You are probably looking for help for sciatic nerve pain. Sciatic Nerve Pain or Sciatica is a painful condition, and so you may consider applying heat or ice to help alleviate the pain. However, it should be emphasized that there are conditions that indicate when’s the best time to use heat or ice.

For instance, when the pain is so intense but there is inflammation present, applying ice on the affected area is recommended. On the other hand, if there is only mild soreness of the area and there is no inflammation, you can apply heat to relieve the pain. Then again, it’s advisable to avoid using heat until you are absolutely certain that no inflammation has developed. You see, if there is inflammation, the heat tends to worsen it. Although you may feel sort of relieved when you apply heat on the area, you’ll actually feel worse once you remove it. So to be safe, wait for at least a couple of days before you even think of applying hot compress on the area, or better yet, just totally avoid using it altogether.

Ice offers a natural help for Sciatic Nerve because of its anti-inflammatory properties, so when you get injured and inflammation and swelling develop, doctors usually recommend that you apply ice packs on the area. Not many people are thrilled of this because it can be quite uncomfortable, but you will experience significant relief from Sciatic pain very soon after. It goes without saying, “no pain, no gain”.

When using icepack or hot compress, make sure that you don’t apply it directly on your skin. Always have a layer of clothing spread on the affected area before you put in the icepack. The application of ice or heat should only be for about twenty minutes at a time, then you have to wait for an hour or two before reapplying, if necessary. This should give enough time for your skin’s temperature to return to normal.

Another thing to keep in mind is never to apply heat or ice if you have just applied topical pain relievers such as Ben Gay, Theragesic, Icy Hot, and Biofreeze. As much as possible, you must wait until the effects of these analgesics have already worn off before you start applying cold or hot compress.

Although cold or heat application is a home remedy, it would be wise to consult your doctor first before using it, more so if you have medical conditions such as impaired circulation or decreased sensitivity.

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