If you experience symptoms such as burning or tingling that travels down your leg, pain on one side of the buttocks or in a leg that worsens when you sit, a constant pain on one side of your buttocks or a sharp pain making it difficult to stand or walk, you may be suffering from sciatica. This occurs when pressure is placed on the nerve root in the lower back which forms part of the sciatic nerve, as Stephen H. Hochschuler, MD, of Spine-Health.com explains. For many, sciatica pain subsides on its own over a period of weeks or months with simple treatment measures.
Step 1
Apply ice and heat to reduce inflammation around the sciatic nerve. The Mayo Clinic recommends applying ice packs for the first two to three days before switching to heat, but Hochschuler states that some people find more relief with heat first instead. Begin by wrapping an ice pack in a towel and placing it over the area causing you pain for approximately 20 minutes, then taking it off for 20 minutes. Repeat this every two hours. The same applies when using heat packs. You can use heating pads set on low, heat lamps or moist heat.
Step 2
Take over-the-counter medications. In most cases, sciatica responds well to self-care measures, including taking over-the-counter medications. Some, like acetaminophen, only reduce pain, while others, like ibuprofen, reduce both inflammation and pain. Both have pros and cons; the acetaminophen can result in liver damage when taken over long periods of time, while the ibuprofen can cause ulcers and stomach bleeding.
Step 3
Ask your doctor about epidural steroid injections. Epidural steroid injections are an option for those suffering from severe sciatica pain, and as Hochschuler explains, their effects can last as little as one week, or may be effective for as long as one year. This treatment does not work for everyone. It differs from oral medications as a method of pain treatment in that the steroids are injected directly into the area surrounding the sciatic nerve, decreasing inflammation, which reduces the pain.
Step 4
Attend regular physical therapy sessions. While resting for a day or two is enticing, especially when sciatica pain is at its worst, Hochschuler warns that immobility beyond this time frame proves only more detrimental to your situation, resulting in a worsening of the pain. To combat this, attend regular physical therapy sessions which helps reduce the stress on the lower back and reduce the pain. He adds that the regular exercise routine physical therapy offers, which includes gentle stretches and strengthening, assists you in recovering more quickly.
Step 5
Undergo surgery. The Mayo Clinic states that surgery is typically a last resort and is saved for those suffering from loss of bladder or bowel control, or pain that becomes progressively worse or that doesn't respond to other therapies. During this procedure the doctor removes a portion of the herniated--or compressed--disk that is pressing on the sciatic nerve. The Mayo Clinic recommends discussing all benefits and disadvantages with your doctor first before making your choice.
