The sciatic nerve is the longest nerve in the body. It originates in your lower spinal cord and ends in your foot. The term "sciatica" refers to the pain, weakness, numbness and tingling that you feel with injury or compression to your sciatic nerve. The most common causes include spinal stenosis, degenerative disk disease, spinal tumors, trauma, piriformis syndrome and foraminal stenosis, according to the Mayo Clinic. Sciatic nerve problems are first treated with conservative measures before more aggressive treatments are explored.
Conservative Cures
Step 1
Apply an ice pack to the area that is causing you discomfort. Place the ice pack on the painful area for 20 minutes, and then remove from the area for 20 minutes. Place an ice pack on your lower back if an ice pack at the painful area is ineffective. Repeat this process several times a day as tolerated.
Step 2
Apply heat to the painful areas 48 hours after the onset of pain. Place the heating pad on your lower back if applying it to your painful area does not give you relief. Use your warm pack or heating pad on the lowest setting to prevent skin burns. Alternate cold and warm packs, if you continue to have pain.
Step 3
Stretch your lower legs and your lower back to help relieve nerve root compression and the resulting pain, if you have a herniated disk. Hold each stretch for 30 seconds and avoid bouncing, twisting and excessive stretching.
Step 4
Exercise regularly if trauma is not the cause of your sciatic nerve injury. Start with low-impact exercises such as biking or water aerobics, even if you have degenerative disease, spinal stenosis, spinal tumor, spondylolisthesis or piriformis syndrom. Perform exercises you can tolerate or those given to you by a physical therapist. Progress to walking three to five times a week for 30 minutes if you can tolerate low-impact exercise.
Step 5
Take over-the-counter pain relievers to reduce pain and inflammation along the sciatic nerve. Read the labels on each medication and use as directed.
Aggressive Cures
Step 1
Schedule an appointment with your doctor to discuss more aggressive treatments. Follow your doctor's plan to take prescription medications, such as anti-inflammatory medications, muscle relaxants, tricyclic antidepressants or anticonvulsants.
Step 2
Discuss the option of epidural steroid injections as a cure for sciatic nerve problems. Tell your doctor about other steroid medications you are taking and whether you have received epidural steroid injections in the past. Discuss whether or not they were effective in treating your symptoms.
Step 3
Discuss surgical options with your doctor if you have severe degenerative disease, trauma, spinal or sciatic nerve tumor or other more severe causes. Ask your doctor about the success rates of recommended procedures and inquire about possible complications of each particular surgery.
Tips and Warnings
- Most self-care cures are adequate to treat sciatic nerve problems. Do not overuse over-the-counter medications without consulting your doctor.
Things You'll Need
- Ice pack
- Heating pad
