Sciatica Pain Relief Using Virtual Reality (VR) Therapy

Sciatica is pain that travels down each leg along the sciatic nerve, which runs from your lower back to your hips and buttocks. Sciatica usually affects only a single side of the human body.

When the sciatic nerve is injured or compressed, it can cause discomfort in the lower back that radiates to the hip, buttocks, and leg. Sciatica can be treated without surgery in up to 90% of cases.

The sciatic nerve is the body's longest and thickest (almost a finger's breadth) nerve. This nerve, which is created by the junction of five nerve roots in the lumbar and sacral spine, is the largest single nerve in the human. The right and left sciatic nerves, which provide the associated lower limb, are the two sciatic nerves in the body.

• In general, 5 to 10 percent of people with low back pain have sciatica, but the lifetime prevalence of low back pain is believed to be between 49 and 70 percent.

Symptoms of Sciatica 

Pain can range from dull discomfort to a sharp, searing sensation or severe agony. It can feel like a jolt or an electric shock at times. Coughing or sneezing can make it worse, and sitting for lengthy periods of time might exacerbate symptoms. An only a single side of the body is usually affected.

Numbness, tingling, or muscle weakness in the affected leg or foot are also common. You can experience pain in one part of your leg and numbness in another.

See Also: Chronic Pain Treatment Using Virtual Reality

How sciatica pain can be relieved

Even if the pain is severe, sciatica may usually be eased with physical therapy, chiropractic and massage treatments, strengthening and flexibility exercises, and the use of heat and ice packs.

See Also: VR solution for pain relief

Sciatica pain and Virtual Reality 

Virtual Reality has proved very effective in pain management. It is a fantastic way to deal with pain. It seizes the attention of the mind and prevents pain signals from reaching the brain. It's almost as if you're in a state of active hypnosis.

VR gives physical and sensory stimulation, allowing the patient to activate pain-relieving neurotransmitter systems. VR gives physical and sensory stimulation, allowing the patient to activate pain-relieving neurotransmitter systems. 

VR programming operates as a distraction to limit a person's processing of nociceptive stimuli, according to mechanistic theories. VR programming operates as a diversion to minimise a person's processing of nociceptive stimuli by stimulating the visual brain while engaging in other senses.

See Also: augmented reality in medical education

Virtual reality programs are commonly regarded as an excellent and safe pain management therapy for hospitalised patients. This technique might provide rapid relief to those suffering from sciatica. 

A 45 min VR session can take you to another world and help in pain management. Some research even claims that the Virtual reality of frosty landscapes may help to alleviate sciatica pain.

See Also: VR Stretching Game

Conclusion 

It is advised not to lift heavyweight and avoid hard work out, still, sciatica pain can trouble a person without intimation. The best way to deal with this situation is pain relievers, where VR is one of the best options. 

Cognihab is one of the leading companies working to serve people and provide healthcare VR solutions.