Here are five tips to relieve your pain and get rid of sciatica fast.
If you’re struggling with sciatica pain (lumbar radiculopathy), you’re not alone. It’s a condition that can flare up quickly, but once you have an understanding of what it is and what you can do to get rid of sciatica, you’ll be back on the road to recovery.
What Is Sciatica?
The sciatic nerve is the longest nerve in the body — it runs from your lower back, through your pelvis and down the back of each leg. Symptoms vary and range in severity, but if your sciatic nerve is suppressed or irritated, you may experience back pain, as well as stabbing, burning or shooting down one side of your body.This can be felt in your bottom, legs or your feet and your symptoms may feel worse when coughing, sneezing or moving.
What Causes Sciatica?
There is a range of possible causes, but a slipped disk is the most common, followed by spinal stenosis, spondylolisthesis or even a back injury. Your risk of sciatica can also increase with age, or if you regularly do heavy lifting or excessively strain your back. It’s best to visit your GP to find the exact cause.
How to Get Rid of Sciatica Fast
Sciatica pain tends to ease within two weeks and will usually get better within four to six weeks, but we understand that this isn’t what you want to hear when you’re in pain! There is some good news, however — there are some easy remedies you can try at home to bring you fast relief. Here are five ideas to try today:
1. Pressure Relief Cushion
While it’s recommended you keep moving, it’s equally as important to make sure you’re resting the right way too. An Airospring back support cushion is especially helpful for those who suffer from back pain, as it provides effective distribution of weight and is light enough to take anywhere. If you’re wondering what a lumbar support cushion is and how it can help, our recent blog post answers all your questions. Keep your cushion on hand so that you can sit and relax comfortably — anywhere, anytime.
2. Gentle Exercise
Anything that gets your body moving is extremely helpful too, so try to carry on with your normal activities in the best way you can. You should begin with gentle exercises and stretches as soon as you notice symptoms. Here are some simple exercises and stretches for sciatica that you can do to ease your pain.
3. Heat Packs
This a common treatment but for good reason! Quite simply, if you hold a heat pack to the affected area, it will stimulate your sensory receptors and you’ll notice that your pain eases instantly. This fast and cost-effective option should always be on-hand at home.
4. Massage
It’s also possible to relieve pain from a sciatic nerve through trusted massage techniques. There are several types to choose from, whether you want to try them yourself or seek an experienced therapist. Learn more about the potential benefits of massage for sciatica and how to try it yourself. Find a technique that works well for you and introduce massage into your routine as soon as you start experiencing sciatica pain.
5. Pain Medication
There’s no need to suffer if there are safe pain relief options available. If paracetamol on its own isn’t quite doing the trick, speak with your pharmacist for trusted recommendations.
We also suggest that you check in with your GP if your sciatica pain does not improve, as they may like to recommend physiotherapy or psychological support to help you better cope with the pain.
How Do I Stop Sciatica from Coming Back?
Although there is no sure way to completely prevent sciatica from returning, there are a few steps you should take to minimise the risk. Stay active, use a safe technique when lifting and sit correctly when using a computer.
Are you looking to get rid of sciatica? Airospring has developed a number of products designed to give you relief from back pain. Shop our seating cushions today.