Short and Long Term Sciatica Treatment

Sciatica treatment comes in two forms; the first is the treatment that you want right away to relieve you of the pain that you are suffering. Secondly you will need treatment to completely alleviate the sciatica and ensure that it does not come back.

I am going to assume that you have seen a doctor and identified the source of your sciatica and ruled out any of the more serious possible causes like a tumor, abscess or blood clot that would require immediate hospital attention. If your doctor has told you that it is a slipped disc and there is not much he can do for it, except give you pain killers and tell you to rest, there are several forms of treatment that you can do for yourself.

Cold treatment. First of all apply some ice or a cold pack to the lower back at the root of the problem. This will help reduce the inflammation of the sciatic nerve and the muscles in the area, as well as numbing the pain to some extent. You can apply the cold pack for 10 minutes and then off for 10 and then repeat this two or three times. This can continue to be applied for the first 48 hours.

Packets of frozen peas make very good cold packs, as they as mold around your bodies contours.

Stretching treatment. Once you are able to move, you should immediately start to stretch the muscles that contribute to your sciatic pain. These are the Piriformis and Hamstring muscles. The Piriformis runs through your buttocks and is often guilty of putting pressure on the sciatic nerve. The Hamstrings are the large muscles at the back of the thighs that run from your buttocks to the back of your knees. Tightness in the Hamstrings contributes to lower back problems. Yoga type stretches are ideal for this and you can find instructions and diagrams on how to perform the stretches on web sites that specialize in sciatica and back pain.

Moving treatment. You need to start moving as soon as you can. You will notice that your sciatic pain and stiffness is worse when you first get up in the morning or after you have been sitting for an extended length of time. So it is best to move. I'm not suggesting you try the four minute mile, but gentle walking and swimming are good for relieving the pain and improving the muscles.

This set of combined treatments should have alleviated the worst of your pain. You now need to concentrate on treatments to improve your muscles and balance to ensure that you do not trigger another sciatica attack.

In order to do this you should continue to practice the Yoga type stretches to maintain flexibility in the muscles and joints. Pilates style exercise is good for strengthening the core muscles of the back and abdomen, which will support your spine when it is under strain.

You should also pay attention to improving your posture when standing sitting or lying in bed. When standing or lying down use some appropriate support in the small of your back or under your legs to ensure your spine stays in a good position and does not slouch.

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