While there are a variety of treatment options available, one that's often recommended is traction. But can traction help maximize sciatica pain relief?
If you're one of the millions of people who suffer from sciatic pain, you know how debilitating it can be. From sharp, shooting pains to numbness and tingling, sciatica can make it difficult to do even the most basic activities.
In this blog post, I'll share my personal experience with sciatica and provide insights on treatment options like traction therapy to help alleviate pain and improve quality of life. Keep reading to take control of your health and well-being.
What’s It Like to Have Sciatica and How Does It Affect My Daily Activities?
I have been dealing with sciatica (a condition that causes pain, numbness, and weakness in the lower back and legs) on and off for nearly twenty years now. It first started when I was about 25 years old, about two years into my engineering career.
Before then I never spent so much time sitting in front of a desk. One day all of a sudden, I was sitting at my desk working away and I started to experience a pain in my right butt cheek.
I stood up and paced around my office, kneading my butt cheek with my fist (thankfully I didn’t work in an open-concept office, that would have looked weird).
Over the next few days, it got worse and worse until eventually I could barely walk. It was at this point that I decided to go see a chiropractor.
I spent the next four or five weeks getting treatment. The first couple of weeks I went twice a week and then once a week thereafter. In all, it was about six sessions until I was back to normal.
For my next flare-up, I decided to go see my doctor instead and he prescribed an anti-inflammatory medication. Again it worked but it was a few weeks before I was able to resume my normal activities.
Later in life, the sciatic pain became more acute and I needed relief right then in the moment and didn’t want to spend days and weeks feeling in pain or spending hours going to appointments.
That’s when I started using a TENS machine at home. When I would experience a sciatic attack I’d ask my wife to apply the pads onto my lower back and leg and I would lie down on the couch for 45 minutes getting zapped.
Three to five days of spending 45 minutes to an hour would usually do the trick, but I was completely immobile and reliant on my wife to hook me up. And even after the TENS was done, there was no instant relief. The pain just faded away over the next few days or a week.
How Do I Get My Sciatic Pain to Stop?
When I first tried CoreStraight for sciatica, I was blown away! I wore the device for five minutes and then five minutes after that 95% of my pain was gone. A few hours later it was like I had never experienced a sciatic attack.
CoreStraight uses your body’s physical dimensions to apply traction which safely decompresses the spine and takes pressure off the sciatic nerve. This alleviation of pressure on the sciatic nerve provides relief from symptoms in minutes.
Is Traction Good for Your Spine?
Sciatica is often caused by the compression of the sciatic nerve by a herniated disc or bone spur. Traction can help to realign the spine and reduce the pressure on the sciatic nerve, thereby reducing pain and discomfort.
Traction has a few benefits for the spine including:
- Improved alignment of the spine,
- Improved mobility of the spine,
- Increased blood flow to the affected area.
Traction can also improve the flexibility and mobility of the spine. The stretching and decompression provided by traction can increase the range of motion in the affected area, allowing for better posture and movement. This can lead to an overall improvement in physical function and quality of life.
Lastly, traction can improve blood flow to the affected area. Increased blood flow to the muscles and nerves of the back can promote healing and reduce inflammation. This can lead to a reduction in pain and discomfort, as well as an improvement in overall function.
Conclusion
From my personal experience, I've found traction to be an effective option for sciatica pain relief and improving overall spinal health. While it may not be the sole solution for everyone, it's worth considering as part of a comprehensive treatment plan.
By understanding the potential benefits of traction, you can make an informed decision about whether it's right for you. No matter the path you choose, know that there are options available to help you get back to a more comfortable and active lifestyle.
But, don’t take my word for it. Consult with a healthcare professional before starting any new treatment as traction may not be appropriate for everyone.
