Sciatic pain treatment can usually be accomplished with self treatment methods and without the need for professional care. Simple, easy to do exercises and other self-treatment procedures can be remarkably effective in easing sciatic nerve pain.

The vast majority of sciatica cases are due to bulging of the soft-tissue shock absorbers, called intervertebral discs, in the lower back. When one or more discs is damaged sufficiently to bulge into the openings and produce swelling where the nerve branches that form the sciatic nerve exit the spine, the nerves can become irritated. This nerve irritation produces the pain and other symptoms that travel into the buttock and or leg that is known as sciatica.

Through using sciatic nerve exercises, most sciatica sufferers are able to push the bulging disc material away from the irritated nerve branches. This often provides fast relief of pain. With frequent use of the exercises over a period of several days, even resistant cases will usually get pain relief and stable correction of the disc will occur to give lasting elimination of sciatica.

Besides exercises, there are other methods that can be used to alleviate sciatic nerve irritation and pain. Using ice packs (separated from the skin with a thin layer of cloth to prevent frost bite) for 10 to 15 minutes at a time up to every couple of hours will usually reduce inflammation and swelling around nerves far better than even the most powerful anti-inflammatory medication. Acupressure and self massage can also be effective in decreasing inflammatory swelling around the nerves and produce pain relief.

By consistently using self-treatment measures for sciatica, lengthy professional treatment, medication side effects and invasive surgical procedures can be avoided in most cases. Once you learn what to do and what not to do, you can heal yourself and prevent the return of problems in the future.