Back Patches for Sciatic Pain
The sciatic nerve is the thickest, longest nerve in the human body. Damage to this nerve can cause pain down the entire leg, and serious cases can be debilitating. Topical pain relievers may alleviate symptoms, but they will not heal the sciatica itself.
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Sciatica
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Sciatica can occur due to any sort of damage to the sciatic nerve, such as a herniated disc, a harsh fall or anything that may press on or transect the sciatic nerve. Damage may occur anywhere along the length of the entire nerve.
Mentholated Patches
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Mentholated patches usually consist of a combination of menthol, camphor and methyl salicylate. These ingredients stimulate warm/cold receptors, increasing circulation to the injured area to temporarily reduce tightness or pain. These patches may provide temporary pain relief but may not travel deep enough to relieve the sciatic nerve itself.
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Heat Patches
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Heat patches work through iron oxidation that generates heat when the mixture of ingredients in the patch is exposed to air. Similar to mentholated patches, the constant heat can help alleviate pain symptomatic of sciatica, but it may not reach the sciatic nerve itself.
Herbal Patches
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Herbal patches work similarly to mentholated patches, using a blend of natural ingredients, such as spearmint, arnica and eucalyptus, to generate a warm/cold stimulus. The circulation helps alleviate symptoms but usually does not travel deep enough to affect the sciatic nerve directly.
Treatment
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According to the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons, 80 to 90 percent of those suffering from sciatica recover without surgery. Conservative measurers include rest, anti-inflammatory medications and modifications to avoid motions or positions that irritate the nerve. Improvement usually occurs in a matter of weeks.
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