“What is the most effective pain relief for sciatica?”

There is no single most effective pain relief for sciatica or any specific pain. There are multiple treatment options for sciatica, but individual responses will vary. The effectiveness of a treatment option may depend on the nature of the sciatica. For example, physical therapy can be quite useful if the sciatica is due to muscle strain and spasm. This will likely not be effective if you have severe arthritis with spinal stenosis (narrowing) that pinches the nerve.

There are many types of medications for sciatica including NSAIDs (e.g., ibuprofen, Aleve), steroids (e.g., prednisone), muscle relaxants (e.g., cyclobenzaprine), opioid pain medications (e.g., hydrocodone), non-opioid pain medications (e.g., gabapentin, a seizure medication, and duloxetine, an antidepressant). You should see a provider for further evaluation which might lead to possible cause of the pain and the most appropriate treatment option.

Without seeing a physician, the most effective relief would be from stretching.