There are many causes for pain related to the sciatic nerve, located in the lower back and extending down to the foot on each side of the body. Sciatica is a general term for the pain that is experienced in the sciatic nerve. Most often, the pain is cause by unnecessary compression of the nerve, as can be the case with a herniated spinal disc, or it can be caused by inflammation due to overuse, stress, or injury. Sometimes, diseases or medical conditions can cause sciatic nerve pain, such as a tumor growing near the nerve, or bone spurs pressing into it from the vertebrae or pelvis. Sciatic nerve pain relief can be very different depending on the cause. In general, the specific portion of the sciatic nerve that causes pain in many situations is the root of the nerve, located at the base of the spinal column. If compression from the vertebrae is the source, sciatic nerve pain relief can be achieved by removing any pressure being applied to the roots of the nerve. This can involve light exercise and stretching that pulls the vertebrae apart, massage for the same effect, and potentially even the use of a posterior brace to rebalance some of the body's weight away from the spine. If the pain is caused by an inflammation of the sciatic nerve, then the treatments for pain relief can be very similar to those associated with other types of inflammation. Alternating hot and cold packs applied to the area in pain, short periods of rest and immobility, and over the counter pain relievers that reduce swelling can all work very well for minor amounts of pain. These methods of sciatic nerve pain relief might be temporary, however, if the cause of the pain is more serious. In some instances, a separate medical problem could be the cause of the sciatic nerve pain. A herniated disc might require more rest and less stretching than would normally be recommended for sciatic nerve pain relief. A calcification on the spine or pelvis that is applying pressure to the nerve could require a medical procedure to remove the bone spur. A serious case could be lesions or tumors that have formed on or near the nerve since these could be indicators of cancer, kidney damage, or other medical conditions that require immediate attention.