One of the quickest sciatica relief measures is to slap on a spot patch. Lidocaine is a common anesthetic, and when used as a topical medication, it works at the superficial level to give you relief from spasms. These patches can contain up to 4 percent of lidocaine—which is the most you can get without a prescription—and they're big enough to cover your back thoroughly. It's a good idea to keep a pack or two of these ready.

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