Leg pain, tingling, numbness or weakness beginning in the lower back and traveling through the buttocks and down the back of the leg are all symptoms of sciatica, according to the Spine-Health website. For some people, this pain can be debilitating. While nerve damage is rare, the possibility of it occurring still lingers. The treatments for nerve damage are the same as treatments for sciatica, as both are symptoms of injuries such as a herniated disc or spinal stenosis.
Cold Compresses
The University of Maryland Medical Center explains that people should apply ice where pain exists for the first 48 to 72 hours when the pain from the injury first occurs. MayoClinic.com adds that this helps reduce the inflammation and relieve the pain. If an ice pack is not available, wrap a package of peas in a clean towel and apply to the injury. Do this for 20 minutes out of every hour throughout the day.
Heating Pads
Applying some type of heat, whether by using a heating pad or heat lamp or taking a hot bath, can help loosen tight muscles and increase blood circulation where the pain exists. This increases healing time, as blood carries necessary oxygen and nutrients to the sciatic nerve.
Physical Therapy
A physical therapist can help relieve a patient's pain by applying hot and cold compresses as well as through the use of electric stimulation and traction therapy. The therapist also will devise an exercise program that helps the patient strengthen the core muscles in order to prevent any further injuries from occurring. Therapy also improves flexibility, which helps prevent injury to the sciatic nerve in the future.
Epidural Steroid Injections
MayoClinic.com states that epidural steroid injections are directly injected into the affected area, reducing the inflammation around the nerve. The website notes that these injections can provide short-term relief, but the number of injections a person receives is limited because of the side effects.
Surgery
Surgery is typically an option for people with significant weakness or loss of bladder or bowel control, or for those whose symptoms have become worse despite previous therapies, according to MayoClinic.com. The goal of surgery is to remove the portion of the disc causing the nerve damage, while leaving as much of the spinal column in its original condition as possible.
