What foods should be avoided with sciatica?

Written by Li Jin
Orthopedics
Updated on February 22, 2025
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Patients with sciatic nerve pain should be cautious with their diet in daily life. Avoid consuming spicy and stimulating foods such as chili peppers and black pepper. Avoid high-fat, high-calorie foods such as fatty meats, barbecued and fried foods. Also, reduce the intake of foods high in sugar like various pastries and sweets, as these foods are detrimental to health. Patients with sciatic nerve pain should eat more foods rich in high-quality protein and vitamins such as milk, eggs, beans, chicken, fish, fresh vegetables, and fruits. These foods are beneficial to health.

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Written by Na Hong Wei
Orthopedics
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Which department should I register for sciatica?

Sciatica is divided into primary and secondary types. Primary sciatica is caused by inflammation of the sciatic nerve itself, thus one should visit the Department of Neurology. Secondary sciatica is more common and usually stems from spinal conditions, so initially one should visit the Department of Spinal Surgery. Alternatively, one can visit the Department of Orthopedics, which deals with broader orthopedic issues. If experiencing severe acute pain, a visit to the Pain Management Department can provide rapid and effective pain relief. For frequent episodes of sciatica and interest in rehabilitation, the Rehabilitation Department can be considered. Additionally, traditional Chinese medicine has unique approaches to treating sciatica, so visiting the Department of Traditional Chinese Medicine to try treatments with Chinese herbs and methods is also an option.

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Written by Na Hong Wei
Orthopedics
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How to treat sciatica

Sciatica typically has two treatment methods. One is non-surgical treatment, which is currently the first and most commonly used approach. The first step is general treatment, meaning that once symptoms of sciatica occur, one should rest on a hard board bed. Second, one can combine this with some heat applications to the lumbar area, physical therapy, and acupuncture; all of these are options. The third is traction therapy, which is very effective for discogenic sciatica, as it can reduce the pressure on the intervertebral disc, thereby increasing the volume of the spinal canal and enlarging the area of the intervertebral foramen, thus reducing stimulation to the nerve. Fourth, one can consider undergoing sacral canal injections, or using papain or collagenase for chemical dissolution of the nucleus pulposus, which usually can also achieve a good effect. The fifth point is that when symptoms are reduced, one should start exercising the lumbar and back muscles to increase their strength and enhance the stability of the lumbar spine, thereby ensuring the stability of the intervertebral disc. It should be mentioned that massage and manipulation are quite effective for herniation of the disc nucleus pulposus, but if there is already obvious osteophyte formation, narrowing of the intervertebral space, or disorder of the facet joints, or even lumbar spinal stenosis, then massage and manipulation are not recommended. If the aforementioned treatments prove ineffective, the condition does not relieve or even worsens, or if there is central herniation of the lumbar disc, or if the patient shows significant cauda equina nerve stimulation symptoms, then surgical treatment is required.

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Written by Na Hong Wei
Orthopedics
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What does sciatica cause?

Sciatica generally causes changes in six aspects. The first is pain, which mainly occurs along the distribution area of the sciatic nerve, including the back of the thigh, the posterior and lateral sides of the calf, and the lateral side of the foot and sole. I have seen a patient with severe sciatica who had to stay in bed with his head down and buttocks up to minimize spinal canal pressure, finding some relief only in this position. The second change is a decrease in muscle strength, which can even lead to muscle atrophy. The third aspect involves the pathway of the sciatic nerve, including the exit of the piriformis muscle, with tenderness and percussion pain along the course of the nerve. The fourth aspect includes symptoms of sciatic nerve traction, which involves positive results in straight leg raise tests and cross-legged tests. The fifth point is a weakened or absent Achilles reflex, due to the sciatic nerve's innervation of the muscles on the back of the thigh, leading to a decrease or disappearance of the Achilles reflex. The sixth point is abnormal sensations in the area innervated by the sciatic nerve, including reduced or lost sensations or mild sensory disturbances.

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Written by Guan Jing Tao
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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 Na Hong Wei
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What to check for sciatica

Sciatica is divided into primary sciatica and secondary sciatica. Secondary sciatica is very common and is mainly due to diseases of the spinal canal, including herniated lumbar discs, lumbar spinal stenosis, or spinal tumors compressing the spinal cord and nerve roots. Another condition is piriformis syndrome, where the sciatic nerve exits; if there is narrowing here, it can also cause sciatica. Therefore, clinically, one starts with secondary sciatica, conducting either a lumbar spine CT scan or an MRI, which can basically clarify the location causing the compression. Another type is called primary sciatica, which is caused by inflammation of the sciatic nerve, and is an internal medicine disease, not an orthopedic disease. This requires an electromyography (EMG). After completing the EMG, the diagnosis can generally be made based on the injured muscle or the muscle with abnormal electromotor conduction. Thus, the routine examinations for sciatica are X-rays, CT, MRI, and the non-routine examination is the EMG.