Sciatica First Aid

A flareup of sciatica symptoms may be attenuated with self-care measures that can be done at home. Self-care is typically effective for sciatica pain that has lasted for less than 8 weeks.¹Kumar, M. Epidemiology, pathophysiology and symptomatic treatment of sciatica: A review. nt. J. Pharm. Bio. Arch. 2011, 2.

If the pain is chronic, does not get better with self-treatment, or is accompanied by other troubling symptoms, it is advisable to consult a doctor before trying self-care.

There are myriad methods and products that have the potential to significantly relieve sciatica pain. This article focuses on what can be done at home, without a prescription, to address symptom flareups.

Topical Medication

Pain-relieving creams and tinctures may be applied on the skin with the goal of providing immediate, localized pain relief. These medications alter the blood flow in the region to create a numbing effect, and/or decrease inflammation in the affected region.²McAllister R.K., Burnett C.J. (2015) Topical Analgesic Medications. In: Sackheim K. (eds) Pain Management and Palliative Care. Springer, New York, NY

Topical medications are available over the counter (OTC) in the form of gels, creams, patches or tinctures/oils. Common preparations include medications containing²McAllister R.K., Burnett C.J. (2015) Topical Analgesic Medications. In: Sackheim K. (eds) Pain Management and Palliative Care. Springer, New York, NY:

• Methyl salicylate
• Menthol
• Trolamine salicylate
• Capsaicin
• Camphor
• Cannabidiol (CBD)

Some formulations may contain a combination of drugs (compounded products), such as menthol and methyl salicylate or menthol and camphor.

OTC Medication

Sciatica pain may be reduced with the use of non-prescription non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) such as aspirin, ibuprofen, or naproxen. Pain-relieving drugs such as acetaminophen can also be used for relief from sciatic pain.³Rasmussen-Barr E, Held U, Grooten WJ, et al. Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs for sciatica. Cochrane Database Syst Rev. 2016;10(10):CD012382. Published 2016 Oct 15. doi:10.1002/14651858.CD012382

These drugs travel through the blood and have a whole-body effect. Pain relief typically occurs 30 minutes to 2 hours after the medicine is taken depending on the dosage.

See Medication for Sciatica

Massage

Massaging the lower back, rear pelvis, and/or the thigh can help relieve acute sciatica pain by local stimulation of tissues. A massage helps to loosen tight muscles, relax soft tissues, and create a calming effect. Massages may be done using medicated, pain-relieving oils or creams for better efficacy. When performing a self-massage or massage by a person other than a certified therapist, care must be taken not to manipulate the exact spot where the pain originates—to avoid the symptoms from getting worse.

Lumbar Stabilizing Brace

A brace worn over the lower back may help support and stabilize the lower lumbar and sacral spine and control sciatica pain from conditions such as spondylolisthesis (slipping of a vertebra over the adjacent lower vertebra). Stabilizing braces usually contain supporting steel rods that limit the forward and backward bending of the spine. Some braces also help stabilize the spine in a slightly forward bent position to relieve pain from conditions such as nerve root irritation and unstable facet joints.⁴Schott C, Zirke S, Schmelzle JM, Kaiser C, Fernández LAI. Effectiveness of lumbar orthoses in low back pain: Review of the literature and our results. Orthop Rev (Pavia). 2018;10(4):7791. Published 2018 Dec 6. doi:10.4081/or.2018.7791

See Using a Back Brace for Lower Back Pain Relief

Care must be taken when using lumbar stabilizing braces in order to not allow the underlying core muscles to atrophy (wasting of muscles due to lack of physical activity). Bracing for more than a few hours should be done under the supervision of a qualified physician.

Transcutaneous Electric Nerve Stimulation (TENS)

TENS therapy involves activating sensory nerve fibers through a tolerable frequency of electric current. The electric current is delivered through electrodes placed on the skin, attached to a TENS unit. TENS therapy is known to reduce sciatic nerve pain by the production of endorphins—a hormone secreted by the body that reduces pain.⁵Gozani SN. Fixed-site high-frequency transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation for treatment of chronic low back and lower extremity pain. J Pain Res. 2016;9:469–479. Published 2016 Jun 28. doi:10.2147/JPR.S111035 TENS therapy is usually safe and can be done at home. A TENS unit can be purchased online or at a drug store without a doctor’s prescription.

Studies show that TENS therapy of 20 to 45 minutes significantly increases the endorphin levels in the body for effective pain control. A 60-minute session is considered appropriate when using TENS to treat sciatica.⁵Gozani SN. Fixed-site high-frequency transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation for treatment of chronic low back and lower extremity pain. J Pain Res. 2016;9:469–479. Published 2016 Jun 28. doi:10.2147/JPR.S111035

Trying one or more of these methods may help control the symptoms of sciatica at home. A process of trial and error, as well as combining 2 or more approaches, may be necessary to determine the best sciatica pain-relieving technique(s).

Learn more about Sciatica Treatment and Sciatica Surgery