Nothing can ruin your day more than the problem of having to deal with constant sciatica pain. It can nearly cripple someone who is dealing with the intense nature of the affliction. Many people don’t know what the Sciatic nerve is. The sciatic nerve is one of the most important nerves in the body. It runs from the base of the spine, down the thigh and finally to the knee joint. Of all the nerves in the body, it has the largest diameter. Suffering from sciatica does not mean you have to give up the activities you enjoy entirely. You can still lead a productive life and carry on with your daily tasks. It's not as bad of an ordeal if you simply look at sciatica more like a situation than a condition.
Nobody wants to find out there is something wrong with them, but sciatica isn't the end of the world. In fact, it is more common than most might think. Stress can only intensify pain, so do your best to remain level-headed about the situation.
Sciatica pain is common in your lower back and it can come and go. It is often categorized as leg pain that is described as burning, tingling, or searing. Some people report numbness or just pain in one side of the buttock or leg.
It is very important to note that it can be treated and maintained.
One simple exercise can be done at home laying on your back. You can lift your left leg and place your right ankle on top of the left knee. After that you need to hold that position for a few moments or as long as you can. You will feel a stretch and this helps stretch the tiny piriformis muscle that can sometimes get inflamed and cause trouble to your sciatic nerve.
There are a few other exercises you can do that are worth your time. Another simple one is to simply sit on the floor and bend your leg over your other ankle. Lean forward and allow your upper body to stretch. You will feel the burn of your body stretching, but that's a good thing. Hold in a bending position for 15 to 30 seconds and release, then do the same thing for your other leg. This will help stretch your body and hopefully provide some relief over time.
Even though the thought of taking some kind of medication to help with pain might be a scary idea to some, you can control some of your sciatica woes with over-the-counter medication. These over the counter pain killers will help you relieve some of the problem. Several also act as an anti-inflammatory. That is a very helpful characteristic to have when you're dealing with this kind of pain.
One of the worst things you can do when you're suffering from sciatica pain is to stay motionless. You need to keep moving and give your body a chance to work. Your pain will only grow if you just remain sitting down and never put your problem area to the test. When you're in pain, a warm heating pad can help. This causes your body to send some relief to your painful areas, but it's not a cure-all.
Yoga and stretching will help you immensely and should never be discounted as "new age" or "useless." The fact of the matter is that your body can achieve practically a full workout by just doing the proper routine of stretching. It's best to experiment with different types of yoga poses until you find the one that works best for you. Some yoga positions might be too advanced at first, so just do what you can and eventually you might find yourself pulling off a yoga pose with ease that you once thought impossible.
You should avoid strenuous exercises or extreme labor, but you never want to use your sciatica as an excuse to not live your life. Remember that this is only as bad as you make it. It is totally possible to enjoy a hike in the woods or a swim in the pool, even if you have sciatica problems.
