Sciatica pain relief is sought by pretty much each and every sciatica sufferer. Sciatica anguish can pretty much ruin your life – especially if you have very strong, acute pain.

How do you know the pain you have is sciatica pain?

It’s very important to understand that “sciatica” is a series of symptoms; it’s not an actual diagnosis. Sciatica discomfort symptoms include sensations such as tingling, dull aches and pain, and / or burning sensations.  The pain can be in one place or radiate down one side of your lower body.

Sciatica pain relief starts with discovering it

If you might have any sort of back again ache, see your physician immediately. Sciatica pain relief begins with knowing your pain symptoms are in fact sciatica.

Your physician will likely test your reflexes, order a blood test, send you for a series of imaging tests (i.e. x-ray, MRI, or others), and/or other testing to eliminate any other causes of the problem.

Once sciatica is confirmed by your physician – sciatica pain relief can be started.  But how?

This bears repeating:  do not wait around if you have back pain.  Sciatica severity can vary, but if you ignore it, it can get worse. If you start treating Sciatica in its early stages, you have a better chance of preventing long-term sciatica pain.

That said, some interim sciatica pain relief strategies you can get going right now include:

• icing your back for 48 to 72 hours – especially when you feel pain. Then apply heat to the painful areas.
• take typical pain relief medication – for example Tylenol or Ibuprofen to reduce pain immediately.
• sleeping: place a pillow between your legs and try sleeping in the fetal position. Or, if you like sleeping on your back, sleep on a pillow placed under your back.
• your physician may prescribe physical therapy treatment or anti-inflammatory injections.

Click here to discover 8 additional sciatica pain relief techniques.