This is the most important step in healing any illness or injury, so be sure your body is getting plenty of rest. If necessary, take time from work or school to sleep and allow your back to heal. This will reduce swelling and tension while providing minor relief from the discomfort. Ice packs can be kept on the area for ten to twenty minute intervals for optimum results. Do this three to four times a day. Follow the ice packs with hot compresses to constrict blood vessels and soothe pain. This will not only bring down inflammation but also aid in reducing pain. Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs can be purchased over the counter and are effective for pain due to minor sciatica. Muscle relaxers can be taken to reduce muscle spasms and pain. Prescription-strength medications, such as oral steroids, may be prescribed by your doctor if nothing else helps. They are an effective option to treat chronic sciatic nerve damage. Low impact exercise and stretching can help to heal the muscle and strengthen it against further damage. Stretch the piriformis muscle this muscle is deep in your buttocks under your gluteus maximus and runs parallel to the sciatic nerve often to relieve tension on the nerve. Participate regularly in low-impact exercise such as water aerobics. This will reduce tension on your joints while encouraging healthy muscle development. Strengthen the muscles of the back and abdomen to create strong support for the sciatic nerve. You can do compound movements or stretches. Avoid siting or standing for long periods of time. This can compress the injured area even more, increasing pain. Instead, try going for walks or laying down.
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One-sentence summary -- Rest. Apply ice to the affected area. Take medications to reduce swelling. Stretch the affected muscles.

Q: When headed out for a date or for a night out with the boys, a polo can add a touch of sophistication to your look. The contrast between the preppiness of the shirt and the ruggedness of the jacket can create a playful yet slightly edgy appearance. Much like normal tees, single-color polos and those with simple designs, like horizontal stripes, do well when paired with a jean jacket. Add to this look with an accessory, like a watch, necklace, or bracelet. Preserve your sophisticated look by wearing a simple belt with polos. Avoid casual footwear, like sneakers, with this style. Slightly formal shoes, like loafers or derby shoes, work best. Pair collared button-down shirts with your jean jacket to achieve a smart casual look. A plain white shirt will work with all colors of jacket. To create a smoother blend between outer and lower layers, choose colored shirts that complement your jacket's color. A simple tie can make this outfit slightly more formal. Ties with complicated designs will likely be too busy or distracting. Simple patterned dress shirts, like those with plaid, checked, or striped designs, can add some pop to this look. Chinos pair well with most jean jacket outfits. Even wearing a plain t-shirt, in chinos you'll look comfortable but still sharp. Polo shirts can elevate a chino-jacket combo to business casual. Dress this look up with a button-down shirt or find the trendy middle ground with a graphic tee. Break out a darker colored or fur collared jacket for dates and special events. Prioritize these styles for work functions, as they are often considered suitably stylish for the workplace. Darker colored jackets, like those that are dark blue or black, tend to look more formal. Fur trim around the collar of your jacket will provide warmth on cool spring nights while giving you a cultured appearance. If you work on-site in construction or a similar field, you might need a durable outer layer but formal attire. Blue jackets will pair with most colors of slacks, like black, brown, and light gray. Wear black, dark blue, and dark gray slacks with black jackets. Your formal shirt and trousers will make a tie seem less out of place beneath your jean jacket. Match your tie with your outfit as you would for a normal suit.
A: Get preppy with a polo shirt. Make your look more formal with a dress shirt. Achieve a smart, relaxed look with chinos. Choose dark colored or fur trimmed jackets for upscale appeal. Wear slacks when you're on the job.

Article: If your friend has been saying or doing concerning things, let them know that you've noticed and that you're worried about them. Avoid getting upset or emotional when you do this as it may cause them to feel worse. Just tell your friend what you are concerned about in a straightforward manner. For example, you might say something like, "John, I've noticed that you stopped coming to game nights and that you are spending most of your time alone. I'm worried about you." Some examples of concerning behavior may include withdrawing, acting sad, self-harming, using drugs, gambling, or having unsafe sex. It's important not to put too much pressure on your friend to talk, but letting them know that you're there for them if they need you can help to reassure them. Offer to help them in any way that you can. Try saying something like, "I'm here for you if you ever want to talk," or, "Let me know if there's anything I can do to help." to your friend if they want to talk with you. Give your friend your undivided attention if they want to talk, such as by putting away your phone and shutting off the TV or your computer. Face them and make eye contact with them. While your friend is talking, pay close attention to what they say and nod to show you are hearing them. You can also rephrase what they say now and then to show you're paying attention. For example, you might say something like, "It sounds like you're saying that you haven't felt happy in a while. Is that right?" with your friend to gain insight into what they're feeling. Empathy is a way of understanding other people's feelings by putting yourself into their shoes. Try to imagine how you'd feel if you were going through what your friend has experienced or described. You might feel sad, angry, confused, lonely, or all of these things at once. Be sensitive to your friend's emotions as you listen and respond to them. For example, if your friend shares with you that they have been feeling depressed since the death of a family pet, imagine how you might feel if your pet died. If you have had an experience that is similar to your friend's experience, sharing it with them might help them to feel better. However, make sure to share the story in a shortened version so you don't end up turning the spotlight onto yourself. Remember that the point of sharing the story is to help your friend feel validated and less alone in their experience. For example, if your friend shares with you that they are having trouble with schoolwork and worried about failing, you might say something like, "I struggled a lot with math last year and I thought I was going to fail. I had to get tutoring after school a few days per week for a while." Or, if a friend shares with you that they're feeling depressed and don't know what to do about it, you might say, "I felt really lost, too, when I went through a depressive episode a couple of years ago. I don't know if it would help you, but therapy really helped me." Unsolicited advice is not usually received well, so it's best to avoid advising your friend about what they should do. Instead, focus on listening to them and only offer advice if they directly ask you for it. And if you do make a suggestion, make sure to maintain a non-judgmental and somewhat uncertain tone. For example, if your friend asks what they should do about a conflict with another friend, you might say something like, "I don't know if this will help you, but I usually find it's best to talk to someone when I'm having an issue with them."
Question: What is a summary of what this article is about?
Tell your friend if you're worried about them. Let your friend know that you are there for them if they need your help. Listen Empathize Tell your friend a story if something similar happened to you. Make suggestions only if your friend asks for your advice.