How to Relieve Sciatica Lower Back Pain with Heat and Cold

Lower back pain remedies for sciatic nerve pain include the application of heat and cold. One of the most effective sciatica treatment options for back pain relief involves alternating heat and cold to the affected area. Read on to learn how to use heat and cold as a natural treatment for sciatica.

Instructions

• 1

  Apply heat to the affected area for 20 to 30 minutes to relieve the lower back pain of sciatica. You can do this using a hot compress or a heating pad set on medium high. Heat provides back pain relief by dilating the blood vessels, which in turn relaxes the muscles. The dilated blood vessels help to supply more oxygen to the affected area, and this reduces muscle spasms and helps to relieve back pain.

• 2

  Take care to NOT apply heat to your lower back for over 20 to 30 minutes at a time. Prolonged application of constant heat to your lower back region can have an adverse effect on organs in the abdominal area.

• 3

  Use the application of cold to the area affected by sciatica using a cold compress or ice pack. This alleviates sciatic nerve pain by reducing inflammation. Cold temperatures decrease the size of the blood vessels, which in turn decreases the flow of blood to the area. If a store-bought ice pack or cold compress or is not available for this sciatica treatment, wrap a bag of ice or a bag of frozen peas in a towel and apply this to the affected area.
  IMPORTANT: Do not apply it directly to bare skin, and do not apply cold for longer than20 to 30 minutes at a time.

• 4

  Alternate the application of heat and cold. This is one of the most effective ways to get back pain relief. Apply heat for 20 to 30 minutes and then cold for 20 to 30 minutes.