How to sleep with sciatica plays an important role in our lives. It aids in restoring and rejuvenating and is very important in creating an environment within the body that promotes healing. For many people, sciatic nerve pain may worsen during the evening due to increasing tension in the spine and pain. To get relief from sciatica, you can try different sleeping positions. Continue reading Tips for getting better sleep with sciatic pain.
How to sleep with sciatica?
The sciatic nerve is the body's biggest, running from the spinal cord to the hips, buttocks, and back of each leg. How sleep with sciatica is a painful condition. Rubbing or putting pressure on the sciatic nerve or its adjacent area can cause more pain. The cause of sciatica could also be a herniated disc in the lower back of the spinal cord. The main symptom of sciatica is shooting pain in the lower back. The pain can be mild or excruciating, which can cause difficulty in sleeping. Sciatica condition usually affects only one side of the body. Sleeping in a certain position can pressure the nerve and increase the symptoms. Some positions of sleeping in the case of sciatica are less likely to cause pain. The other symptom of sciatica pain could be muscle weakness, numbness in both legs or needle sensation in the legs. One can feel pain or itch in either leg's front, back, or sides.
You can also read: How Your Sleep Position Affects Your Health
What are the best sleeping positions for sciatica?
Sleeping with sciatica or other lower back issues can have a devastating effect on your sleep quality. There is a 55% chance of sleep disturbances in people suffering from sciatica. There are different sleeping positions for sciatica. However, every patient is different, and some trial and error can help you find a position that suits you the best.
1. On your side
Sleeping on the side can help reduce pain by taking pressure off your nerves. Lie on the mattress with your injured spot on the side. You can also put a pillow to reduce side bending.
2. Putting a pillow between your knees or legs
Placing a pillow between your knees will help keep your spine neutral. It will prevent the movement of the legs during the night. You can put your shoulder on your mattress and then settle your body against the mattress. You can also put a thin pillow under your waist.
3. Fetal position
The fetal position is the best as it opens the space between your vertebrae and can reduce back pain caused by the herniated discs. However, some people find it a difficult position. You may adopt a C-shaped shape by lying on your side and bringing your knees closer to your chest. If necessary, a pillow can be provided.
4. Sleep on the floor
In case soft surfaces can cause your spine to bend. Sleeping on the floor can help to keep your spine in proper alignment. You can sleep on a thin yoga mat or a camping mat on the floor. You can choose any position that is comfortable for the patient.
5. On your back
Lying on the back can help distribute your weight. Putting a thick pillow under your knees can help maintain the curvature of the spine by relaxing the hip flexors. Lie on your mattress with your head over a pillow for support.
6. With a pillow under your lower back
Putting a towel under your lower back can help keep your spine neutral. It can also reduce the gap between your back and mattress. You can lie face up with a comfortable pillow. This will help to keep the pelvis in a neutral position.
Also read: Back Pain? Correct Your Sleeping Posture
Positions to avoid when dealing with sciatica pain?
- A person with sciatica should not sleep on their stomach.
- Avoid sleeping on your stomach if you are dealing with other lower back pains.
- Sleeping on the stomach tends to curve the spine towards the mattress. It puts pressure on the muscles or joints, especially if you have a soft mattress.
- Hence, several practitioners recommend firm mattresses.
- Twisting your spine or hips can also be dangerous.
Conclusion
Never tolerate sciatica pain. Check for the main cause of sciatica pain. If it interferes with your sleep or life quality, consult a healthcare provider, including a reference for physical therapy. Even a few sessions in physical therapy can be helpful for many people. Healthcare providers or therapists can suggest a sleeping position and activities that are best for your body. Sciatica is an individual pain, and the solutions for the problem differ for different people. With the right medical treatment, you can get by booking the Best Orthopedic Doctor in Salem.
Also Read: What will a hospital do for sciatica pain: 5 treatments
Frequently Asked Questions
Can sciatica cause other health problems?
If sciatica pain is severe, it can cause your leg to feel weak, though the symptoms rarely have long-term health problems.
What are the different exercises to avoid sciatica?
The Exercises to Avoid with Sciatica are lifting both legs off the ground or leg raises. High-intensity interval training, squatting, twisting or rotating the torso, bending forward with straight legs.
What are the advanced stages of sciatica?
Sciatica starts due to nerve inflammation but can progress the nerve damage in more advanced stages. The sciatica nerve can cause permanent numbness or tingling sensations in the legs. It can also result in weakness in the knees or legs.
Will sciatica keep coming back?
There are some cases of sciatica becoming chronic. Although, most of these cases are because of a herniated disk. The healing of the herniated disk is required to relieve sciatica for a certain period.
What are the things that aggravate sciatica?
Normal day-to-day activities like lifting heavy weights, twisting the spine, or poor sleeping positions can trigger spinal pain, irritation, and sciatica.
Do I need a pillow or a new mattress for sciatica?
Since there are too many variations of sciatica pain, there is no one-size-fit mattress. Some people prefer a firm mattress, while others may choose to sleep on the floor. You need not buy one mattress for sciatica pain. Try to Find a comfortable position to sleep in and use a pillow to get into a comfortable position once you know your needs. Then you can spend on a new mattress.
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