What's more effective for sciatica, heat or cold?

[bif]

Or a combination of the two?

[walkingman]

1. I've found that if I lay on a heating pad it helps?

[LatteLady]

2. Inflammation versus pain

If you have active inflammation, cold is better. If not, both heat and cold will increase circulation. Cold will initially feel less comfortable that heat, but once the tissue is adequately cooled, cold offers a numbing effect that heat does not.

Some people like to alternate heat & cold.

You can try each one to see which one provides better pain relief for you.

Check out “Treat you own back” by Robin McKenzie.

Hope you feel better soon!

[Bernardo de La Paz]

3. Big rule of thumb: cold reduces pain, heat enhances healing. Much depends on the problem: chronic or acute

Sciatica may or may not be amenable to healing. I'm not familiar with it, but I think it is a case of the symptom is in the leg so cool there and the cause may be at the lower spine so warm there.

But that is only something to think about, not advice. I am not medically trained in any way.

[littlemissmartypants]

4. Heat helps me. ...

But doing stretching saved my life. Once I learned which ones worked the best for me and started doing them regularly, everything changed for the better.

Have you tried them?

❤️

[SharonAnn]

5. I am in Physical Therapy for this right now. Hadn't realized how much difference it makes.

[littlemissmartypants]

8. Huge!! I would get so bad I had to use a cane. ...

Not anymore, though I keep it by the bed, just in case.

❤️

[bif]

7. I've been doing some of the ones on this site

https://www.healthline.com/health/back-pain/sciatic-stretches

[littlemissmartypants]

9. TY. I'll check it out. ❤️

[lark]

6. I've had episodes of bad sciatica and accupuncture is the best thing I've found.

I get some relief after the first treatment and by the 3rd or 4th all or almost all the pain is gone. This worked for me on two occasions, even when my leg was virtually useless from the pain and weakness. That and rest for 10 days made me so much better!!

[MLAA]

10. Here's a tip that might help. Husband had terrible sciatic pain up and down legs. I had him try medical massage,

physical therapy, and acupuncture. Nothing really helped. I was driving one day and noticed a second hand sports store and something told me to go in. I got him a recumbent bike and that did the trick. 10 mins a day (or most days) completely relieved the pain. The intent isn’t to set it on night resistance and get a great work out rather it’s the motion that loosens whatever muscles were pressing on the nerve. Good luck!

[bif]

11. Thanks

I work out on a rowing machine every morning. But I suspect that's utilizing other muscles.

[MLAA]

12. It is, you want to loosen up those hips 🙂

[Warpy]

13. What feels better?

Does either give you rebound pain?

There's your answer.

The only real treatments for sciatica that can provide long term relief are physical therapy and surgery. Docs will usually prescribe physical therapy first since surgery, while greatly improved, still doesn't offer 100% success.

[bif]

14. Heat seems to work better.

Last night I vigorously messaged the lower part of my back and the pain almost went totally away. So I'm applying a heating pad to the area, and messaging it as well.

I remember my dad had it real bad and he used to lay on a tennis ball and roll around on it. It sounded ridiculous at the time. But...