Sciatica pain relief begins by obtaining a proper diagnosis from a doctor specializing in back pain and disorders. Many times, sciatica is associated with over-exertion or a back injury. In these cases, it's important to determine if conservative measures including ice/heat therapy, anti-inflammatory medications, moderate activity, and ultrasound therapy such as MendMeShop Therapeutic Ultrasound are adequate. Conservative treatments are effective but if the injury is more serious; considerable loss of feeling and numbness, injury was brought on by sudden trauma, suspected nerve damage, loss of bladder and bowel control, muscle weakness or if the pain lasts and gets progressively worse, then medical attention should be sought. Bed rest has long been accepted as necessary for relieving back pain and sciatica. In more recent years the long term benefits of bed rest have been challenged. While rest may temporarily relieve pain within the first day or two of an injury, prolonged bed rest may be detrimental to healing. Inactivity includes muscle atrophy (loss of muscle mass), tightness and low blood flow, all of which are disadvantageous for healing. Rather, treatments should be geared at maximizing mobility and maintaining lumbar strength.

Ultrasound - For more detailed information on how ultrasound is helping heal lower back pain and sciatica see our About Ultrasound section. Essentially, with regards to sciatica, ultrasound therapy provides stimulation to deep muscle tissue increasing nutrient rich blood flow to the area. It has been found to aid distended connective tissue, which is important for stretching, thereby increasing range of motion for safer and more effective rehabilitation.

Cold Compression Wraps - Our cold compression wraps allow you to actively treat yourself using the RICE (Rest, Ice, Compression, Elevation) method within the first couple days of injuring your back. And because the cold wraps serve to numb nerves the wraps also reduce pain! Furthermore, our wraps keep the ice off the skin preventing frostbite and keep the cold in the area that you need it. You want to ice in 20 minute intervals with at least 45 minutes between each interval. Within a week or two it may prove useful to see your doctor about passive and more active stretching and strengthening for your injured back.

A Black Body Radiant Energy Kit is one of the most helpful tools for a wide variety of painful back related problems. Through the absorption of radiant energy, tissues are safely and gently heated - increasing blood flow within the treated area. Your body's natural response to this increased temperature is to try to maintain a condition of homeostasis - a balanced environment or state of equilibrium throughout the body. To do this, your body responds with a rapid increase in blood flow to the area (this is known as vasodilation), increasing the supply of nutrients to injured cells and flushing out toxins (including lactic acid, commonly found in trigger points) to promote healing. Our Thermotex Platinum Pain Relief Device provides effective, non-invasive, non-addictive pain relief with no side effects.

Physical Therapy - Extension exercises may be part of the daily regimen recommended by your chiropractor or therapist. This includes lying on the stomach in a prone position and propping the upper body up on the elbows. Keep the hips on the floor and gently stretch by holding the position up to 30 seconds if possible. This change in position from bending forward may relieve the pressure temporarily on the sciatic nerve. Advanced forms of extension exercises will be given as the inflammation causing sciatic nerve pain begins to resolve. The use of ultrasound or our warm wraps before stretching and exercising the lower back will help compensate for impaired movement enabling a thorough stretch and/or workout.

Medication - Over-the-counter anti-inflammatory medications are another sciatica home treatment. Since sciatica is caused by pressure on the sciatic nerve complex, reducing the swelling around the nerve endings is necessary for lowering the pain intensity. Anti-inflammatory medications are generally not as effective when used alone as when used in combination with other sciatica home treatments such as exercise. And besides, physical therapy like stretching and massage often provide the same pain relieving benefits as medication but without any side effects. Steroids may help with nerve inflammation related to a herniated disc, but their use should be minimized.