The sciatic nerve is the longest and widest single nerve in the human body. It runs not so aimlessly from the base of the spine and ends in both feet with a gigantic fall. Knowing this certainly helps one understand how sciatica pain works. Indeed, it follows the exact same path as the sciatic nerve with pain stretching right to the feet. Causes for this type of pain are standing or sitting for long periods of time, overstretching, and in some cases lifting weights. But whatever the cause is a sufferer will definitely want relief for sciatic pain symptoms like numbness and itchiness.

Exercise those leg and back muscles with hamstring exercises. Hamstring exercises are pretty simple once you get the hang of it. You lie on your back and hold the back of your thigh. Gently you then proceed to lift your entire leg, holding it at a 90 degree angle with the ground. This stretching will get rid of any numbness and is one of the best forms of nerve pain treatment.

Together with the hamstring exercise you can try out the psoas stretch. With the psoas you again lie on your back but this time you bend both knees and raise them to your chest. This helps flex lower back muscles that may have been tightened and tensed up by prolonged periods of sitting.

Acupuncture has been in use for years in physiotherapy. Acupuncture is where hair thin needles are pushed into skin pores to ease tension related symptoms. Carry out acupuncture in the affected areas carefully with a registered professional. Very slowly all tension will go away and normal blood circulation will commence.

Acute pain is one symptom that is hard to deal with. In most cases pain killers are swallowed as a form of solution. But ice/heat packs work better when it comes to sciatic nerve pain treatment. Gently rub the ice cold pack in the affected areas. After you have done this for a good 10 minutes you can then take your heat pack and do the same. This switching is actually a form of stretching exercise that relieves numbness or pain.

If all these don’t work you can try your hand at massage treatment. The good thing about a massage is that it helps to boost the flow of blood around the back and legs. Sciatic pain sometimes originates from an inhibited flow of blood caused by improper sitting habits or lifting of heavy weights. A massage also encourages the release of endorphins, the feel good hormones.

Last of all I suggest medications like naproxin. Naproxin is an anti-inflammation drug that gets rid of any swellings. But injections work faster with epidural steroid injections’ speedy effect.

Targeted exercises are one of the best treatments for sciatica you can find. Learn more about the causes and treatment options for this condition at the Sciatic Nerve Pain Treatment site.