Alternative Therapies for Sciatica

If you are suffering from sciatica in Howell and Novi, Michigan what you need is pain relief. If you don't want to be constantly taking pain medication, you need to try some alternative therapies for sciatica. At Rehabilitation Physicians, our team uses a variety of alternative therapies to treat painful conditions including sciatica.

What Is Sciatica?

 The sciatic nerve is the longest in the body. It goes from the spine down over the buttocks down the back of the legs to the soles of the feet. Sciatica is an irritation of the sciatic nerve. It causes a throbbing, burning pain that can travel down the leg. It can also cause numbness, weakness, and tingling.  Depending on what is causing the sciatica, many alternative therapies can help. 

Osteopathic Manipulation Therapy (OMT)

 Osteopathic manipulation is a therapy that is taught as part of the education of osteopathic medicine practitioners. It is a hands-on approach to treatment. It is one of the treatments used to treat Sciatica in Howell and Novi, Michigan. Osteopathic manipulation is not just one therapy, there are 40 different OMT techniques that your doctor can use. OMT is completely noninvasive and allows the doctor to help to get the irritation reduced or removed. By applying stretching and pressure to the afflicted lower back area where the pain originated, it can free up the pressure on the nerve. 

MLS Laser Therapy

 MLS laser therapy uses two types of light, one that stays on and one that pulses. This is the most effective. Laser therapy is effective in reducing low back pain and in reducing inflammation. This promotes healing and helps at the cellular level. It is a painless treatment that is easy to get, and you just have to lay there and let it happen. 

Acupuncture

 Acupuncture is one of the oldest known Chinese therapies. It uses thin needles to stimulate the Chi, which is the energy that travels through the body. When you are in pain, there is a disruption in the flow and the purpose of the needles is to clear that. 

Platelet-rich Plasma 

 Injections of platelet-rich plasma are effective in promoting healing to damaged discs that may be putting pressure on the sciatic nerve, causing all the symptoms that are the result of the pressure. The plasma is your blood, so there is no chance of rejection. Depending on the cause of your sciatica, the injection may be directly into the disc or the epidural space around the spine.

For help with sciatica in Howell and Novi, Michigan contact Rehabilitation Physicians. To make an appointment, call (248) 893-3200 for both Novi and Howell.