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For most people, sciatica responds to self-care measures. Although resting for a day or so may provide relief, staying inactive will make symptoms worse. Other self-care treatments that might help include: Cold packs. Place a cold pack on the painful area for up to 20 minutes several times a day.
Sciatica happens when irritation, inflammation, pinching or compression affect one or more nerves that run down your lower back and into your legs. It’s usually not a serious or dangerous condition, and most people with sciatica get better on their own with time and self-care treatments.
Treatment Most people with sciatica get better in a few weeks without surgery. Over-the-counter pain relievers like ibuprofen ( Advil ) and naproxen ( Aleve ) can help relieve pain, although...
Most people with sciatica don’t end up needing surgery, and about half get better within 6 weeks with home treatment, rest, and medication. Your sciatic nerve branches off from your spinal cord...
Most people recover fully from sciatica caused by herniated disks, often without treatment. But sciatica can damage nerves. Seek immediate medical attention for: Loss of feeling in the affected leg. Weakness in the affected leg. Loss of bowel or bladder control. Prevention. It's not always possible to prevent sciatica, and the condition can ...
Use WebMD's slideshow to learn ways to get relief from sciatica, such as applying heat or cold, physical therapy, over-the-counter medicine, or an epidural injection.
What is the treatment for sciatica? Sciatica usually heals on its own with rest and time. To help relieve the pain, treatment may include: Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory (NSAIDS) medicines such as ibuprofen. Heat or cold applied to the sore muscles. Movement (keeping your body in motion minimizes inflammation) Osteopathic manipulation
Physical therapy can be an excellent treatment option for sciatica. It often involves learning stretches to improve your flexibility, techniques for pain control and exercises to strengthen and condition the muscles that support your back.
Many people try treatments like physical therapy, massage, acupuncture, and chiropractic manipulation, but evidence suggests that while these approaches may help typical low back pain, they are less helpful for sciatica. Over-the-counter pain medicines like ibuprofen and naproxen can help.
Dr. Mark Kovacs, a certified strength and conditioning specialist, adds that the best way to alleviate most sciatica pain is to do “any stretch that can externally rotate the hip to provide some...