At-Home Remedies for Sciatica Pain

Low back pain can happen at any time and any place. While it can sometimes happen when you’re exercising, it can also happen from sitting down too long. It only takes a few seconds of pressure in the wrong spot of your lower back to set off a series of uncomfortable symptoms. Fatigue, chronic pain, and numbness are all common symptoms of sciatica. Sciatica is a common nerve issue that randomly flares up when you wake up, bend over, or pick something up wrong. Keep reading to learn more about sciatica and what at-home remedies might work for you.

What is Sciatica? 

When an injury or strain leads to pressure on the sciatic nerve, you will be diagnosed with sciatica. This lower-back nerve is easily irritated by compression somewhere in the lumbar region of the spine. While many people associate the term ‘sciatica’ with general low back pain, there are certain signs and symptoms that help sciatica be separated from other spinal or nerve issues. Further, since the sciatic nerve is the longest one in the body, it can cause pain in several different locations. This condition is common, affecting up to 40% of the population. 

Sciatica Symptoms 

As mentioned above, sciatica can bring on pain in different locations on the body, some of which you might not even consider to be associated with sciatica pain. This pain is caused by irritation, inflammation, pinching, or compression of a nerve in the lower back. Cleveland Clinic lists the common symptoms of this condition to be:

• Moderate to severe pain in the lower back, buttock, and down your leg
• Numbness or weakness in the lower back, button, leg, or feet
• Pain that worsens with movement; loss of movement 
• A feeling of pins and needles in the legs, toes, or feet
• Loss of bowel and bladder control 

If these symptoms sound all too familiar, and you believe your low back pain is caused by sciatica, try these at-home remedies. 

At-home Remedies for Sciatica 

Many patients with this condition can get better without surgery, and most patients find that they can actually find the relief they need by trying these at-home remedies. However, it’s important that you discuss these remedies first with your doctor, like one of our team members at Texas Spine and Sports Therapy, to make sure you don’t further injury yourself and cause yourself more pain. 

• Cold and heat therapy. Switching out a heating pad with ice can help relieve your pain and increase mobility. If your injury just happened, use ice for 20 minutes at a time and then take a 20 minute break — do this as often as needed. If your pain has lingered for a bit, also use heat. This will promote better blood flow to the area and help with further pain relief. 
• Exercise. Many people find that their sciatica pain flares up when they sit for long periods of time. As many of us work at a desk for many hours a week, it’s important to get up and move each hour to help keep your back healthy. Further, starting an exercise regimen is important to strengthen your muscles that support your spine and improve your mobility. Do not exercise if your pain is intense, and get approval from your doctor before beginning any new exercise regimen. 
• Over-the-counter medication. Using over-the-counter medication, like ibuprofen, can be good to help pain go down while at home. Talk with your doctor about appropriate dosage for your pain. 

Alternative Treatments for Sciatica

If your pain doesn’t go away within two weeks with these at-home remedies, make an appointment with us at Texas Spine and Sports Therapy Center. We can help you find long-lasting relief without needing surgery or prescription medication. Your treatment with us can include:

• Supervised exercise plans to help you build muscle without further damage to the nerve
• Chiropractic care and massage to help eliminate the compression on the nerve
• Safe injections that stop overwhelming pain so other treatments can be applied 

Find Relief from Sciatica with Texas Spine and Sports Therapy Center

Conveniently located in Austin, TX, Texas Spine and Sports Therapy Center is here for you. Helping you find relief from your sciatica pain is our top priority. Beginning with a full suite of tests to find signs of old injury infection, we will help pinpoint your exact issue. Once the issue is understood, we can start helping you reverse the damage and pressure that is causing your unwanted pain. No matter the cause of your sciatica pain, our team can help. Make an appointment today!