside down; he is no longer that charming person who laughs at every joke we exchange, he has become a more withdrawn person. His visits to the chess club have become rare.

The sciatica pain influenced his life at all levels.

It was unacceptable to us, his friends, to watch Richard’ sufferance without helping him to get his life back, and end the sciatica pain.

We decided to do what we can to help him put an end to the excruciating pain he is enduring.

We have reached out to other friends in hope to find an answer to the question “is there a cure for sciatica?” We have asked family members, neighbors, colleagues in work, but to no avail. Sadly, we didn’t find any other cure other than sticking to the usual routine of taking painkillers despite their harmful side effects.

Life went on for Richard with the daily struggle with the pain. It has been now three months we didn’t see him. Then one day, while we were sitting around the table at the chess club, Richard steeped in with a big smile on his face.

He was walking and reacting as he has never experienced any sciatica pain. You could tell from the look on his face that he has finally got out of the rut he was in.

We can’t help, but asked him what he did to put an end to the sciatica dilemma.

Richard told us that he went to the countryside with his family when his boredom threshold reached. There he met with a nutritionist that gave him the best cure for sciatica pain.

He went on to explain that actually it was some lifestyle changes with specific anti-inflammatory diet.

The nutritionist told Richard that the big quantity of processed foods being pushed in our lives has caused discomfort and pain related to the inflammation in the body, such as sciatica.

Sciatica takes place when the surrounded area of the sciatic nerve become inflamed, which in turn ignites pain in the lower back down to one of the legs.

Inflammation is defined as the immune system ‘reaction to infection or injury; It is a natural reaction of the body to repair the damaged cells. However, when inflammation becomes abundant due to our modern lifestyle, it leads to a variety of problems.

Usually, people who suffer from chronic inflammation resorts to NSAIDs (non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs) such as ibuprofen to sooth the sciatica pain. However, most are unaware of the risks of the painkillers overuse.

One of the most common health problems that stems from using NSAIDs is stomach ulcer. In serious cases, long term use of NSAIDs raise the risk of having a stroke or heart attack.

That’s why a natural anti-inflammatory diet is the best safe alternative to medication.

Here are four natural anti-inflammatory diets to relive the sciatica pain without causing any dangerous side effects.

1- Include anti-inflammatory foods in your meals.

There are some popular anti-inflammatory foods that the mankind has used for centuries to reduce inflammation naturally, such as:

· Sweet Potatoes

· Kelp

· Wild Alaskan Salmon

· Blueberries

· Turmeric

· Broccoli

· Shitake Mushrooms

· Papaya

The above list of foods, that taste great, is known to reduce inflammation, as well as provide balanced nutrition.

2- Stick to anti-inflammatory drinks:

Water and green tea are famous for their ability to ease discomfort, reduce redness and swelling that are associated with inflammation.

So drink the equivalent of 8 glasses of water per day. Water keeps the parts of spine hydrated, which in turn reduces the pressure on the sciatica nerve. In addition to that, water will have the good benefits of clearing skin and suppress appetite.

On the other hand, green tea contains micronutrients called polyphenols that prevent certain disease, such inflammation, from happening in the body.

3- Cook with olive oil.

If you are not already doing so, then you are missing the secret to good health. One of the biggest health benefits of olive oil is its ability to reduce inflammation. The monounsaturated fats in olive oil acts as anti-inflammatory agents, in addition they help to decrease rheumatoid arthritis and asthma.

A key anti-inflammatory agent found in olive oil is oleocanthal, which works similar to ibuprofen, but it does so with no harmful side effect at all.

If you are experiencing a sciatica pain, try an anti-inflammatory diet instead of using painkillers. The best answer to your question “Is there a cure for sciatica?” lies in making the best food choices; then, doing the right stretching exercises that are suitable for you.