How To Alleviate Sciatica Pain
Youve learned how to sit comfortably, but its important to address the wider issue.
Sciatica may arise because of a medical issue so consult with a physician and they can advise certain exercises or therapies to help you. You should also maintain an active lifestyle with regular exercise because constantly sitting will enhance the problem.
Another cause of sciatica is feeling depressed or stressed. This is because the nervous system restricts blood and oxygen flow to specific parts of our body which causes pain. To help, inhale, and focus your attention on where it hurts as it could reveal emotions youre not dealing with.
Pinpoint the pain and do gentle yoga poses to stretch it out. You should also get a massage around the sciatic nerve to promote good blood flow and so you can enjoy a flood of dopamine and serotonin to relax you.
Heat compresses are also fantastic as it produces healthy blood flow in your lower body. Get a heating pad or topical creams as they provide effective pain relief with no side effects.
If your doctor suggests visiting the chiropractor, they will suggest effective postural exercises or lifestyle adjustments so you no longer suffer.
Understand Your Sitting Position
Before asking how to sit comfortably with sciatica, first, you need to understand the sitting position you are sitting in. The lower body is the region of your body that is hurting while you are sitting. To reduce sciatic pain, you have to understand your sitting position.
Sit straight and support your back with the seatback. You have to keep your spine aligned if it bends, your pain will increase. Now put your feet on the floor instead of hanging them in the air. Support your lower body as much as possible.
If you have to turn around on the rotating chair, try rotating your whole body instead of the upper body. Avoid crossing your legs if you dont want to feel numbness by disturbing the blood circulation.
Does Sitting Make Sciatica Worse
Sitting too much, especially for longer periods of time, can be something that triggers or worsens your sciatic pain. When sitting, the muscles that support the alignment of your pelvis and lower back can become tighter and compress on the sciatic nerve. Taking frequent breaks to move around or stretch may help to relieve the tightness in this area and reduce the pain.
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Provides Standing Support To Make The Transition To Standing More Comfortable
When a person’s body has learned through muscle memory to move in an incorrect posture, unhealthy walking and sitting patterns begin to form and take shape in the body, which can really irritate the sciatic nerve. Poor posture can lead to the development of bulging or herniated spinal discs, which can certainly cause spasms that lead to sciatic nerve pain and even damage.-The Joint Chiropractic
Poor posture is another leading cause of sciatica pain. This is important to bear in mind as you shop for a standing desk chair because the root of bad posture is weak core muscles. So youll, of course, want to develop core strength and your standing chair can actually play a significant role in helping you strengthen your core muscles as you stand.
Take the LeanRite standing desk chair, which provides yousupportas you stand . Standing support allows you to ease into standing work and develop your core muscles over time. Without this kind of support, working at a standing desk will be exhausting and uncomfortable, if not purely painful.
“I will stand up tall and lean up against it while I’m working it keeps me engaging my core…”-Katelin Rodriguez, LeanRite Elite user
Immediate Relief For Sciatica Pain

Many people believe sciatic pain will never go away. We’ve got a different angle. We believe that sciatic pain can be dealt with. Bed rest is one way to relieve sciatica pain, although that’s not always an option. Other methods include stretching, exercising, and medical treatment. We’ll discuss more of this later in the article.
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Do Use Heat Or Cold To Relieve Sciatica Pain
While many people suffering from sciatica want to reach for an over the counter pain medicine to relieve their pain, a better alternative to reducing pain is to use either heating or cooling packs. Frequent use of pain medication is not good for the liver or stomach and can even cause stomach ulcers. Try to reach for either a heating pad or a cold pack instead!
Heating pads can help to soothe sore muscle that might be tense and cause pressure to be put on the sciatic nerve. Cooling packs, however, can help to reduce the inflammation of the muscle surrounding the sciatic nerve. Its also possible to alternate heating and cooling using cold and heat therapy. If you decide to use either heat or cold, make sure to cycle them on and off about every 15 minutes to reduce the risk of skin damage.
Cold packs can make your skin go numb and even give minor frostbite so make sure to cover them up in an old shirt or towel before using them. Also, always make sure to use the protective cloth that comes with most heating pads in order to avoid burning yourself.
Medication From The Store
There are two kinds of over-the-counter pain relievers that frequently help with back pain: nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs and acetaminophen. Both have some side effects, and some people may not be able to take them. Talk to your doctor before taking pain relievers. And don’t expect medication alone to solve your pain problem. Studies show you’ll probably need more than one type of treatment.
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Dont Tolerate Sciatica Pain
Whatever is causing your sciatica, dont assume you have to live with it. If its interfering with your quality of sleep , talk with your healthcare provider about solutions, including a referral for physical therapy.
Even just a few sessions with a physical therapist can be helpful for many people, Sieberth says. Your therapist can help you figure out which sleeping positions and activities are best for you. Sciatica is such an individual condition, so theres no one-size-fits-all solution.
With the right medical treatment, you can get relief from sciatica pain and head off to dreamland again.
What Is The Best Chair For Sciatica Nerve Problems
Ergonomic chairs are considered ideal for people with sciatica pain problems. Ergonomic chairs fit a persons weight and height and can offer optimum flexibility.
It pivots easily and has a soft cushion for comfort. There are different sitting positions to relieve sciatica. Both your feet should be flat when in a sitting position. You can stretch and elevate your feet every few minutes.
Foldaway mattresses or foldable full mattress are a good investment for sciatica patients. The key is to keep moving. Psyche yourself that you are on top of the situation.
Driving or sitting in a car even with sciatica pain is possible with an ergonomic chair and an anti-fatigue mat. Self-care is essential whether you are in a car, at home, in the workplace, or practically anywhere.
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Use Extra Pillows To Support Your Back & Legs
If buying a new mattress is out of the question, you can start by using a few extra pillows every night, or even a body pillow. Place a small pillow in areas that you feel need extra support, such as the small of your back to reduce shooting pain.
The best sleeping position for sciatica is on your back with a pillow under your knees and your lower back. This ensures that your spine stays straight and supported throughout the night.
Need Help Sleeping Better? Request our FREE Sleep Hygiene Guide.
- Understand Your Sleep Habits
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Improved Soft Tissue Health
Regular mobilization exercises for sciatica may help heal the soft tissues in the disks and keep them healthy. Research suggests that the spinal disks may have a more healthy exchange of nutrients and liquid during exercise. As a result, prolonged disuse and reduced physical activity may be harmful to the disks.
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Be Careful How You Get In And Out Of The Car
We spoke to the team behind the previously mentioned Sciatic Pain Relief Cushion for their advice on driving with sciatica. Their top piece of advice revolves around how drivers get in and out of the vehicle: It is really important to take time to get into the car and driving position without aggravating the lower back as much as possible. This means avoiding unnecessary twisting and bending as much as possible and using your arms and upper body strength to take the load as much as you can. The same goes for getting out. You will surprise yourself how much this can be done with thought and planning beforehand.
In A Nutshell How To Avoid Sciatica Pain

Anything that seeks to maintain and support your back will help in the prevention of this illness. Here are some precautions you may take to avoid this condition:
- Regular workouts, particularly those targeted at relaxing the nerves in your abdomen and lower back, will help to reduce this issue from repeating and are also beneficial to your backs overall health.
- When sitting, pay particular care to your position.
- If you are working on a computer, your feet must be flat on the ground and your arms should be properly rested.
- Take regular breaks by going for a stroll or relaxing your back and legs.
- Both knees and hips must be level when driving, and you must not be pulling for the pedals.
- Minimize bending or standing for significant periods of time. If you do this, be careful your position does not place excess strain on your back. If you must bend, do it at your knees rather than your back.
- Make sure your mattress is suitable and that you utilize pillows that provide appropriate neck support when sleeping.
Once youve received therapy for sciatica, you must be able to continue your usual daily tasks more easily and have minimal irritation, if any. But only because its under control does not really mean it wont rupture again. Even though risks are low, its also critical that you take measures, maintain proper posture, and exercising on a daily basis to keep things under control.
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Sitting And Sciatica Pain Relief
Instead, physical therapy is normally the best way to treat the lower back pain and sciatic problems that youre having. Whether you simply need to get in ayoga routine, specific stretches, or to release tension in your hip flexors, physical therapy can offer a lot of solutions that surgery cannot with the added benefit of being much less risky and more beneficial overall. Try PT first!
Back pain and sciatica issues from sitting are quite common, and theyre continually becoming more commonplace as so many jobs and lifestyles involve sitting for long periods of time. If youre able to, try to get up and be active as much as you can, and simply taking a walk around the block can make all the difference! This will help to prevent these issues from occurring in the first place.
Take A Short Walk Every Hour
Spinal discs receive nutrition through the movement of fluids that occurs during exercise, which also increases blood flow. Research suggests that light exercise, such as walking, may help improve the transportation of nutritive fluids to the disc and improve the discs ability to adapt to spinal loads.5
When your work requires long periods at your desk, try to get up every hour and walk a short distance. Take slow, deep breaths and use a correct walking posture. Adding a recurring alarm on your phone or computer that prompts you to take a break and walk every hour may be helpful.
The sciatic nerve glide exercise helps relax and desensitize the sciatic nerve, improving the range of motion in the leg.
A useful exercise for herniated discs that can be performed while youre seated in your office is the nerve glide exercise. This exercise helps relax and desensitize your sciatic nerve. To perform this exercise:
- Sit upright on a chair and straighten one knee while keeping your other foot flat on the floor.
- Slowly bend your ankle so that your toes are pointing towards you.
- Continue to bend your ankle back and forth, pointing your toes away from you and then toward you.
- As tolerated, to put more tension on the sciatic nerve, try the same nerve glide with your head bent forward, bringing your chin toward your chest.
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Pump your ankle up and down 15 to 20 times and then repeat the exercise with your other leg. Aim to complete 3 rounds for each leg, twice a day.
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Take Charge Of Stress
No, the pain isn’t “all in your head,” but your emotions can play a role. Stress causes your muscles to tense up and also makes the pain seem worse. Biofeedback, which shows you how your thinking and behavior affects your breathing and heart rate, might offer some relief. You could also try cognitive behavioral therapy. You’ll work with a mental health expert who will help you change your behaviors and thoughts.
A Straight Spine And Flat Feet
How to Prevent Sciatica Pain When SittingPush your back to the chair as far as you can, making sure the bottom of your back is in direct contact with the inside corner of the chair. Be sure your feet are in line with the floor, shoulder-width apart, and your legs are not dangling.
If you found that your legs are hanging, you might have a chair thats too high for your height. Dangling your legs will lead you to slouch and place more pressure on your back and legs.
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Five Surprising Ways You Might Be Worsening Your Sciatica
by US Pain Foundation | Nov 22, 2019 | Blog
Sciatica is a chronic condition that most commonly comes from narrowing of the spine, bone spurs, or a herniated disk.
Although sciatica can be painful, it usually resolves on its own after a few weeks, although over time, it may return. From sitting too much to wearing heels, a variety of otherwise common activities are often the culprits of recurring sciatica pain.
In this article, we will explore the symptoms, causes, most common ways you may be triggering your sciatica, and what you can do to finally find consistent relief.
On Your Back With A Pillow Under Your Knees
Lying on your back helps distribute your weight evenly across your back. Putting a thick pillow under your knees may help maintain the curvature of your spine by relaxing your hip flexors.
How to set up:
- Lie on your back with a pillow under your head for support.
- Put one or two pillows under your knees and rest your heels comfortably against your mattress.
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Do I Need Surgery For My Lower Back Pain And Sciatica
One common issue thats prevalent throughout our culture is that surgery is necessary and beneficial in cases where theres significant pain. While this is true in some cases and you should always consult with your doctor, sciatica and lower back pain typically does not require surgery. The key to determining if you need surgery is to first determine the actual cause of your pain. Just because you have a herniated disc, doesnt mean that it is the source of your pain. There are many people, young and old, that have herniated discs with no pain.
Stretch Frequently Or Try Seated Nerve Glide Exercise
Here is the last tip for how to sit comfortably with sciatica. Since you are suffering from the pain, then why dont you manage time for stretching? Stretching & the seated nerve glide exercise do help in dealing with sciatic nerve pain.
The stretching exercises you can do include
- Reclining pigeon pose
- Knee to the opposite shoulder
- Forward pigeon pose
- Sitting pigeon pose
- Standing hamstring stretch
Remember, do these stretching exercises gently. Your nerve condition is severe dont try to exert much force on it. Lastly, for seated nerve glide exercise, follow the step-by-process
- Sit on a chair with straight posture
- Keep your one foot on the ground while stretching one
- Now bend your ankle so that your toes face forward
- Stay at the same position for a few seconds, then go back to the previous pose
- Repeat the process 10-15 times, then do the same with the other leg
- If you can bear the pain, do this nerve gliding exercise with your neck by bending it down towards your chest.
Do this nerve gliding exercise daily to see results fast.
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Positions To Relieve Sciatica
Walking and other aerobic exercises are sure remedies to kill the pain. Dealing with sciatica at work is a breeze when you know self-care. The best way to manage sciatica pain at work is to be versatile in your movements or activities.
Unable to sit due to sciatica is a common scenario for many patients. Also, try standing every 20 minutes and walking around your office to flex your muscles.
Invest In Personal Care Equipment
Invest in personal equipment that can help relieve sciatica symptoms with acupressure. Discuss with your doctor or with a physical therapist before you purchase any of these to see the proper way to use them to help with your sciatica symptoms.
Tennis Balls: Rolling over a tennis ball can provide a gentle sciatica massage that relaxes tense muscles.
Spinal Roller: A thick foam roller that can help relieve hip pain.
Knobble: A more focused acupressure device that can help with hip pain.
Back Buddy: This device is an S-shaped tool that can help provide localized pressure on specific points.
Sleeping with sciatica doesnt have to be a nightmare. Using some resources and different sleeping techniques can help you find the perfect sleeping position that works for you. Getting the rest while suffering from sciatica is necessary to help your body repair itself and alleviate sciatica symptoms.
If your sciatic pain has become chronic and conservative treatment does not relieve your pain, then it may be an indication that the condition which is causing sciatica may require surgery.
The Bonati Spine Institute offers out-patient, safe and highly effective alternative to traditional open back surgery and spinal fusion. The Bonati Procedures achieve great results in decompressing nerves and resolving the underlying issue to alleviate the pain and treat sciatica.
To learn more about how we may be able to help treat your sciatic pain, you may or contact us at 267-0483.
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