Those that suffer from sciatica pain are unable to live normal, healthy lives. Over time sciatic nerve pain can become unbearable, and many people have flare-ups of sciatica throughout their lives. The following article explains some potential causes of sciatica and offers several helpful tips, such as using inversion tables to alleviate the discomfort and pain associated with sciatica.
What Is Sciatica?
Sciatica is pain associated with the sciatic nerve, which is a large nerve that runs down the back and into each leg. Sciatica can be characterized by frequent, sharp, constant, or burning pain down one side of the leg, or both. Sciatica is caused by degenerative disc disease, lumbar spinal stenosis, and is even common during pregnancy.
Tips for Alleviating Sciatica Pain
Sciatica can occur for several reasons, and you should always consult your doctor before beginning any type of physical therapy or exercise regimen to alleviate the pain. Those that are pregnant are limited as to their options for alleviating sciatica pain, so consult with your doctor first. The following list outlines a few helpful tips for alleviating sciatica pain to help you return to a normal, pain-free life:
- Cooling and heating: Alternate cooling and heating the area (for no longer than 20 minutes at a time) to relieve sciatica pain. While you may feel more stiff initially, cooling and heating the affected area will do wonders over time.
- Stay active: Even though it is tempting to stay immobile and take it easy when your sciatic nerve is causing pain, staying still is actually detrimental and will stiffen your legs and make them more painful. Low impact activities are recommended, such as walking, swimming, and practicing yoga frequently. These activities will prevent your legs and back from stiffening and causing more pain.
- Watch your posture: While stooping or favoring your injury is tempting when you have back pain, watching your posture will help alleviate discomfort. Stooping over will make the pain worse. Be especially mindful of your posture, and stand as straight as possible at all times (there are back braces you can purchase if you know posture is an aspect of your back pain). When sitting down, avoid leaning back, and instead put a pillow behind your back to keep your spine straight and place your feet flat on the floor. Many sofas can exacerbate the problem, so try sitting in a straight-backed chair as often as possible when you must sit.
- Sleeping positions: Placing a pillow between your legs while sleeping on your side (in the fetal position) may alleviate pressure and ease your sciatica pain. It is best to switch positions often to avoid stiffening of your legs.
- Stretch your lower back: Stretching your lower back can alleviate sciatica pain. Stretch your back for 30 seconds at a time as often as possible throughout the day.
- Over the counter medications: Over the counter medications such as Advil, Tylenol, or Motrin can help reduce pain associated with sciatica. Women who are pregnant should only use Tylenol.
- Inversion tables: Inversion tables are physical therapy tools that allow the patient to safely be inverted (or upside down). Inversion allows for the spine to decompress and relieves pressure that is being placed upon the spine. If you do not have access to an inversion table, you can do inverted poses yourself to decompress your spine and relieve back pain. There are several yoga inversion poses that may be beneficial to you. Some poses are for beginners, and some you may need to work up to before you can perform them correctly and safely. Women who are pregnant should not practice inversion after they have reached week 36 of their pregnancy.



