Sciatica is a long-term condition that does not tend to go away quickly. It will require you to alter your daily activities and might even keep you from working. When symptoms flare up, it is usually because of a particular action you have been doing. It would help to stretch the affected muscles before and after exercising and when the symptoms flare up in the middle of the night. These flare-ups can also be caused by long periods of sitting or sleeping. Your doctor can recommend exercises that can strengthen and stretch your muscles.