Sciatica is pain in the buttock and leg, caused by pressure on nerves in the lower back. Sciatica can be caused by slipped discs, pinched nerves or some forms of arthritis. Treatment options include rest, painkillers, epidural injections and surgery.
Sciatica most often occurs when a herniated disk or an overgrowth of bone puts pressure on part of the nerve. This causes inflammation, pain and often some numbness in the affected leg.
Go to Physical Therapy
PT usually involves most rapid relief remedies (icing, heating, massage, stretching, strength, and flexibility exercises) to provide pain relief, eliminate the underlying cause of the sciatica nerve pain, and prevent further injury and flare-ups.
The safest way to work out with sciatica is to look for low-impact (usually cardio) exercises. The most common options are: Riding a stationary bike. Walking.
Anti-inflammatory drugs - You can use pain relief medication such as ibuprofen and other anti-inflammatory drugs that can be bought over the counter in your local pharmacy. These help to reduce swelling, pain and inflammation in the muscles surrounding your spine.
Even though it probably hurts to some degree, walking is actually good for sciatica. Dr. Shah points out that walking promotes blood flow throughout the body, and can even make the nerves more resilient.
RP90: This pressure point is located on the lower back, about two inches away from the spine on either side. Applying pressure to this point can help relieve lower back pain and sciatica pain.
Supplying the body with vital vitamins and minerals assists in overall health in general, including improvement from sciatica. Daily doses of supplements such as calcium, magnesium, St. John's Wort, and Vitamin B12 have shown to treat sciatica effectively.
Processed and sugary foods can increase inflammation, worsening sciatic nerve pain. Avoid eating foods high in saturated fat, processed carbohydrates, and added sugars to reduce your risk of sciatica flare-ups.
To minimize stress to the sciatic nerve while sitting, it is recommended to sit straight with the shoulders rolled back and shoulder blades down. The legs must be hip-distance apart with feet flat on the floor.
Most sciatic pain lasts 4–6 weeks. Acute pain can feel like a stabbing, shooting, or burning sensation, which may subside into a dull ache. Sciatica becomes chronic if it lasts longer than 6 weeks and does not improve.
In addition to providing hydration, drinking water has the potential to alleviate sciatica, a common source of lower back and leg pain. Drinking water can slow the progression of symptoms and ease discomfort.
Sciatica usually gets better in 4 to 6 weeks, but it can sometimes last longer.
The good news about sciatic pain is that it usually goes away on its own with time and some self-care treatments.
Massage therapy can be an important part of your sciatica treatment plan—providing temporary but effective pain relief, stimulating your body to produce natural pain-relieving hormones, and enhancing the body's own healing abilities. A massage can also provide an overall relaxing and enjoyable experience.
When you use topical medication, apply the cream/gel or lidocaine patch to your rear pelvis—where your sciatic nerve roots are located. Treating this area, rather than your thigh or calf where the pain may be more, will help control and numb the pain at its origin and also calm the nearby nerves.
There are four sciatica exercises your spine specialist may recommend to help you reduce sciatic nerve pain caused by degenerative disc disease: pelvic tilt, knee to chest, lower trunk rotations, and all fours opposite arm and leg extensions.
The “walk it off” mentality may be popular in some sports disciplines, but patients that suffer from sciatica should avoid pushing through the pain. As a matter of fact, this may lead to more intense pain and additional symptoms, so living in pain is not a good alternative.