Can Sciatica Resolve on Its Own?

Pain that shoots down the back of your leg when you change positions can make life extremely difficult. That shooting pain is often caused by sciatica, a nerve condition that occurs when the sciatic nerve is irritated or compressed.

No matter the cause, you want to know when it will end. The good news is that sciatica can resolve on its own, but it may take some time and require medical help. 

Our skilled physicians at Orthopedic & Wellness — Dr. Ojedapo Ojeyemi, MD and Matthew Roh, MD — specialize in pain management and treating conditions like sciatica. Here’s what you should know about this common pain condition and how long it may take to resolve on its own.

The radiating nerve pain

Sciatica is a common pain condition, affecting four out of every 10 people in the United States. It’s often lumped in with back pain, but it’s a nerve condition that causes burning, tingling, or numbness that radiates down the lower back into the buttocks and the lower leg. The pain may worsen with movement or rest, making it very difficult to do just about anything.

The sciatic nerve is the thickest, longest nerve in the body. It includes several nerve roots that exit the lower part of the spinal cord and join together in the buttocks. The nerve travels down the back of each leg, fostering muscle movement and sensation. 

The radiating pain occurs when any part of the nerve is compressed or irritated. Most of the time, the nerve is compressed as it exits the spine from a herniated disc or spinal stenosis, which is a narrowing of the spinal canal.

Resolving your sciatica

Given the discomfort of sciatica, you want to feel better ASAP. We get it. An irritated sciatic nerve usually resolves on its own, but it may require some medical care.

We recommend: 

• Ice and heat therapy
• Over-the-counter pain medications
• Stretching
• Activity

Activity may feel like the last thing you want to do with back pain, but bed rest won’t help your sciatica improve more quickly. 

If you continue to have pain after a week of at-home care, it’s time to schedule an appointment with us. We can find the cause of your symptoms and develop a personalized plan to treat it, such as physical therapy or injections, so you feel better.

Sciatica usually resolves within a few weeks.

Preventing future problems

It’s not uncommon to have more than one bout of sciatica. But you can take steps to reduce your risk of a recurrence. We recommend staying active, maintaining a healthy weight, and taking extra care when lifting heavy objects.

If you have ongoing sciatic nerve pain, we can talk to you about other interventions such as nerve blocks or surgery to fix the underlying problem. But most people with sciatica don’t need surgery to recover.

Are you suffering from radiating back pain? Don’t wait to get help. Call us today — we have offices in Germantown, Waldorf, or Frederick, Maryland — or book an appointment online.