Hey alpeshvyas, how are you doing?
Unless you are allergic or should not take them for other reasons (if you take a blood thinner such as coumadin, for example), over-the-counter pain medicines such as acetaminophen (tylenol), aspirin (bufferin or excedrin), or ibuprofen (advil, motrin ib) will probably help ease the pain. If your pain is severe, you will need strong medicine such as a narcotic (codeine, vicodin, morphine).
Sciatica (pronounced sigh-at-ih-ka) is low back pain combined with a pain through the buttock and down one leg. The pain usually goes past the knee and may go farther to the foot. Sometimes, weakness in the leg muscles occurs with sciatica.
Sciatica is different from other forms of low back pain because there are 2 sciatic nerves, and the pain is usually on 1 side. The pain is usually a shooting pain, like electricity. It can also burn like fire or tingle much like the feeling when your leg "goes to sleep." the pain can range from slightly annoying to totally unbearable.
Some people have pain in one part of the leg and numbness in another part of the same leg.
Here are some ways to ease the pain at home.
* do not bend, lift, or sit in a soft, low chair—your pain will get worse.
* try a cold pack to see if it helps the pain. If you don't have a cold pack, use a large bag of frozen vegetables; it makes a good first aid cold pack. Or have someone close to you massage you in a triangular pattern with an ice cube over the sore areas. The person should move the ice cube if your skin gets too cold (this may melt several ice cubes).
* after the cold massages, try alternating with heat from an electric heating pad to see if it helps the pain. (do not sleep with a heating pad on your back. It could cause a bad burn.)
take it easy, but do not lie in bed for longer than 2 days because this has been shown to actually worsen the condition. Do activities you are able to tolerate, and do not expect to feel better overnight.
For excellent patient education resources, visit emedicine's bone health center and back, ribs, neck, and head center. Also, see emedicine's patient education articles back pain, chronic pain, sciatica, and pain medications.
Best wishes,
