5 Ways to Soothe Sciatica

The discomfort associated with sciatica can be grueling and interfere with day-to-day obligations. It can turn activities you love into torture and prevent you from having a good night’s sleep. To get some relief, try the following.

Wait

If your pain has only lasted a couple of days or weeks, ask yourself what you are doing differently, and if any new activities could be the cause of your pain. Even if you can’t find a culprit, take this as a sign to give yourself rest if you are able. Most of the time, sciatica will resolve on its own within weeks of the onset.

Cold Packs

Avoid heat packs completely. Sciatica is the result of inflammation, so you’re going to want to reduce circulation to the area, not increase it. You can achieve this with a cold pack wrapped in a towel. Cold not only reduces blood flow, but it also reduces your nerves’ ability to broadcast pain.

Stretching

Sciatic nerve pain may lessen with some gentle stretches targeting the lower back. Rather than going to a yoga teacher, you may want to seek out corrective personal training Ashburn VA so you know the exercises you are doing will improve your condition rather than worsen it.

Pain Relievers

When choosing an over-the-counter pain reliever, make sure you pick an NSAID (non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug). If those don’t cut it, your doctor may be able to prescribe you something stronger, such as a muscle relaxer or a steroid injection.

Get Up

If you have a desk job, be sure that you’re making time during your day to get up and walk around. This will relieve the pressure sitting puts on your spine and may reduce flair-ups.

If these options don’t help with your pain, be sure to inform your doctor. He or she will be able to help you find a solution that works.