All OACM and PT OFFICES will be CLOSING EARLY Friday, December, 9th for our Holiday Party.
Both of our OACM After Hours locations will be CLOSED Friday December, 9th for the event.
Thank you!

Orthopaedic Associates of Central Maryland
(410) 644-1880(855) 4MD-BONE
MENUMENU
  • Menu
        • Physicians
        • Physician Assistants
        • Physical Therapists
        • + OACM After Hours
        • Careers
          • Pay Your Bill
          • Patient Portal
          • Schedule an Appointment
        • Specialties
        • Conditions & Treatments
        • Services
        • For Our Patients
        • OACM News
        • Patient Education
        • Testimonials
        • Locations
        • Contact Us
  • Home
  • Physicians
  • CRNPs/PAs
  • Physical Therapists
  • Specialties
  • Conditions & Treatments
  • Services
  • + OACM After Hours
  • For Our Patients
  • OACM News
  • Patient Education
  • Testimonials
  • Locations
  • Contact Us
  • Careers
  • Pay Your Bill
  • Schedule an Appointment
  • Patient Portal

Just another iHealthSpot WP02 site

Sciatica Pain Relief Guide with Some Tips and Tricks

September 17, 2021

sciatica pain relief

Sciatica pain refers to a type of pain that develops when the sciatic nerve becomes compressed. The sciatic nerve runs from your lower back and branches out into your hips, buttocks, and down the legs. Sciatica pain may range from a mild ache to disabling pain that weakens the leg. If left untreated, sciatica can impair bowel and bladder functions and decrease quality of life.

Sciatica may develop as a symptom of a spinal condition, like a herniated disc, bone spur, or spinal stenosis. In rare cases, the sciatic nerve can become compressed by a tumor or damaged by diabetes. If you’re experiencing sciatica symptoms, here are some fixes for pain relief.

Try Hot/Cold Therapies

If you feel sciatica symptoms coming on, cold and heat packs might be able to help. Apply a cold compress on the painful area for up to 20 minutes several times a day, with 15-minute breaks. Make sure to wrap the ice in a towel or cloth to avoid frostbite.

After two or three days of cold application, use a hot compress for about the same interval. Heat can promote blood flow and release muscle tension, relieving painful symptoms. If you continue to experience low back pain, try alternating warm and cold packs until you find something that works for you.

Exercise Regularly

If you have sciatic pain, you might think that it’s okay to rest and give your body a break. However, prolonged inactivity might make your symptoms worse. It’s vital and beneficial to your health to keep your body moving. After a few days of bed rest, try low-impact activities like walking and swimming. Exercise triggers the release of endorphins, which function as your body’s natural painkillers.

In addition to aerobic exercises, consider adding core strengthening exercises targeting your lower back and abdomen to your workout. A strong core can provide better support for the structures around your spine and reduce pressure on weakened areas. If you want detailed exercise advice, consult with your orthopedic doctor.

Regular exercise also helps you maintain a healthy weight. Extra weight tends to put significant strain on the spine and is associated with bodily inflammation and pain.

Maintain Good Posture

Maintaining good posture can help prevent or reduce the severity of sciatica symptoms. Pain or stiffness is usually a warning sign of improper body alignment. Improper body posture can increase the strain on your spine.

Make sure to follow good posture techniques while sitting, standing, and lifting objects. At work, try to stand up and take movement breaks every 20 minutes or so. It helps to use ergonomic chairs and tables — it’s not a furniture expense, it’s an investment in your health.

Visit Your Orthopedic Doctor

While self-care methods can provide some level of pain relief, they might not work all the time, especially in severe cases. If you don’t respond to conservative treatments, consider visiting your healthcare provider.

Your orthopedic doctor will start by reviewing your medical history and performing a physical exam. They may order some imaging tests to identify the condition that may be causing your pain. Depending on their diagnosis, they will craft a personalized treatment plan. Sciatica treatment focuses on controlling symptoms.

For severe cases of sciatica that don’t respond to non-surgical treatments, your orthopedic doctor may recommend surgery. The type of surgery will depend on the underlying condition causing sciatica and your overall health.

Physical Therapy

Physical therapy is a potent tool to use for rehabilitation from sciatica. Your physical therapist can design an exercise program that you can safely perform at home. They will consider your injury and typical daily activity level when designing the workout plan. In addition to exercise, your provider may use some of the following techniques:

  • Core stability training
  • Dry needling
  • Joint mobilization
  • Myofascial release
  • Neuromuscular re-education
  • Postural education
  • Pre- and post-surgical rehabilitation
  • Manual and instrument-assisted soft tissue mobilization
  • Sports injury rehabilitation
  • Vasopneumatic compression

Sciatica Treatment In Central Maryland

If you’re planning to explore treatment options for sciatica pain, look no further than the Orthopaedic Associates of Central Maryland. Our highly skilled specialists can perform a thorough examination and craft an appropriate treatment plan. Should you need surgery, you can rest easy in the hands of our board-certified orthopedic surgeons.

Do you need to schedule a consultation with our providers? Call us today at (410) 644-1880 or fill out our online appointment request form. You can visit our physicians at Catonsville, Columbia, Eldersburg, or Fulton or drop by one of our dedicated physical therapy clinics in Ellicott City or Jessup. Give us a call today, and let us help you find long-lasting pain relief!

Filed Under: Sciatica Tagged With: Back Pain, chronic pain, Orthopaedic Associates of Central Maryland, orthopedic surgeon, orthopedics, Sciatica, Sciatica Pain, sciatica pain treatment Maryland, sciatica pain treatment near me

Primary Sidebar

Blog Main Page

Recent Posts

  • The 3 Most Common Orthopedic Injuries
  • 5 Tips for a Successful Sports Injury Recovery
  • A Guide to Ice Therapy
  • What is a Hip Replacement?
  • How to Prepare Yourself for Knee Replacement Surgery

Categories

February 2023
M T W T F S S
 12345
6789101112
13141516171819
20212223242526
2728  
« Jan    

Archives

Tags

arthritis Back Pain best orthopedic doctor near me chronic pain Foot and ankle specialist near me Foot and Ankle Surgery Foot Care foot pain hip hip pain hip replacement Injuries joint pain Joint Replacement Joint Replacement Surgery knee pain Knee Replacement low back pain treatment near me Neck Pain Orthopaedic Associates of Central Maryland Orthopaedic Surgeon orthopedic care near me orthopedic clinic near me orthopedic doctor Baltimore MD Orthopedic Doctor near me orthopedic doctors orthopedics orthopedic surgeon orthopedic surgeon near me orthopedic surgeons Baltimore Orthopedist pain Physical Medicine physical therapy Physical therapy near me Plantar Fasciitis treatment near me Podiatrist Sciatica Pain shoulder shoulder joint shoulder pain spine Sports injuries sports injury Baltimore sports medicine doctor near me

Footer

  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • Youtube
  • Blog
  • instagram
  • Accessibility Statement
  • Non Discrimination Policy
  • Sitemap
  • Privacy Policy
  • Billing Disclosures
Copyright ©
Orthopaedic Associates of Central Maryland.
All rights reserved.
iHealthspot Medical Website Design and Medical Marketing by iHealthSpot.com

Orthopaedic Associates of Central Maryland in Baltimore, Catonsville, Columbia and Eldersburg serves the nearby communities of Annapolis, Washington DC and Montgomery County. Our orthopedic surgeons, podiatrist, physical medicine and rehabilitation doctor, and physical therapists specialize in arthroscopic surgery, minimally invasive procedures, joint replacement, sports medicine, and onsite diagnostic imagery, outpatient surgery, and physical therapy rehabilitation providing pain relief from sciatica, carpal tunnel syndrome, foot pain, knee pain, hip replacement, shoulder impingement, cubital tunnel syndrome and more.

  Request an Appointment

  • Pay Your Bill
  • Patient Portal
  • Schedule an Appointment
  • Home
  • Physicians
  • CRNP/PAs
  • Physical Therapists
  • Specialties
  • Conditions & Treatments
  • Services
  • + OACM After Hours
  • For Our Patients
  • OACM News
  • Patient Education
  • Testimonials
  • Locations
  • Contact Us
  • Careers