How to Treat Sciatica

Sciatica is usually treated with self-care methods. You need to follow your doctor's advice and follow his treatment plan regularly. If at any time your symptoms get worse--you lose bowel or bladder control, or have an unexplained fever--consult your physician immediately.

Instructions

• 1

  Treat the inflammation with cold packs. Ice packs wrapped in a towel placed on the area of pain for up to 20 minutes several times a day help reduce inflammation. This treatment is especially beneficial for the first 48 hours of pain.

• 2

  Apply heat after the first 48 hours to the area of pain. 20 minute applications of heat several times a day, or alternated with cold packs is effective.

• 3

  Take your medication. Your physician can prescribe or recommend pain medications to help reduce the pain so you can manage day to day activities and therapy. Follow his orders closely.

• 4

  Stretch the affected muscles. Don't bounce, jerk or twist while stretching. Breathe normally through the stretching exercises. Your physical therapist or physician can teach you the most beneficial stretches.

• 5

  Tell your doctor if you aren't getting better within a few weeks. Though the sciatica may not be totally gone, you should feel a little better. If you are not better, or are worse, your doctor may want to use an analgesic or corticosteroid injection to control the pain and inflammation.

• 6

  Ask your doctor about surgery if you experience incontinence, significant weakness or an increase in symptoms. Though you may feel better faster after surgery, you pain may recur over time and any degeneration may continue.