It’s hard enough to deal with lower back pain and sciatica without having to worry about sleeping. In fact, poor sleep can slow down healing times and make it harder for your muscles to relax–so getting a good night’s sleep is important. This article will cover the best way to sleep with lower back pain and sciatica.
One way to sleep with sciatica is to lie on your side and place a pillow between your knees. Provided your bed has enough support, this acts to take the pressure off your back and lower spine.
If you’re sleeping on your back, try placing a pillow under the curve of your lower back to support it and reduce the pressure that way. For some people however, that may increase the pain and pinch the nerve, so as for any of these positions if your symptoms worsen, don’t try and force through the pain.
A pillow placed under the knees can also help when lying on your back. This will take the pressure off your back and lower spine, and the bending of the knees can help relax the sciatic nerve.
What causes sciatica?
The sciatic nerve is the longest and widest single nerve in our body. It starts at the lower part of your spine, runs through an opening in the pelvis, and branches out to each leg. This nerve is responsible for sensation in your legs, feet, and toes – so pain can be felt from the hip to the toes.
Here are some of sciatica causes:
- Disc Bulge/Herniation
- Piriformis Syndrome
- Spinal Stenosis
- Degenerative Disc Disease
Signs and symptoms of sciatica include:
- Pain that radiates from the lower back and buttocks down to one or both legs
- Numbness, tingling, or weakness in the legs
- A feeling of “pins and needles” or leg discomfort that occurs when sitting
Once you have identified the cause of your sciatica, you can find the best way to sleep with lower back pain and sciatica. For more information on how low back pain and sciatica occur, causes of sciatica, or how to treat sciatica, contact us on 03 9034 7735 to see how we can help you, or click to book an appointment online.