Alternative Treatments for Sciatica: Acupuncture, Acupressure, Biofeedback, and Yoga

Your doctor's treatment plan for sciatica may include alternative treatments such as acupuncture or acupressure, biofeedback, and yoga. Many patients have reported that alternative treatments have really helped. You may want to try:

• Acupuncture or Acupressure: Practitioners believe your body has an energy force called Qi or Chi (pronounced "chee"). They think that when Chi is blocked, you can develop physical illness. Both acupuncture and acupressure work to restore a healthy, energetic flow of Chi. (These Eastern approaches to healing are different from Western scientific concepts. That doesn't make them better or worse; it just makes them different.)

  In acupuncture, the practitioner inserts fine needles into your body at specific points (it doesn't hurt, honestly). Acupressure is similar to acupuncture— but there are no needles involved. The practitioner uses thumbs, fingers, and elbows instead of needles.

• Biofeedback: This is more than telling your body, "Stop feeling pain." Biofeedback is a mind-body therapy that teaches you how to change, or control a habitual reaction to pain or stress. For example, if muscle tension is causing your sciatica, you could learn deep-breathing techniques and mental exercises to help you relax.
• Yoga: If piriformis syndrome is the cause of your sciatica, yoga can help. Some yoga movements can gently stretch the piriformis muscle. As a word of caution, some yoga positions can make sciatica worse. Avoid positions that involve forward folds, twisting, or stretching the back of your legs. These movements can further irritate your sciatica.