Heat or ice therapy is one of the most common treatments to stop sciatica in 8 minutes. In fact, I get many patients asking me for immediate relief from sciatica pain at home. However, in order to prevent skin and/or nerve damage, it is imperative not to use cold and/or heat therapy for prolonged periods of time.

Most people experience sciatica at least once in their lifetime. The sciatic nerve originates in your lower back and branches down to your legs, causing sciatic pain.

Often, the pain interferes with daily productivity and requires immediate pain relief, such as ice or heat.

Nevertheless, it varies from person to person as it sometimes dissipates away within 3 months with non-invasive therapy, while in the most severe cases it requires surgery.

These confusions led me to write the comprehensive guide on how to treat sciatica with heat and ice? Should I use heat or ice? How do I decide?

Cold/ Ice Therapy

For the first 45 to 70 hours after experiencing sciatica, I recommend using cold therapy because it reduces the intensity of pain and inflammation associated with the onset of nerve injuries. If possible, avoid heat treatment until this time has passed, since it could exacerbate inflammation.

Here is how ice therapy works to stop sciatic pain immediately.

  • Reduces Nerve Conduction to Alleviate Pain and Sensitivity: Whenever a nerve is damaged, it transmits sharp, tingling, or painful sensations. Cold treatment, however, suppresses these distressing signals.
  • Numbs Painful Areas by Decreasing Blood Flow: In order to prevent any loss of body heat, blood vessels constrict and decrease the flow of warm blood toward the skin at low temperatures. In turn, this reaction causes poor circulation and, consequently, numbness that is useful in relieving pain.
  • Slows Tissue Metabolism to Reduce Inflammation: This is your body’s way of protecting the area, but the blood vessels may leak into the additional soft tissue, causing unnecessary inflammation. Cold therapy, on the other hand, narrows the blood vessels and prevents excessive leakage and inflammation.

Furthermore, ice and cold therapy can reduce muscle spasms and swelling, thereby reducing your pain and speeding up your healing.

Where to put ice pack for sciatica? If you use ice therapy for sciatica pain, apply it to your lower back and rear pelvis – where the sciatic nerve roots are located. This area, rather than your thigh or calf where the pain may be more severe, can be iced to help control and numb the pain and calm the nearby nerves.

There are a few rules/ precautions to follow when icing sciatica:

  • After 20 minutes of ice therapy, take a break for at least 40 minutes to an hour before doing another round.
  • You can use ice multiple times for the first 72 hours.
  • To prevent frostbite and first burn, never apply ice directly to your skin. Instead, wear a thin cotton shirt or a thin towel.
  • Use crushed ice, a frozen vegetable bag, or a frozen water bottle at home. You can also apply ice directly to the affected area.
  • If you leave an ice pack for more than an hour, it can damage your skin.
  • Put a protective barrier between the ice and your skin.

Applying ice directly in a circular motion to the affected area is another way to relieve pain.

Making an ice machine with a paper cup is as easy as freezing the water and cutting off the top (like a popsicle).

Heat Therapy

You can apply heat therapy to accelerate the healing process when things start to heal. Some of the benefits of heat therapy include:

  • Speeds Up the Healing Process by Increasing Blood Circulation: The high temperature expands blood vessels and improves circulation unlike the cold. When blood flows through an injured area, it removes any damaged cells while supplying oxygen and nutrients that promote healing.
  • Alleviates Minor Pain by Activating Heat Receptors: Adenosine triphosphate (ATP) is released when soft tissue is injured by activating cells’ pain receptors. Heat stimuli, such as a heating pad or warm towel, can energize heat receptors and reduce pain.
  • Soothes Stiff Muscles and Reduces Painful Muscle Spasms by Increasing Tissue Metabolism: The heat dilates blood vessels to increase circulation. As the injured tissue experiences increased blood flow, it metabolizes its nutrients, relaxing the surrounding muscles and making them more flexible.

Heat therapy can be applied dry or damp. Heated pads, hot water bottles, heat wraps, heat patches, or saunas are examples of dry heat, while moist heat comes from warm baths, steamed towels, or moist heat packs. Even most of the modern day recliner chairs comes with heat & massage features which is a breathable solution for reducing back pain and aches naturally. Heat can also be applied locally, regionally, or fully.

When to use heat therapy? Use heat on the affected area only after the reduction of inflammation — heat can aggravate inflammation.

How to Use Heat Therapy?

Listen to Your Body: If the injury is acute and inflammation has not gone away yet, it is better to apply heat after 4-5 days of the initial injury.

Use Heat Therapy for Chronic Sciatica: Heat therapy is for long-term issues like chronic sciatica where the pain is not sharp. Apply heat when you feel dull, achy sort of pain, and tight muscles. The heat helps increase the pliability and flexibility of your muscles and makes you feel better in the long run.

Follow the precautions:

  • Use a warm source — instead of hot — for heat therapy to avoid skin damage.
  • Use a protective barrier between the heat source and the skin.
  • The duration of therapy shouldn’t be applied for more than 20 minutes.

Ice vs Heat: Is Ice Better than Heat for Sciatica?

Both therapies are known for providing immediate pain relief. Inflammation is reduced by ice, while heat promotes healing by boosting blood flow in the affected area. However, what works for you may depend on your sciatic stage and other factors.

In some cases, they are combined, while in others, they are used separately.

When Not to Use Either Ice or Heat for Sciatica?

You should never use either one of these on:

  • Open wound
  • People that have circulatory problems
  • Patients with a poor sensation like peripheral neuropathy and diabetes type patients

What are the Alternatives?

I suggest working with your doctor, physical therapist, acupuncturist, or chiropractor to create the most effective plan for yourself.

No matter how frustrating your sciatic nerve may be, you can resolve it by adopting some quality lifestyle changes in your daily routine.

👉 IMPORTANT: It is highly recommended to get an ergonomic chair for sciatica sufferers so your nerves are supported so you can perform your daily activities without being affected.

FAQs

Can a hot shower relieve sciatica pain?

Yes, a hot shower can relax the muscles and reduce inflammation and swelling.

How to Prevent Sciatica?

Consider taking measures to prevent sciatica pain if you have a herniated disc or bone spur. By practicing good posture while sitting and sleeping, you can prevent the pressure that sitting or standing puts on your lower back.

Likewise, avoid stretching and exercises that can pinch your nerves or muscles.

RELATED: What are the Recommended Sciatica Stretches?

Last Words

When used correctly, ice and heat therapy for lower back pain are both beneficial. It depends mainly on the type of pain and injury progression.

The trick is knowing when to use each treatment and how long to apply them for the best results.

For a treatment plan, you should see your doctor or physical therapist. Sciatica’s prognosis is good, and it can usually be treated with conservative therapies like heat and ice.