Sciatica is a pain caused when a lower back nerve is inflamed, pinched, irritated, or compressed. Most of the patients do not require active treatments and heal with self-care. In this post, we will discuss the symptoms and home remedies to treat Dayton sciatica.
Symptoms
Sciatica pain radiates from your spine to your buttocks and back of the legs. It is the hallmark feature of sciatica. Pain varies from mild to sharp, severe excruciating type and affects one side primarily. It becomes worse while coughing or sneezing, and prolonged sitting or standing deteriorates it further. It may also cause tingling, numbness, or muscle weakness.
Self-Care Treatment of Sciatica
You can initially try some home remedies to get relief. Complete rest for one day can help you but rest for more than that can worsen the condition.
Cold Application
Ice packs: For the first seven days, you can apply an ice pack or frozen peas package over the painful region of your back to reduce the inflammation of the sciatic nerve. Make sure that you do not apply the cold directly over the skin. Instead, use a towel to wrap the cold pack. Apply it for 20 minutes, then wait for 15 to 20 minutes before applying again to prevent frostbite.
Ice massage: You can also use ice massage instead of cold packs. Freeze water in a paper cup and apply it in a circular motion for not more than 10 minutes. You can do this activity multiple times with a gap of 60 minutes in between.
Heat Application
By the end of the first week, when the pain subsides and healing starts, you can apply heat using a heating pad soaked in a warm bath or wrapped in a towel, or you can also use a hot water bottle for 15 minutes and not more than 2 hours. While doing this procedure, make sure that you do not apply the heat directly over the skin, and some form of the barrier should be there between the skin and heat source.
Stretchings
You can do stretching exercises for the lower back to get some relief. But do not bounce, twist or jerk during the stretch. Try holding each stretching exercise for at least 30 seconds.
Over the Counter Medications
Some over-the-counter medicines such as Naproxen sodium and ibuprofen are some drugs that can give you pain relief.
Conclusion
A mild form of sciatica heals on its own, but if the pain is severe or if it sustains for more than one week, consult your doctor to prevent complications.