Is Your Sciatica Pain Keeping You Up At Night?

If your sciatica pain keeps you up at night, you may wonder if there's anything you can do to ease your discomfort. Sciatica pain occurs when bones or soft tissues compress the sciatic nerve in your lower back. The pain can affect you at different times of the day, but tend to be worse at night. As a result, your quality of sleep suffers. Here are things to know about your sciatica pain, as well as solutions for it.

Why Is Your Sciatica Pain Worse at Night?

The sciatic nerve is one of the most important nerves of the body. You can experience pain anywhere in the lower body because of how the sciatic nerve travels. The nerve originates in the lower part of your spine but branches off into two sections once it reaches the pelvic region and buttocks. Each section travels down the length of your hips, thighs, calves, and feet.  

Your nightly sciatica pain may be due to the way you lie down in bed at night. If you tend to lie on your back, the weight of your body may press down on the nerve in any of the body locations mentioned above. Even if you manage to fall asleep, the pain may wake you up once it becomes intolerable.

Lying on your sides may not be good for you as well. The bones of the hips can pinch or squeeze down over the part of the sciatic nerve that travels through these body tissues.

In order to find relief from your discomfort, you need to see a chiropractor.

What Can Your Chiropractor Do to Help You Sleep at Night?

Sciatica pain won't go away on its own; and, it can become worse over time. A chiropractor, like Dr. Jason B Kaster DC, may offer a number of therapeutic treatments, such as TENS or transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation, to alleviate nerve pain in your lower body. 

TENS therapy is used to block or control the nerve impulses or signals in your body. In most cases, TENS may also increase the chemicals in your body that suppress pain. 

You may also reduce your sciatica pain at night by performing leg and hip stretches right before bedtime. Stretching the lower limbs may release pressure from the sciatic nerve. Here's a simple exercise you can do standing up to keep from aggravating your sciatica pain:

• Place a high-backed chair in front of your body to help you maintain your balance. Don't use a chair that requires you to bend or stoop, as it can cause back pain.
• Place both hands on the back of the chair, then tighten your ab muscles for stability.
• Lift the right leg toward the back of your body, then carefully point and flex your toes. Make sure to keep your leg straight as possible to stretch the muscles in it.
• Lower your leg and repeat the exercise with your left leg.
• Repeat the exercise with both legs 5-10 times each.

You may want to perform the stretching exercise at least four times a week to see if it helps you sleep better at night. 

If you need more information about sciatica pain and sleep, contact your chiropractor today.