Chronic sciatica can be a frustrating condition to cure. It’s common for people to try multiple types of treatment – often spending a lot of money in the process – without noticeable results.

But here’s the good news. Sciatica can be extremely painful and even debilitating, but it’s very rare that the sciatic nerve is permanently damaged. This means that even if you’ve been dealing with sciatic pain for years, there is a high chance that you can completely recover and live a pain-free life. Not only that, but many people can recover from sciatica much faster than you could ever imagine – sometimes in as little as sevendays – with the right treatment program. The key is to find a treatment that addresses the underlying cause of your pain.

Why Conventional Sciatica Treatments Often Fail

If you visit a doctor about your sciatica, he or she is likely to prescribe pain-killing medication. This can be useful as a short-term fix and may also reduce inflammation.

The problem is that medication doesn’t address the underlying cause of sciatica. If you have a compressed or irritated nerve, drugsoften just hide the problem without resolving what’s really causing your pain.

Many pain-killers – especially non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs – are also not suitable for long-term use. They can cause stomach pain, bloating, diarrhea and other nasty problems.

The worst part? If something you are doing is causing sciatica…such as putting excessive load on the spine during certain movements…then masking the pain with drugs could cause you to keep repeating the action and make your pain worse.

This isa big problem with the modern approach of pain management. It’s also why many people suffer for years with sciatic pain even though they are receiving traditional medical treatments.

Can Chiropractors Eliminate Sciatic Pain?

Another common treatment for sciatica is chiropractic manipulation. There is some low-quality evidence that this can provide relief for short-term sciatica…but there is little or no evidence that it can work for chronic sciatic pain.

There have also been reports that sciatic manipulation can cause a condition called cauda equina syndrome – a serious problem that can lead to loss of function in regions of the lower back. It can even result insexual dysfunction or loss of bladder control.

Considering there isn’t much evidence to suggest that chiropractic manipulations can reduce sciatic pain, it’s hard to recommend it as a treatment when it’s potentially linked to more serious problems such as cauda equina.

What Are Some Effective Treatments for Sciatica?

If conventional treatments may not reduce your sciatic pain – or can even make the problem worse – what can you use instead?

There are a number of alternative treatments available. These include home remedies, tailored exercise programs, sleep therapy and many more. Alternative treatments have helped thousands of people overcome their sciatic pain without expensive or dangerous therapies.