What foods should be avoided with sciatica?

Written by Guan Yu Hua
Orthopedic Surgery
Updated on May 19, 2025
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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.)

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Written by Guan Jing Tao
Orthopedics
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Is it useful to take calcium supplements for sciatica?

Generally speaking, supplementing calcium has very limited effects on sciatica. Sciatica is typically caused by compression at the location where the nerves deviate, or by herniated lumbar discs, leading to compression of the sciatic nerve. This means that different compression sites require different treatment methods. For sciatica, if it is caused by a herniated lumbar disc compressing the nerve, minimally invasive surgery can be performed when necessary to remove the protruding disc tissue. If the sciatic nerve is compressed near the buttocks or the piriformis, surgery may be required to remove part of the tissue to relieve or loosen the compressed sciatic nerve. In terms of medication, oral nutritional supplements for nerves, anti-inflammatory and blood-activating drugs can be used to improve the condition of the compressed sciatic nerve. This can further alleviate corresponding symptoms such as pain and sensory abnormalities, while the role of calcium supplementation is very limited or ineffective. (The use of medication should be under the guidance of a professional doctor.)

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Written by Guan Yu Hua
Orthopedic Surgery
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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.

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Written by Lv Yao
Orthopedics
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Which department should I go to for sciatica?

For sciatic nerve pain, it is recommended to first consult an orthopedic or spinal surgery specialist. Initially, it is important to determine the cause of the pain, such as whether it is caused by a herniated disc pressing on the nerve root. If it is confirmed that the pain is not caused by a herniated disc pressing on the nerve root, and it is purely sciatic nerve pain, you can then visit a pain management clinic to check for potential issues like piriformis syndrome. In essence, start with an orthopedic consultation to rule out orthopedic conditions. If no orthopedic issues are found, then consult a pain management specialist.

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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 Guan Jing Tao
Orthopedics
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Does sciatica cause numbness in the legs?

Sciatica can cause sensory abnormalities in one lower limb and even lead to muscle weakness. It can also cause numbness and sensory abnormalities on the dorsum or sole of the foot. However, foot numbness should first exclude causes like exposure to cold or poor blood circulation in the lower limbs. After excluding other causes of foot numbness, it can be diagnosed as sciatica-induced symptoms such as foot numbness. At this time, it is advisable to actively nourish the nerves and avoid certain postures that may aggravate sciatica. Additionally, sciatica can also be caused by lumbar disc herniation, or simply by the local compression of the sciatic nerve in its course.