How Long Does Sciatica Last? (2024)

Sciatica is pain that starts in the lower back and travels into the hips, buttocks, and down the legs. It waxes and wanes, causing episodes or flare-ups (periods of pain and other symptoms) that can last up to six weeks.

The duration of a sciatica episode may vary depending on the severity of the cause, the severity of other lower back and hip symptoms, and whether the sciatica is acute (short term) or chronic (long term). Most people experience sciatica nerve pain if the nerve roots that make up the sciatic nerve become pinched or compressed. Sciatica typically affects one side of the body.

This article explores the symptoms of sciatica, how to treat it, how long it lasts, and when to contact a healthcare provider.

What Does Sciatica Feel Like?

The term "sciatica" refers to pain that travels along the path of the sciatic nerve. The sciatic nerve is the largest nerve in the body. You have two sciatic nerves, one on each side of the body.

Your sciatic nerve originates in the spinal cord in the lower back.It starts in the lower back and runs down the back of the leg.Nerve compression in the lower back can cause pain anywhere along the sciatic nerve, starting at the lower back and down to the bottom of the foot.

A primary symptom of sciatica is nerve pain that runs from the lower back down the buttock and down the back of the thigh. Symptoms typically affect the leg or buttock and are even felt below the knee. But this may vary from person to person.

In addition to pain, sciatica also causes:

• Leg weakness
• Numbness
• Tingling
• Aching
• Burning
• Muscle spasms and cramping
• Difficulty moving the leg on the affected side
• Bowel and bladder changes if sciatica is severe

Sciatica symptoms are worse when sitting or coughing. Walking, bending, and sitting for too long may also worsen symptoms. Some people might also experience worsening symptoms at night because they lie in one position.

Causes

About 10% of people with lower back pain have sciatica. Sciatica is more common after age 40.

Various conditions can lead to sciatica, including:

• A herniated disc
• Degenerative disc disease
• Spinal stenosis
• Foraminal stenosis
• Spondylolisthesis
• Osteoarthritis
• Injuries
• Pregnancy
• Cauda equina syndrome
• A spinal tumor (rare)

How Long Does Sciatica in Pregnancy Last?

Some people may experience sciatica pain while pregnant. Sciatica is more common in the third trimester of pregnancy. Fortunately, sciatica typically resolves after childbirth.

How Long Does Sciatica Last?

Sciatica is either acute or chronic. Acute sciatica refers to one sciatic attack or episode that resolves in a week or two, but sometimes, acute episodes can take up to six weeks to resolve. Acute sciatica might become chronic, where you experience sciatica pain regularly.

Acute Sciatica

Episodes of acute sciatica can affect walking, standing, sitting, and lying comfortably. They can cause burning pain down the back, buttocks, and legs.

Most people who experience acute sciatica will not have ongoing discomfort. However, without any warning, they might have an acute flare-up that forces them to rest and experience sciatica symptoms for days or weeks. Once you recover from an acute episode, you may not have another one for many months or even years.

Acute sciatic pain can affect you anywhere on the sciatic nerve—the lower back, buttocks, thighs, or feet. The more areas it involves, the worse the pain and symptoms.

Chronic Sciatica

People with chronic sciatica regularly experience sciatic nerve pain. Sciatica is considered chronic if it has lasted longer than six months.

Chronic sciatica can cause significant pain, numbness, and weakness. Symptoms can interfere with your ability to do daily activities. Chronic sciatica is typically a lifelong condition that does not always respond well to treatment.

Some people with chronic sciatica may experience central sensitization, a secondary complication of sciatica in which the nervous system amplifies pain.

What Causes a Sciatic Flare-Up?

For some people, sciatica may be a onetime occurrence. However, for others, especially people with chronic sciatica, sciatica flares are frequent.

There is no single trigger that may cause your sciatica to flare. Symptoms may present differently from flare to flare.

Some potential causes are:

• Not being active: If you stay in the same position for too long, your sciatica can flare up.
• Weight gain: Added weight can add stress to the sciatic nerve.
• Poor posture: Poor posture and improper body alignment (such as an awkward sitting position) can put additional stress on your lower back and sciatic nerve.
• Weather: Some people with sciatica report that harsh weather changes related to barometric pressure can trigger flare-ups. Barometric pressure has been found to cause changes in the bones, joints, muscles, nerves, tendons, and other body tissues. It is possible that such weather changes could affect the sciatic nerve and potentially trigger a flare-up.

How to Manage Sciatic Pain at Home

Most people can manage sciatica pain at home. Call a healthcare provider if the pain is not manageable or if you have other health concerns.

Ways to manage sciatica pain at home are:

• Keep moving: Movement is one of the best ways to manage pain. While it is OK to rest for the first day or two, you should move to strengthen your back and leg muscles, improve your flexibility and range of motion, boost blood flow, and reduce pain perception.
• Ice and heat: Consider using cold therapy for the first seven days of a sciatica flare. Wrap ice packs in a towel or cloth and leave them in place for 15 to 20 minutes at a time, with 15 to 20 minutes in between. Heat can be used after the first week and can include heating pads, hot water bottles, and warm baths or showers. Place a cloth between your body and the heat source with heating pads and water bottles.
• Sleep on a comfortable mattress: Sleeping on a softer mattress can increase spinal pressure and move discs out of alignment. Consider investing in a firmer mattress or a firm mattress topper to help you get a better night's sleep and keep sciatica symptoms at bay.
• Avoid sitting or standing for too long: Sciatica pain can worsen with prolonged sitting or standing. Consider getting up and moving after sitting for a half hour. If you have to stand or sit in one place, lift your foot on the affected side onto a box every half hour or rest your foot on a stool or small box.
• Take over-the-counter (OTC) nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs): NSAIDs, including Advil or Motrin (ibuprofen), Aleve (naproxen sodium), and aspirin, can relieve sciatica pain and stiffness.

Can Sciatic Pain Go Away on Its Own?

Mild sciatica might go away without any medicinal treatment. It may still take up to six weeks for symptoms to completely resolve.

You can manage mild sciatica at home with home remedies and lifestyle changes. If symptoms worsen or do not appear to be improving, you may want to reach out to a healthcare provider. They may prescribe medication or physical therapy to help you manage pain.

Lifestyle Changes to Prevent Sciatica Flare-Ups

Many lifestyle changes can help you to prevent sciatica flare-ups. These include:

• Regular exercise: Keep moving to reduce your risk for sciatica flares. Movement can prevent a flare by building up strength in your lower back and relieving muscle tension in the sciatic nerve.
• Practicing good posture: Good posture protects the back from excess pressure and may reduce sciatica risk. Instead of hunching over or slouching, correct your posture and keep your back muscles strong. Good posture maintains the spine's natural curves at the neck, middle back, and lower back. That means your head is above your shoulders, and your shoulders are just above your hips.
• Not sitting for long periods: Take regular breaks from sitting. Try to stand or walk around every 30 minutes. If your job does not allow you to move around or stand every 30 minutes, move around in your chair every 15 minutes to shift your weight. You should also avoid standing for long periods to prevent excess pressure on the spine, which can lead to sciatica pain.
• Proper lifting/body mechanics: Lift with your legs and hips rather than your back. Keep your back straight and bend the knees so your lower body does the work. If you need to lift something heavy, find someone to help. Avoid lifting and twisting at the same time.
• Maintain a healthy weight: Excess weight can stress the spine and put pressure on discs. If you are overweight, work with a healthcare provider to find an eating plan and exercise program that helps you reach and stay at a healthy weight.
• Manage stress: Stress can increase inflammation and muscle tension, which may trigger pain in the sciatic nerve. Try meditation, deep breathing, yoga, and stretching to reduce stress and help you feel relaxed.
• Not smoking: Smoking can lead to spinal problems, which can increase your sciatica risk. It can also increase recovery time if you have sciatica or other lower back problems. If you smoke, talk to a healthcare provider and make a plan to quit. Consider contacting your health insurance company to see if it offers smoking cessation programs or other resources.

When to Contact a Healthcare Provider

Most people can manage sciatica at home, and mild sciatica can be resolved over time. But if sciatica symptoms last more than a week or get worse, contact your healthcare provider.

Get immediate medical care for the following:

• Severe and sharp pain in the lower back that radiates into the legs
• Problems controlling the bladder or bowel
• Pain after a traumatic injury, such as a sports injury or automobile accident
• Sudden numbness and weakness in one or both legs
• Saddle anesthesia, which is a loss of sensation on the area of the buttocks, perineum (area between the genitals and anus), and inner surfaces of the sides
  

Medical Treatments for Sciatica

If you are not able to manage sciatica at home, a healthcare provider can recommend or prescribe additional treatments. Such treatments include:

• Physical therapy: A physical therapist can teach you how to manage sciatica symptoms by stretching, improving posture, and strengthening your core muscles to support your back.
• Alternative therapies: Alternative therapies, including deep tissue massage and acupuncture, can help ease pain and discomfort caused by sciatica.
• Medications: When NSAIDs do not help address sciatica pain, a healthcare provider can prescribe medications like Neurontin (gabapentin) that target nerve pain. Muscle relaxers, anticonvulsant drugs, low-dose antidepressants, and oral and injection corticosteroids might also be helpful for targeting inflammation and sciatic nerve pain.
• Surgery: Surgery is a last resort option to manage an underlying condition that leads to sciatic nerve pain, such as herniated discs and spinal stenosis.

Summary

Sciatica can be a painful condition. It can cause flares that make it hard to perform daily activities. A sciatica flare can resolve in a couple of weeks, but it can last up to six weeks.

You can manage sciatica pain at home with rest, exercise, heat and cold therapies, OTC pain relievers, and not sitting for long periods. Sciatica flares can be prevented with a variety of lifestyle changes, including staying active, practicing good posture, maintaining a healthy weight, and not smoking.

If at-home therapies and lifestyle changes do not help manage sciatica symptoms, your healthcare provider can prescribe additional treatments. Such treatments may include muscle relaxers and medicines that target nerve pain, physical therapy, or surgery as a last resort.

Talk to your healthcare provider if your sciatica symptoms do not improve with home treatment, last for long periods, or keep returning. They can examine you to determine the cause of your pain and develop a treatment plan.

You should seek out immediate medical help for severe or sharp pain in your lower back, bladder or bowel dysfunction, pain after a traumatic injury, sudden numbness and weakness in one or both legs, or saddle anesthesia.