Sciatica is a condition that causes pain and numbness in the sciatic nerve. You will typically feel pain and tingling from your lower back down to your hips and legs. While this discomfort might be mild initially, it will later become severe pain, affecting your daily chores. Hence, treating sciatica is a necessity.
Medicines are of no use for sciatica pain. However, osteopathic treatment has been proven to yield long-term benefits.
The treatment focuses on improving the body structure and function of the nerves. It addresses the root causes of nerve compression and provides long-term relief to the patient.
If you are planning to visit an osteopath for sciatica treatment in Bournemouth, here is what you can expect from the treatment over the course of it.
How does osteopathic treatment work for patients with sciatica?
Understanding the medical history
The first step in treatment is to understand the patient’s medical history. The osteopath will ask you about your symptoms, your lifestyle, and any previous injuries. They will understand the route cost of the pain and the possible triggers that can be completely mitigated.
Physical examination
Once the symptoms have been discussed, the osteopath will perform a physical examination to determine the site of nerve compression. The examination is simple and involves checking the patient’s posture, spinal alignment, muscle tension, and joint mobility.
Gentle manual therapy
Initially, the osteopath will start with hands-on techniques to relieve pressure on the neck and restore the patient’s musculoskeletal system. Manual therapy includes
Soft tissue massage to reduce muscle tension
Improvement of the spinal conditions through joint mobilisation
Resorting to stretching techniques to release tension from the muscles
Spine and pelvic alignment
After applying gentle manual techniques, the osteopath proceeds to the spine alignment. This involves restoring the joint movement and reducing the compression on the nerve. Dostiopathy typically tailors the alignment treatment to the patient’s comfort level.
Poster guidance and exercise
Once the osteopath has corrected the spinal misalignment, they proceed to the next part of the treatment, which involves giving the patient practical advice to support the recovery process. The osteopath will provide stretching exercises, posture correction, and ergonomic tips to help patients reduce strain on the lower back and hips.
Recovery and follow-up sessions
The treatment is effective if the patient follows the osteopath’s advice and practices the exercises prescribed. You focus on the long-term benefits, and to relieve the pain, the osteopath will suggest that the patient return for follow-up sessions. During these sessions, the osteopath will assess the patient’s pain level and adjust the exercises accordingly.
Osteopathic treatment for sciatica offers a patient-focused and holistic approach to managing the pain after careful assessment through a personalised treatment procedure.
Book an appointment with New Forest Osteopathy for early diagnosis of sciatica. The symptoms of pain can vary from person to person. We offer personalised treatment plans for the patients depending on their pain levels. Contact us for more details on the treatment process. We can help you with long-term relief plans.