Sciatica is one of the most prevalent causes of discomfort in the lower back, legs, bottom, and feet. Compression of the sciatic nerve can cause numbness, tingling, and pain in these regions.

A sciatica flare-up might be difficult to treat. While physiotherapy and manual therapies are effective medium- to long-term treatments, they require time to work. For some of them, you should consult with your doctor first, which you may find by googling “sciatic nerve specialist near me”.

So, how do you get quick relief from sciatica? Here are 12 techniques to obtain sciatica treatment in eight minutes or less.

1. Rest for a short time

Sciatica may flare up if you've been moving a lot, walking quickly, or walking long distances. It can be so severe that it makes walking difficult. So, if you've been on the move all day and your sciatica symptoms are starting to appear, you can obtain quick relief by lifting your feet and resting for a few minutes. If you have time to extend this for a few hours, you may feel more relieved.

However, bed rest is unlikely to provide long-term relief for your problems.

2. Cat-cow pose

Begin on all fours with your knees below your hips and your hands beneath your shoulders. Round your back with a mild bend of the elbows, looking down at the floor. Hold this position for a few seconds.

Then, slowly and gradually, push your belly button to the floor and arch your back downward while looking up at the ceiling.

Repeat for eight minutes, or until you experience alleviation in your sciatic pain.

3. Bridge technique

Lie on your back, knees bent and hip-width apart. Place your hands on your tummy, keeping your spine neutral.

Lift your pelvis off the floor slowly, using your stomach muscles to keep it stable, until your body forms a diagonal line from your head to your knees. Hold for a few seconds before carefully lowering your pelvis to the ground.

This exercise will strengthen your glutes while also offering quick relief for sciatica.

4. Go swimming 

It's difficult to fit a whole swimming exercise into eight minutes, but the good news is that simply being in the water can ease some of the strain on your neurological system. Even a short plunge may help relieve some of your sciatica discomfort.

Animal studies have also shown that swimming can help with nerve healing. So, if possible, attempt to incorporate frequent swimming into your sciatica recovery workout routine.

5. Acupuncture

Some studies have found that acupuncture can help with sciatica pain. Acupuncture works by stimulating nerve fibers that block pain signals while simultaneously causing endorphin release. Endorphins, the body's natural painkillers, may help relieve sciatica symptoms rapidly and efficiently.

However, you may require numerous acupuncture sessions to achieve long-term relief from sciatica.

6. Have a massage

Massage the tissue in your glutes, thighs, calves, and lower back for immediate relief from sciatica.

If feasible, schedule a sports or deep tissue massage with a licensed massage therapist.

7. Painkillers

There is limited evidence that over-the-counter pain relievers such as paracetamol and ibuprofen provide quick sciatica relief. However, your pharmacy, doctor, or sciatica specialist may be able to recommend or prescribe an alternative pain reliever that will alleviate your symptoms rapidly.

Opioids, muscle relaxants, antidepressants, and/or anticonvulsants may be used, though evidence of their efficacy for sciatica is limited.

8. Steroid injections

Steroid injections can provide immediate relief for sciatica and are commonly administered by hospitals. They are generally used with a local anesthetic to numb the area and provide rapid sciatica pain relief until the steroids take effect.

You may experience some discomfort as the anesthesia wears off, but after a few days, you should feel considerably better.