A flare tests whatever plan you already have, so the first step is knowing what that plan asks of you. The first move is short, and the rest is best settled with your doctor ahead of time.
First moves during a flare
OrthoInfo (AAOS) says your doctor may want you to take short walks and may prescribe physical therapy. That guidance is conditional, so treat it as a prompt to ask and not as an instruction to follow alone.
How long a flare lasts and what works fastest
How long a flare lasts and which remedy works fastest are questions for the clinician who knows your history.
Setting the plan before the flare
The best time to ask is before the next flare. Ask your doctor what to do on day one, what activity is safe, and what change should prompt a call. Ask whether physical therapy is a short course or an open-ended commitment, and request the fee schedule and agreement terms in writing.
For general background, the MedlinePlus page on sciatica and the OrthoInfo sciatica page are useful to read in advance. The WebMD pain management center collects further general articles.
Choosing who to ask in Little Falls
If you do not have a clinician, compare offices on what they commit you to, not on the first visit's price. The American Academy of Pain Medicine is a professional body you can use to see how pain care is described.
Calling before the flare, not during it
A written plan beats a remembered one when pain is high. Make the call to your doctor before the flare, not during it. Our comparisons stop short of medical advice.