Why It Hurts ... Sciatic nerves go from your lower back into your legs. When something presses on them, like a slipped disk or a bone spur, you get sciatica. You ...BackPainSlideshowsSciaticnervesgofromyourlowerbackintoyourlegs.Whensomethingpressesonthem,likeaslippeddiskorabonespur,yougetsciatica.Youmighthaveaburningsensation,numbness, weakness,orpain.Somepeoplesayitfeelslikepinsandneedles,whileotherssayit'smorelikegettinganelectricalshockorbeingstabbedwithaknife.Howeveritfeelstoyou,therearemanywaystogetrelief."Waitandsee"mightnotbewhatyouwanttohearwhenyou'reinpain,butitworks.Thepassageoftimeisprobablythebestproventreatment.About80%-90%ofpeoplewithsciaticnervepaingetbetterwithinafewweeks.Whilealittleextrapamperingmaybeinorder,don'tstayoffyourfeetforlong.Toomuchbedrestcanweakenyourmuscles.Ifyoudon'tfeeluptoyourusualworkout,it'ssmarttolistentoyourbody'ssignals.Buttrynottositalotorthepainmightgetworse.Ifyourpainisn'ttoosevere,it'sagoodideatostretch,goforshortwalks,anddoanyotherphysicalactivitiesthatyoufeelupto.It'sespeciallyimportanttotrytostretchyourlowerback,sincethat'swheresomethingmaybepinchingyoursciaticnerve.Hotandcoldmaybeopposites,butbothcanhelpkeepyoucomfortable.Coldtreatmentisusuallybestforaninjurythatjusthappened.Afterabout72hours,doctorsusuallysuggestswitchingtoheat.Useanicepackthat'swrappedinatowelortryaheatingpadforabout15-20minutesatatime.Becarefulnottoburnyourskin. NSAIDslikeibuprofenandnaproxenmayhelpeaseyourpainaswellasbringdowninflammation.Takethedoseonthedrug'slabelunlessyourdoctorgivesyouspecialinstructions.Ifhomeremediesaren'thelping,talktoyourdoctor.Therearemanyprescriptionmeds,likemusclerelaxersandhigher-strengthNSAIDs,thatmightmakeyoufeelbetter.Anti-seizuredrugs,likegabapentin,alsoseemtohelpsomepeople.Physicaltherapycanhelpyoucorrectpoorpostureorstrengthenthemusclesthatsupportyourlowerback.Thetherapistwillcreateanexerciseprogram,includingstretchingtechniques,thatyoucandoathome. Stillnotfeelingbetter?Yourdoctormaysuggestyougetanepiduralinjection