# Back Ailments: How to Cope?

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/back-ailments-how-to-cope/140791>\
**Category:** In My Humble Opinion\
**Created:** [December 5, 2002, 10:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/back-ailments-how-to-cope/140791 "2002-12-05T22:29:38Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 2\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![Jinx](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/c6cbf5/32.png) [@Jinx](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jinx)\
**Post date:** [December 5, 2002, 10:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/back-ailments-how-to-cope/140791/1 "2002-12-05T22:29:38Z")

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Just wondering is any SDopers have/had the pain of sciatica. How do/did you cope until the doctor could see you? I am on an anti-inflammatory Rx and a pain-killer Rx (from the PCP). They help to minimize the pain, but I’m still often squirming to find relief. Sometimes, as often as every 20 seconds, I must shift. It’s driving me insane. I won’t see the doctor until next week! (MRI tomorrow.)

I know each case is different. Mine was cured for five years (until now) with about six weeks of therapy while on a steroid to “zap” the swelling. At present, a muscle relaxer was no help, and if anything, my sciatica increased once I was too weak to move or roll over in bed. Of course, I suspected the muscle relaxer (also from the PCP) wouldn’t help…

I’d especially like to know if ice on the lower back could prove more effective than heat?

Thanks,

- Jinx

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**Author:** ![Brynda](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/e79b87/32.png) [@Brynda](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Brynda)\
**Post date:** [December 5, 2002, 11:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/back-ailments-how-to-cope/140791/2 "2002-12-05T23:24:37Z")

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According to the research I have read, ice is more effective than heat. YMMV.

Good luck with this. Back pain is hell. ☹