Sciatica treatment with conservative medications

Sciatica can happen when the sciatic nerve is irritated or squeezed. The main symptom is pain; the first treatment focuses on managing it with medicines. Before starting treatment, doctors will usually do a detailed check-up. It involves discussing the patient's health history and doing a physical examination and some tests, including the neurological exam, to make a treatment plan. Physicians use pain relievers like ibuprofen or naproxen, which work by reducing swelling. If they don't help, the doctor might suggest more potent medicines like muscle relaxants. In addition, particular nerve pain medicines, like gabapentin or pregabalin, change how the brain gets signals about pain from the nerves. If the pain is very severe or doesn't get better with other medicines, the doctor might suggest injections of steroids. These are given in the lower back, near the sciatic nerve. Steroid injections can help reduce the swelling and inflammation that's pressing on the nerve. The main goal of these medicines is to help control the pain from sciatica. They can't cure the condition but make it easier for the person to move and do their daily tasks. It is essential because staying active is a part of recovery. As the pain improves, the person can start physical therapy or exercises to strengthen their back.