What is best temporary relief for the sciatic nerve pain? heat or ice?

Answer 1

Alternate the heat and ice if the pain is a recent occurence (withing the last 48 hours.) Otherwise, use heat.
If sciatica is a chronic condition for you, buy the book "Structural Yoga Therapy" by Mukunda Stiles. In this book there is an exercise (look in the index) that has worked wonders for my students who have sciatica.

Answer 2

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Answer 3

Oh Boy, I hope she gets her MRI soon, because I know exactly what she is going through. More than likely there is a disc pushing on the nerve so about the only thing to do is rest as much as you possibly can, Take The Pain Pills, and I used to ice my lower back where the pain starts for 15 minutes ,then apply heat for 15minutes , do that every couple hours and it helps a little bit. Try to lay flat as much as possible with knees bent and pillows under her knees. A vibrating pad is good to lay on as well. I just feel so bad for her, no one can describe that pain until they have had it. Tell her for me that, I had the surgery and felt 80% better when I woke in recovery, so helps on the way!!!! Also, there is a drug on the market, that I still take actually that is specificly for nerve pain like this and it is called Lyrica, if her doctor feels for sure it is her Sciatic nerve he should have no trouble prescribing it. It worked the best for me and it is long term unlike a pain pill. Also, please, please, please No Chiropractors, I can't tell you how many people I met while doing my physical therapy that are now permanetly injured because they say a chiroprator that did not do the right thing for their injury. Although I am sure that there are some excellent ones out there, I suggest chiropractors only if recommended by a doctor that send X Ray and/or MRI results with them.

Answer 4

Heat will feel good, but ice will actually help. I have had surgery for this and it was successful, BUT I had recently had it again, and I called a chiropractor, they told me to lay on ICE. I went to see this doc the day I called and I had over worked all the muscles in my lower back and the swelling was so severe things were touching the sciatica nerve. This doc helped me soooo much, the pain is now gone. But ICE is the best thing you can do at home, and no squatting or bending.

Exercises you can do are...lay on your stomach like youre gonna do a pushup....Lift your upper body up with the rest of your body flat to the ground, do about 15 of these, 3 times a day.

Also, lay on your back and flatten your spine to the ground, itll tighten your abdomen...do this and hold for about 5 seconds. Do about 15 of these also.

These are exercises that will help realign your spine.

I hope you get to feeling better. If it continues, go see a chiro, I never liked them till recently this one helped me. Sciatica will make a person crazy, I KNOW. It runs in my family.

Answer 5

I think it depends on the person. Some respond better to heat, some cold. I have always heard that laying on your side and drawing up your knees with a pillow between them is a good way to help sciatic pain. Also, consider taking an anit-inflammatory, like ibuprofin, depending on what you tolerate well.

Good luck. :)

Answer 6

I have had that sciatic nerve hurt me many times and I know it is very painful.The reason that nerve is hurting is because your nerve is swollen,it can swell for different reasons,sometimes you just on=ver work your back...I use to use heat Until my doctor told me not too.If something is swollen you use ice to bring the swelling down,do the same for your back ans also it makes your back feel better.Heating pads and heat only aggrevate the nerve and makes it worse.....

Answer 7

why do you only want temporary relief? Wouldnt permanent relief be better?