What foods should be avoided with sciatica?

Written by Guan Yu Hua
Orthopedic Surgery
Updated on May 19, 2025
00:00
00:00

Sciatica is often caused by a herniated lumbar disc, where the nucleus pulposus breaks through the fibrous ring, leading to a series of nerve root compressions. Symptoms include sciatic nerve pain extending along the lateral side of the buttock and thigh, numbness, and pain on the dorsum of the leg and foot. Walking becomes difficult, with sensations of shortened tendons, and dressing or putting on socks in the morning feels particularly strenuous. Diagnosis can usually be confirmed with a CT scan of the lumbar spine. Once diagnosed, it is recommended that patients use medications that promote blood circulation and alleviate pain, or drugs that nourish the nerves. Strict bed rest is crucial, along with local heat application. During medication, foods that are spicy and stimuli like alcohol can have an impact, although some medications require the use of yellow wine, this is an exception. However, it is best to avoid spicy foods during the medication period. Strict bed rest should continue generally for ten days, after which symptoms should ease and gradually disappear. Treatments may also include traction, which can effectively relieve nerve compression and restore the normal physiological curvature of the lumbar spine, reducing compressive symptoms. If conservative treatment fails, interventional surgery, such as ozone ablation surgery, may be considered. This is a frequently used method with decent effectiveness, but there is a possibility of recurrence. (Medication should be used under the guidance of a doctor.)

Other Voices

doctor image
home-news-image
Written by Guan Yu Hua
Orthopedic Surgery
58sec home-news-image

Can sciatica patients walk?

Sciatica can be managed with activities like walking, brisk walking, or jogging. It is best to walk or even walk backwards. It is important to avoid sitting for long periods, bending over, or carrying heavy objects. When the spine is bent, it can increase the pressure on the intervertebral discs, potentially worsening the nucleus pulposus, rupturing the annulus fibrosus, and causing a series of symptoms related to nerve root compression. This compression can cause local swelling, which can press on the nerves to varying degrees. It is recommended to strictly rest on a hard bed, and generally, with about ten days to two weeks of warming up the lower back, recovery is usually achievable. Gradual relief and disappearance of symptoms can occur, and it is advisable to avoid sitting for long periods, bending, or carrying heavy loads. Moderate walking is suitable.

doctor image
home-news-image
Written by Na Hong Wei
Orthopedics
51sec home-news-image

Can sciatica be cured completely?

Sciatica is difficult to cure completely. If it is primary sciatica, which is caused by inflammation of the sciatic nerve, there is a possibility of complete cure after medical treatment. However, secondary sciatica is generally difficult to completely cure because it is usually caused by spinal diseases, such as herniated discs, spinal stenosis, or even spondylolisthesis. In such cases, even after solving the primary disease, some problems may persist, continuing to stimulate the sciatic nerve, making it difficult to cure completely. If the sciatica is caused by spinal tuberculosis or a spinal tumor, the situation is even more complicated. Even if the primary lesion is resolved, it cannot guarantee that it will not recur. Therefore, sciatica is difficult to cure completely.

doctor image
home-news-image
Written by Na Hong Wei
Orthopedics
52sec home-news-image

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.

doctor image
home-news-image
Written by Na Hong Wei
Orthopedics
1min 27sec home-news-image

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.

doctor image
home-news-image
Written by Lv Yao
Orthopedics
29sec home-news-image

Which department should I visit for sciatica?

Pain in the sciatic nerve first requires a visit to orthopedics or spinal surgery to look into whether the pain is caused by a herniated disc compressing the nerve root. If examinations or imaging studies find no abnormalities, we might consider the possibility of piriformis syndrome, or other reasons causing the nerve pain. You can then consult the pain management department to determine the cause and receive appropriate treatment, primarily involving orthopedics and pain management.