The good news is that if pain along the sciatic nerve is going to get better on its own it will usually do so within a couple of days or weeks. Usually ice or heat is applied for approximately 20 minutes, and repeated every two hours.
Most people use ice first, but some people find more relief with heat.
The two may be alternated. If the pain is severe, an epidural injection can be performed to reduce the inflammation. An epidural is different from oral medications because it injects steroids directly to the painful area to help decrease the inflammation that may be causing the pain. Importantly, it can provide sufficient relief to allow a patient to progress with a conditioning program. A visit to a physical therapist, osteopathic physician, chiropractor or physiatrist can be helpful both to alleviate the painful symptoms and to help prevent future recurrences of sciatica.