People with sciatica feel lower back pain that radiates through their left or right buttock into the leg, all the way to their foot. The pain is unique because it is often intense and only affects one side of the body.

People with sciatica often experience other symptoms like burning, tingling, electric jolts, or muscle weakness. You can feel the sensations anywhere from the lower back to the foot.

Although sciatic nerve pain can be excruciating, it can be solved with conservative treatments in most cases. Here, we’ll cover the most common causes of sciatica and what you can do to relieve the pain.

The Most Common Causes of Sciatic Nerve Pain

When the sciatic nerve gets pinched, irritated, or inflamed, we experience sciatica pain and other symptoms. That’s usually caused by another condition, such as herniated disc, lumbar stenosis, degenerative disc disease, bone spurs, muscle spasms, etc. Sciatica could also develop after a sports injury, fall, or car accident.

In addition to these conditions, other things increase your chances of developing sciatica pain. That includes:

• Having diabetes
• Being overweight or obese
• Older age
• Smoking
• Osteoarthritis
• Pregnancy
• Awkward sleeping position
• Lack of activity
• Weak core muscles
• Having a physically demanding job

How to Relieve Sciatic Nerve Pain at Home

If your sciatic nerve pain is mild and doesn’t interfere with your life, you can try some home remedies to ease it. However, if it is intense, chronic, or it makes you unable to do simple tasks, you should visit a doctor for a treatment plan that can get you back on track.

Here are some things you can try at home to relieve sciatic nerve pain.

OTC Medications

Over-the-counter drugs can help reduce inflammation and pain, making your life easier. The best option is nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) like ibuprofen, aspirin, or naproxen.

Stretching

Gentle stretching should be a part of your everyday routine. It is a great way to relieve tension from the overused muscles and spine. Stretching is vital if you lead a sedentary lifestyle, as prolonged inactivity can worsen sciatica pain.

Heat and Ice Therapy

If your sciatica symptoms are only developing, applying a cold pack could help ease the pain. You can use it for up to 20 minutes, several times per day.

Heat is a good option for mild pain that is present for some time. On the other hand, if your sciatica pain is chronic, you should experience the best relief from alternating heat and cold packs.

Activity

It is vital to stay active, as prolonged sitting or lying can make sciatica pay worse. That’s why you should try to incorporate some exercises into your daily routine. However, you should talk to a professional beforehand because doing the wrong exercises or having a poor form could worsen your pain.

Professional Sciatica Pain Treatment

If your sciatica pain is persistent or intense, you need to visit a medical professional. To eliminate your pain, they can try different treatment options such as chiropractic adjustments, physical therapy, steroidal injections, or neurostimulation therapy. You can get the best care at the Joint & Spine center, where Dr. Jeffrey Pruski and his team will do everything to help you get rid of the pain. Click here to schedule an appointment.