Article by:
Amelia Grant
If you have sciatica, you understand how terrible it can be and how urgently you need sciatic pain treatment. Any inflammation of the sciatic nerve can swiftly disable a person. The sciatic nerve is the body's largest, thickest, and longest nerve. It goes from the lower back and spine to the hips and buttocks, then down each leg. This vital nerve can become irritated, injured, inflamed, pinched, or compressed, resulting in pain, discomfort, weakness, and occasionally tingling or numbness in the legs, hips, or buttocks.
Whether your sciatic pain is caused by a vehicle accident, an injury like a herniated disc, or a disease like piriformis syndrome (piriformis muscle spasms), there are several conservative therapy options available to help relieve your symptoms right now. Here are seven strategies for quick sciatic pain alleviation.
1. Use Hot and Cold Packs for Quick Sciatic Pain Relief
Sciatic nerve discomfort can be relieved fast at home. Use ice packs for the first 72 hours of sciatica pain, especially if it is the result of an injury. Ice lowers swelling, which may alleviate sciatic nerve compression. Never use an ice pack directly on your skin; instead, wrap it in a towel and apply it for 15-20 minutes at a time.
After the first 72 hours, you can use heat. Use a heating pad for 20 minutes at a time. Heat can relax spasming or tense muscles, relieving pain and stress. If you are still in pain after a few days of utilizing heat, you can alternate between using ice and heat on the sore area, depending on which treatment provides the most help.
2. Try Over-The-Counter Medications
Medication can help alleviate pain and inflammation. Make careful to see your doctor before beginning any pharmacological therapy. Common over-the-counter drugs for sciatic pain treatment are:
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NSAIDs
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Acetaminophen
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Naproxen sodium
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Aspirin
3. Don’t Stop Moving
When suffering from sciatic nerve damage, you may want to avoid moving. Despite how difficult it may appear, you must continue to move to keep your body from weakening and incurring extra chronic pain. Don't stay in bed, but don't overdo it either: listen to your body and give it what it requires. Moving about and doing mild stretches may be all you need for quick sciatic pain relief.
4. Quick Sciatic Pain Relief Stretches
Gentle stretches will keep your muscles active and reduce compression or pinching. Improving your strength and flexibility will help not only with current sciatic pain but also avoid future flare-ups. Lower back discomfort in the lumbar spine can be quickly relieved with easy back muscle and spinal cord stretching exercises.
Healthline advises the following ten sciatic pain relief stretches. You may not yet be flexible enough for all of these exercises, so adjust as needed and go at your own pace.
5. Try Alternative Therapies
Some less common alternative treatments may provide speedier relief from sciatic pain. This includes:
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Acupuncture
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Massage
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Yoga
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Stress management
6. Go to Physical Therapy
Doctors frequently recommend physical therapy to treat and manage acute or persistent sciatic pain. PT typically employs the most immediate treatment methods (cooling, heating, massage, stretching, strength, and flexibility exercises) to provide pain relief, address the underlying cause of sciatica nerve pain, and avoid additional injury and flare-ups. Physical therapy can also help to restore function and mobility, as well as encourage brain reorganization for reduced pain perception. Physical therapists will collaborate with your physician to develop the optimal treatment plan for your pain and injury.
7. Know When to See a Doctor for Sciatic Pain Relief
If you haven't found relief from sciatica symptoms with conservative therapy, your pain lasts more than six weeks, or you have numbness and tingling, you should consult a doctor. Orthopedic doctors can provide competent sciatic treatment that addresses both pain and the underlying cause of sciatic nerve injury. Your initial visit may involve a physical exam and imaging, which will help your doctor determine the quickest and most effective strategy to get you back to an active lifestyle.