Medication for Sciatica is only for Pain Relief
Pain relief is the prime concern and initial treatment for sciatica. If the attack is acute or very painful, the patient is advised bed rest for up to a week and along with it he is administered Medication for Sciatica.
Treatment
The treatment for sciatica is often non-operative. The treatment that is initially given is to address the inflammation associated with the disease. When medication starts it is often anti-inflammatory medications such as Motrin or Celebrex. Muscle relaxers are often prescribed by doctors as well. Sometimes oral steroids have to be given to some patients who need a more powerful anti-inflammatory treatment. Steroids like a Medrol Dose-Pak may have potential side-effects, but since they have a powerful anti-inflammatory effect, they can be helpful in treating sciatica.
Medication for Sciatica can be stopped once there is less pain. After that the patients are advised to do regular exercises and physical therapy. Even heat packs and ice packs are soothing for the muscles. But if the pain persists, doctors may prescribe Medication for Sciatica even after that in the form of an epidural steroid injection. Through this anti-inflammatory medication is delivered directly to the inflamed area around the nerves. But they may not be effective for all patients. Also corticosteroid injections can reduce nerve inflammation and pain for a long period of time.
During the acute phase of the disease the Medication for Sciatica is generally narcotics and sometimes lumbar injections. The analgesics help to reduce swelling while relieving pain. Simple anti-inflammatory drugs like aspirin, ibuprofen may also be prescribed by the doctors. And if the pain is chronic, different types of pain Medication for Sciatica is given.
One should avoid taking a long-term dosing of any Medication for Sciatica, because the body gets immune to it and does not react in the way it should. Often antidepressant drugs have to taken along with the muscle relaxants, because they are often effective in treating pain.
If early therapy is successful and there is less pain, the patient is advised by doctors and therapists to follow a long-term program in order to maintain a healthy back and also prevent a re-injury. But sometimes, if the pain is chronic and all conservative treatment fails, surgery has to be done. This is inevitable especially when there is evidence of nerve or nerve-root damage.
In general most cases of sciatica are treatable with Medication for Sciatica followed by physical therapy. The treatment generally lasts four to six weeks, after which the person can resume normal activities.
