Can you drink alcohol with sciatica?

Written by Na Hong Wei

Orthopedics

Updated on September 12, 2024

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Can people with sciatica drink alcohol?

This question comes up often. In fact, sciatica is unrelated to drinking alcohol; people with or without sciatica can drink alcohol. However, it is best to drink less if you are suffering from sciatica.

The reason is simple. After consuming alcohol, it might trigger an exacerbation of sciatica symptoms. Secondly, after drinking, the body's coordination and stability decrease, which may lead to uneven walking. At this time, if the sciatica has a specific cause, drinking may aggravate the factors that induce sciatica. Thirdly, excessive drinking is genuinely torturous and also harmful to health. Therefore, it is imperative to drink alcohol in moderation, and it is best to avoid excessive drinking. Otherwise, it is not good for the condition or the person.

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Written by Na Hong Wei

Orthopedics

55sec

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How to treat sciatica?

For sciatica, conservative treatment methods should first be adopted, which include the following five points: The first is general treatment; as soon as sciatica appears, immediately rest in bed, and the bed should be relatively hard. Second, you can apply heat to the lumbar area, use physical therapy, or acupuncture. Third, lumbar traction can be performed, which has a very clear effect in alleviating sciatica. Fourth, consider performing an intradiscal injection or sacral injection therapy, and chemical nucleolysis can also be performed. After the above treatments, if the symptoms and pain are reduced, you can start functional exercises for the lower back muscles. Functional exercises of the lower back muscles play a significant role in enhancing the stability of the lumbar spine. If the effect of the aforementioned treatments is not significant, or if the symptoms worsen, then surgical treatment may be necessary at this time.

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Written by Na Hong Wei

Orthopedics

54sec

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What Chinese medicine is taken for sciatica?

Sciatica is categorized under "Bi Syndrome" in traditional Chinese medicine. There are several Chinese herbal formulas to consider for treatment. The first is Xuan Bi Tong Bi Tang, which has an overall effectiveness rate of about 96%. The second herbal formula is Wu Tou Xi Xin Tong Bi Tang, which also has good therapeutic effects and is statistically shown to be superior to non-steroidal measures. The third medication is Du Huo Ji Sheng Tang, which also has a high effectiveness rate and significant results, but lacks large-scale clinical data. Additionally, in terms of diet, it is advisable to consume dishes such as Sichuan Duan stewed pig tail and other traditional Chinese medicinal foods that include old mulberry branches like Sang Ji Sheng.

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Written by Lv Yao

Orthopedics

53sec

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How to relieve sciatic nerve pain

When experiencing sciatic nerve pain, it is important to first determine the cause. It may be due to a herniated disc compressing the nerve root, or it could be caused by piriformis syndrome. If the pain is caused by a herniated disc and it is the patient's first occurrence, a CT scan can be done. If the herniation is mild, conservative treatment may be chosen, such as wearing a lumbar support and performing some traction. Patients can also actively exercise their back muscles to alleviate the sciatic nerve pain. Additionally, it is recommended to sleep on a firm bed and spend more time lying down than sitting. If the herniation is severe, has been prolonged, or it recurs frequently, it is advised to seek professional treatment in orthopedics. If the pain is due to piriformis syndrome, a visit to a pain management clinic is suggested for symptomatic relief and pain alleviation.

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Written by Na Hong Wei

Orthopedics

1min 8sec

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Symptoms of Sciatica

Symptoms of sciatica: First, sciatica often occurs in the lumbar 4 and lumbar 5, or between lumbar 5 and sacral 1 disc herniation. Second, the primary symptom of sciatica is pain, which typically originates in the lower back and can radiate to the buttock, posterior thigh, the lateral side of the calf, and the lateral edge of the foot sole. Pain usually has a triggering factor, such as coughing, sneezing, defecation, etc., basically any activity that increases abdominal pressure can cause radiating pain of the sciatic nerve. Third, the area innervated by the sciatic nerve may become hypersensitive, with some people feeling pain, others feeling heat, and still others feeling cold, until the later stages where it generally becomes numbness and dullness. Fourth, there are limitations in movement of the lower back or limbs, with many patients reporting a feeling as if there’s a shortened tendon at the back of the thigh, restricting movement. These are the primary symptoms of sciatica.

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Written by Na Hong Wei

Orthopedics

1min 6sec

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How should one sleep with sciatica?

Sciatica is a very painful condition. Paying attention to some details when resting and sleeping can alleviate sciatica to a certain extent. Specifically, the first point is to sleep on a hard bed, preferably a solid wooden bed. If the bed is too soft, consider placing a wooden board on it. Second, lying on your back is better than lying on your side. This is because lying on your back can maintain the stability of the lumbar spine, thereby reducing the pressure on the discs. Third, maintain a moderate flexion of the hips and knees while sleeping. To do this, place a small soft pad under the lower back and a small soft pillow under the knee joints to keep the hip joints in a slightly flexed position. The purpose is to let the muscles of the lower back relax optimally, thus stabilizing the lumbar spine and reducing the burden on the lumbar discs. Therefore, for sciatica, if you sleep on a harder bed in a supine position, and maintain proper knee and hip flexion, it can be very beneficial for recovery.