Treatment and Prevention
Sciatica can be relieved by treating symptoms and any specific cause that exists, such as a slipped disc. Your doctor may prescribe muscle relaxants, nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), painkillers, or corticosteroids to reduce inflammation. Moderate exercise is recommended if pain is minimal. When the symptoms have lessened, therapy to strengthen abdominal muscles and back muscles is important to prevent a return of symptoms.
Here are some other things that may help. Many of them are similar to ways of dealing with other common lower back problems:
- Sleep on a firm mattress on your side or back with knees bent.
- During bad attacks, sleep with a pillow under or between your knees.
- Try not to sleep on your stomach.
- Adjust the height of chairs so your feet are flat on the floor and the knees are a little higher than the hips.
- Keep your feet flat on the floor and do not cross your legs when sitting.
- Sit in chairs that have firm back support and sit up straight against the back of the chair.