Is moxibustion effective for sciatica?

Written by Cheng Bin
Orthopedics
Updated on May 24, 2025
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First of all, it must be affirmed that moxibustion can promote local blood circulation, thereby effectively improving the edema of the sciatic nerve and alleviating symptoms of sciatic nerve pain. Thus, moxibustion is effective.

In addition to moxibustion for patients with sciatic nerve pain, other treatments such as acupuncture, electrical stimulation, traction, massage, and cupping can also be combined with very good effects. For those with severe pain, oral administration of non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs and blood-activating and stasis-removing drugs can be used.

For those with severe spinal nerve compression that cannot be improved through conservative treatment, it is necessary to actively consider surgical treatment to relieve the pressure on the spinal nerves and create conditions for the recovery of sciatic nerve pain.

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Written by Lv Yao
Orthopedics
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Can sciatica patients run?

The pain of the sciatic nerve is generally caused by degeneration of the intervertebral disc. The nucleus pulposus protrudes through the rupture of the fibrous ring of the degenerated disc, compressing the nerve root, which leads to symptoms such as sciatic nerve pain, numbness, and even restricted movement when walking. The intervertebral disc serves to absorb shocks and cushion the pressure on the lower back. During running, the load on the lower back increases, which could potentially exacerbate the symptoms of sciatic nerve pain. Therefore, it is best to avoid running exercises when sciatic nerve pain is caused by degeneration of the intervertebral disc.

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Written by Na Hong Wei
Orthopedics
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How to relieve sciatic nerve pain

How to alleviate sciatica pain. First, it is necessary to rest in bed absolutely, especially sleeping on a firm bed. While sleeping on a firm bed, you can also pad a soft pad in the lumbar area and place a soft pillow under the knee joints. The main purpose is to keep the knee and hip joints in a flexed state, allowing the muscles in the lower back to fully relax. Second, you can take some non-steroidal anti-inflammatory painkillers orally. Third, you can use traction therapy. Traction therapy is very effective for relieving sciatica pain as it can reduce the pressure inside the disc and expand the volume of the spinal canal, thus alleviating the stimulation and compression of the nerve roots. Fourth, you can consider undergoing physiotherapy, massage, and manipulation. However, aggressive massage is not recommended. Fifth, you can undergo intradiscal blockade or sacral canal injections. Sixth, you can perform nucleoplasty, which involves injecting collagenase into the intervertebral disc, or between the dura mater and the protruding nucleus pulposus. This often requires the intervention of a pain specialist. Therefore, after the aforementioned treatments, sciatica pain should generally be alleviated. If there is no relief or if symptoms worsen, then surgical treatment may be necessary.

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Written by Guan Jing Tao
Orthopedics
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Where to perform moxibustion for sciatica

Typical sciatica, in addition to soreness and numbness in the buttocks, is accompanied by sensory abnormalities in the back of the thigh, the back of the calf, the lateral muscles, and the foot. Thus, the location for moxibustion treatment spans from the buttocks to the thigh and calf, targeting corresponding traditional Chinese medicine acupoints progressively. This can alleviate, to some extent, the sensory abnormalities in the buttocks and lower limbs caused by sciatica. It is recommended to concurrently take oral medications that nourish the nerves to collectively reduce symptoms and shorten the duration of the illness. If there is no significant relief after two to four weeks of treatment, it is advised to revisit the hospital for further examination and treatment. Hospitalization for systematic treatment may be necessary.

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Written by Ai Bing Quan
General Surgery
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How to treat sciatica?

Patients with sciatic nerve pain must rest in bed, especially those whose pain is caused by nerve compression. They must pay close attention to keeping warm and resting regularly, and use heat application on the waist and buttocks. For medicinal treatment, the drugs are mainly divided into Western medicine and traditional Chinese medicine. Western medicine primarily uses non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs and neurotrophic drugs. Traditional Chinese medicine mainly uses drugs that invigorate the blood to promote the repair of nerve edema and surrounding tissue swelling. Treatment can also include acupuncture and physical therapy, particularly ultrashort wave therapy and direct current iontophoresis during the acute phase, combined with acupuncture, which can effectively promote the alleviation of sciatic nerve pain.

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Written by Na Hong Wei
Orthopedics
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Which department should I register for sciatica?

Sciatica is divided into primary and secondary types. Primary sciatica is caused by inflammation of the sciatic nerve itself, thus one should visit the Department of Neurology. Secondary sciatica is more common and usually stems from spinal conditions, so initially one should visit the Department of Spinal Surgery. Alternatively, one can visit the Department of Orthopedics, which deals with broader orthopedic issues. If experiencing severe acute pain, a visit to the Pain Management Department can provide rapid and effective pain relief. For frequent episodes of sciatica and interest in rehabilitation, the Rehabilitation Department can be considered. Additionally, traditional Chinese medicine has unique approaches to treating sciatica, so visiting the Department of Traditional Chinese Medicine to try treatments with Chinese herbs and methods is also an option.