Home Remedies for Sciatic Nerve Pain
Our sciatic pain specialists recommend several at-home remedies to help ease your discomfort before your consultation. If you’re experiencing lower back pain, you may:
- Use a cold pack for up to 20 minutes for initial relief, several times a day and alternate with hot packs or heating pads directly on the areas that hurt.
- Practice safe and comfortable stretching exercises to help relieve compression pain. Hold your stretches for 30 seconds and do not jerk or twist.
- If necessary, take over-the-counter pain relievers, ibuprofen and naproxen sodium.
Sciatica Treatment in Austin, Kyle, Dripping Springs, and San marcos
In order to get an accurate read on your spinal health, your Austin pain doctor will first need to determine the cause of your sciatic nerve pain. Your doctor will perform a physical examination, asking you about your symptoms and medical history, and may ask you to perform simple movements to assess muscular strength, joint motion and stability, reflexes, and sense of sensation. If you’re experiencing severe back pain, imaging tests may also be ordered, and your doctor may also order lab studies to rule out other diseases.
Non-Surgical Sciatic Pain Relief
Most people with sciatica are successfully treated with non-surgical methods aimed at relieving pain and pressure on the sciatic nerve.
Medication
You may need over-the-counter or prescription medications such as anti-inflammatories, muscle relaxants, or anti-seizure medications.
Steroid Injections
If sciatica symptoms do not improve significantly with over-the-counter or prescribed medications, your doctor may inject your sciatic nerve roots with corticosteroid medication.
Physical Therapy
If your pain progressively worsens, your doctor may recommend physical therapy to help reduce pain, muscle spasms, loss of motion, increase flexibility, correct posture, and prevent future injuries.
Sciatica Surgical Alternatives
Our sciatic pain doctors in Austin reserve surgical alternatives for sciatica in severe cases. If your symptoms cause significant weakness, worsen, or don’t improve with our initial treatment options, we can help you explore the best surgical option necessary for your sciatic nerve pain.