Heat and Cold Therapy for Sciatica

Heat therapy and cold therapy form an essential part of the conservative management of sciatica. A vast majority of the patients with sciatica are managed nonsurgically. The most common cause of sciatica is a bulged/herniated disc followed by spinal canal stenosis. Cold therapy is generally helpful when used during the initial onset of sciatica and then used alternatively with heat therapy.

Sciatica is a collection of symptoms that occur due to compression or irritation of the spinal nerves L4, L5, S1, S2, and S3 that combine to form the sciatic nerve. Sciatica symptoms include buttock pain that may radiate down the back of the thigh, leg, or feet. The pain may be accompanied by pins and needles sensation.

Additionally, some sciatica patients may complain of neurological deficits such as numbness and weakness in the legs. In severe cases, patients may experience numbness of the saddle along with loss of bowel/bladder control.

Cold Therapy for Sciatica

Cold therapy is beneficial when used during the sudden onset of sciatica symptoms. During the initial compression or irritation of the nerve roots causing sciatica, there is inflammation around the affected nerve roots.

The inflammation process involves dilation of the blood vessels around the affected area. The dilated blood vessels can inflow a greater number of inflammatory cells. The inflammatory cells in the blood release unique proteins that lead to destruction and healing by scarring. During the initial inflammatory phase, the tissues’ destruction by the inflammatory mediators is a dominant process.

The inflammatory mediators cause swelling and fluid accumulation around the area of injury. Pain mediator chemicals are released around the area of inflammation that causes irritation of nerve endings, causing pain. Due to the pain and the irritation caused by the inflammatory mediators, the muscles surrounding the nerve roots may go in spasm.

Cold therapy may be delivered with an ice pack or simply putting ice cubes in the bag. Cold therapy works by decreasing the blood flow to the area of the irritation. The decrease in blood flow leads to decreased inflow of chemical inflammatory mediators.

The icing also helps in soothing the nerve endings that may decrease the pain. The cold temperature reduces the intensity and the speed of the nerve signals that transmit pain. The reduction in blood flow leads to reduction in the swelling of the area. The muscles may relax secondary to cooling of the muscle fibers.

The cold therapy creates a numbing sensation in the skin and should be applied carefully as the cold temperature may cause tissue injury or frostbite. The icing should not be done for more than 15-20 mins, and there should be breaks between subsequent sessions.

Heat Therapy for Sciatica

After the initial inflammatory response, the healing by regeneration and scarring occurs. Heat therapy works by increasing the blood supply to the involved area. The increased blood supply improves the supply of nutrients and oxygen to the inflamed nerve roots, therefore helping the healing process.

Heat therapy also improves nerve function and helps in increasing spinal joint motion. The increased temperature helps to reduce muscle spasticity and tension. Heat therapy works best after the initial inflammation period is controlled with cold therapy.

The heat therapy may be provided with the help of heated electrical pads or warm bottles. The warm bottles must be used with caution as the high temperature may cause skin burns. The electrical heating pads should not be left on while sleeping to prevent skin damage.

Heat therapy may also be given as moist heat with wet towels or hot baths. As with cold therapy, heat therapy should not be used for more than 15-20 mins at a stretch to prevent skin damage.

Contraindications 

The heat or cold therapy is contraindicated or used with extreme caution in patients with conditions such as diabetes mellitus, neuropathy, skin infections, etc. Diabetes mellitus and other neuropathies may render the skin insensitive to hot or cold sensations. The loss of sensation may result in skin burns or injuries.

Heat and cold

The heat therapy may be combined with alternative cold therapy to provide maximum relief. A majority of the patients experience significant relief from their sciatica symptoms. Heat and cold therapy work best when done along with other conservative treatment options such as medications and physical therapy.

Epidural injections may be used for the management of sciatica symptoms when there has been no relief with other conservative methods. Patients with symptoms suggestive of neurological deficit such as weakness in the legs or numbness in legs/feet/toes may require surgical intervention.

Also, patients with worsening sciatica symptoms and who had no benefit from conservative treatment despite a trial for more than six months may benefit from surgical treatment.

The surgical treatment of sciatica comprises decompression of the structures, causing nerve root irritation and compression. The decompression may involve removing the disc material, removing the lamina, and may involve the fusion of the involved segment.

The surgery may be performed with a traditional approach or may involve minimally invasive techniques. The surgery and the surgical approach are best discussed by the orthopedic surgeon specializing in the spine.