Sciatica pain is a sharp sensation that persists throughout the sciatic nerve. The nerve itself travels the length of an individual's leg, starting from the lower back and ending at their feet. It is one of the most painful sensations an individual can experience, but there is a way to get relief quickly.
Sciatica ice packs also referred to as cold therapy, are one of the most effective ways to relieve Sciatica pain. While the ache itself may result from a herniated disk or spinal stenosis, ice therapy can help relieve the pain quickly.
Does Ice Help with Sciatica?
Ice therapy for sciatica uses ice packs, which go on the affected area of the spine. The area that hurts is usually the lower back, and you will have to apply the ice to numb the area effectively. Using ice therapy is a very effective home remedy to work with until you visit your doctor.
Granted, there is no single way to apply ice to the affected area, as anything cold can work as a cooling agent. From gel packs to ice and even bags of frozen peas, anything cold can help relieve the pain.
Simply massaging the place where sciatica pain is most prevalent will help reduce the pain. You can even follow the R.I.C.E protocols to make cold therapy more effective. R.I.C.E is Rest, Ice, Compression, and Elevation. It is the most effective way to deal with pain at home, as it numbs the area and reduces muscle spasms. By numbing the area, it can greatly reduce pain and swelling.
Of course, applying something cold directly to your back might provide relief in the short run, but it can also damage your skin. Instead, wrapping the ice or cold pack in a thin towel is much safer, even if it is not as cold. Throughout the day, apply the cooling agent for 10 to 20 minutes multiple times. This should extend the short-term relief that you feel. Check the affected area regularly in case you are damaging the tissues.
Ice or Heat - Which Is Better for Sciatica
Sciatica ice packs can offer immense relief, especially through ice therapy. But apart from using cooling agents, some even use heat therapy when treating their sciatica. And by comparing the two, we can get a better idea of which is the most effective.
Sciatica Ice Pack Therapy
The first way to improve sciatica pain is with the help of ice packs or other types of coolants. It is very effective in numbing the affected area, reducing pain almost instantly. Another way that ice therapy help sciatica is by making the skin's nerves less conductive, therefore reducing pain.
It can also reduce oxygen intake and tissue metabolism, contributing to inflammation. Inflammation, of course, is a major contributor to sciatica pain. Finally, it can even reduce fluid collection and swelling, further lessening pain. To summarize, sciatica ice packs can help reduce pain.
Read More: Is Sciatica Pain Worse at Night? 5 Possible Reasons Why
Heat Treatment for Sciatica
Unlike cold treatment for sciatica, heat treatment focuses more on healing than numbing and reducing the pain. Using a hot pack is one of the safest ways to apply heat to the affected area, but a hot bath can also be effective.
Simply applying a hot pack to the area can decrease muscle tension and spasms while giving a relaxing sensation. Heating is also very effective at increasing blood pressure in the affected area. The fresh flow of blood will be carrying oxygen and other nutrients the area needs to heal quickly.
It increases the metabolism of tissues and conduction of nerves in the skin, allowing them to function better. These effects that heat treatment brings can help permanently relieve the individual of sciatica pain. No one is explicitly better than the other. They both provide different uses under differing circumstances.
Benefits of Using Ice for Sciatica Pain
Ice therapy using sciatica ice packs effectively reduces the pain you experience. Through ice therapy, you can experience the following benefits.
Prevents Swelling
One of the first benefits of using sciatica ice packs is that they can greatly reduce swelling in the affected area. When the body experiences pain, the first response that the body has to pain is inflammation, which can lead to swelling and fluid collection. By cooling the affected area, the swelling reduces, as does the fluid collection.
Reduces Inflammation
When applying something cold to the injured area, the cooling agent will constrict the blood vessels, reducing blood flow to that specific part of the body. Less blood going to the affected area means less inflammation.
Cools the Muscle Fibers
Another benefit of cold therapy is that the muscle fibers in the affected area cool. Cooled muscle fibers mean that there are fewer muscle spasms, which is one of the reasons why you are experiencing pain.
Numbs the Area
While obvious, the sciatica ice packs can also numb the affected area by reducing the tissue temperature. Lower temperatures mean that the blood vessels will constrict, decreasing the blood flow.
Decreases Pain
Finally, through cold therapy, pain in the affected area significantly decreases as it reduces conduction in the skin's nerves.
Read More: 7 Things That Can Make Sciatica Pain Worse
Where Should You Apply Ice for Sciatica
Sciatica pain travels throughout the length of the nerve, which stretches from your lower back down to your feet. However, the most commonplace for sciatica pain is the lower back, where the spine could suppress the nerve. Therefore, applying it there can help reduce your pain.
Sciatica pain can also run down behind your calf and thigh, so try to determine the place where it hurts the most, and that is where you should apply a sciatica ice pack.
Practice Caution When Icing
While icing can provide much-needed short-term relief, you will have to be careful when performing cold therapy on the affected area. These useful tips include:
Use the R.I.C.E Protocol
Despite applying an ice pack properly, that is only one protocol of the recommended R.I.C.E to help you heal faster. You still have to get ample rest to allow your body to recover. Without ample rest, your body will not recover effectively, possibly worsening your condition.
C stands for Compression, and wrapping a tight bandage around the affected area can give necessary support and stop fluids from generating. Finally, leaving the affected area in an Elevated position can help reduce swelling, but that can be a little uncomfortable.
Start Applying Ice Instantly
Sciatica pain can usually flare up suddenly, which means that you have to apply a cold press to the area as quickly as you can. The pain may be too severe to bear, which is why applying ice quickly can help minimize it.
Be Careful of Your Skin
Frostbite is possible from icing and can be very dangerous to treat. Start by icing the area for just five to six minutes, which usually brings in the numbing sensation. As soon as the skin feels numb, remove the cooling agent and wait until the sensation comes back to the body. Repeat the icing process for 15 to 20 minutes.