Tips to sleep with your chronic sciatica pain
Adjusting your pillow position can benefit you and help you to sleep with your sciatica pain. Sleeping on your stomach while suffering from back pain or neck pain can worsen your problem as this position would cause your spine to arch and your neck to twist. Hence, one has to adjust the pillow in order to ease your pain than to worsen up.
If you’re experiencing back pain, sleep on your back with the pillow under your knees as this position would take pressure off the spine. For neck pain, you can opt for an orthopedic pillow.
1. Sleep on your back
This position is considered to be one of the best positions to sleep for sciatica patients. As Sciatic pain is due to the Sciatic nerve and this nerve is located in the lower back and lumbar discs, it is very much important to reduce the pain from the focus area. Hence, sleeping on your back could be helpful.
One will have to lie down on the bed such that the whole body is in contact with the bed. Then elevate your knees and place your pillows under you’re your knees. You can place as many pillows as you want until you’re feeling supported and not in pain.
2. Sleep on the side posture
You might observe that sleeping on your side helps you to reduce pain by reducing the pressure on your irritated nerve. As you’re not sleeping on your back, the pressure on your muscles, disc, and the sciatic nerve is reduced. To get more benefit from this position, you must make sure to keep the spine aligned; the hips must be straight and curl up your knees slightly towards your chest.
Push your knees slightly towards your chest and make sure they are bent such that they form a 90-degree angle. Finally, place the pillow between the knees to decrease the pressure on the sciatic nerve. In addition to this, if you require more support place a pillow under the waist area to ensure your body remains in the same position the whole night.
3. Pillow under your lower back
Placing the pillow under your lower back will not only cut off the gap between your back and mattress but also keeps your spine in a neutral position.
To try this position, you must lie on your back with your face up with a comfortable pillow for your head. Slide a thin pillow under your lower back as this will keep your pelvis in a neutral position. You can also try this with a pillow under your knees. Obviously! Try only if you’re comfortable.
4. Fetal Position
This position helps to make space between your vertebrae and might eventually reduce back pain that is caused due to herniated disc. Most people also find it aggravated their pain.
Sleep on your side with your knees bent slightly towards your chest such that your body forms a “C”. If needed, you can also choose to place a pillow between your knees or under your waist.
5. Sleep on the floor
Sleeping on soft surfaces might cause your spine to bend due to improper alignment. Put any thin mat such as a yoga mat or camping mat on the floor and lie down in any desired positions above or some other position whichever you’re comfortable in.
If you’re suffering from sciatica pain sleeping in the above-listed positions could help you to have a sound sleep. Make sure you do not sleep on your stomach if you’re dealing with sciatica or any other lower back pain problems. It’s just that you must make sure to avoid twisting your spine or hips as this would put pressure on your sciatic nerve. Visit or consult MJPhysio – our experienced Physical therapists at Vancouver, Surrey, and Fleetwood locations will help you ease your sciatic pain with their thorough experience
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