Sciatic nerve pain is caused when the sciatic nerve becomes pinched or irritated via disc compression, which results in pain. The symptoms of sciatica vary, but more common symptoms include pain, weakness in the legs, tingling and difficulty sitting. Causes of sciatic pain stem from a herniated disc, a condition in which part of a disc protrudes, thus putting pressure on the nerve; piriformis syndrome, a quite common disorder that causes sciatic type pain due to the piriformis muscles becoming tight; and sacroiliac (SI) joint dysfunction, which can cause sciatic-type pain.
Body Placement
Avoid activities that aggravate your sciatic pain, such as sitting or standing for prolonged periods of time. When we sit, 50 percent of our body weight is placed on our lumbar spine. Therefore, it's essential to have a seating arrangement that meets your needs. Avoid chairs that are hard or have little padding. Standing with sciatic pain can be problematic. If you have to stand for an extended period of time, try and alternate placing one foot up to help keep your back relaxed and take some pressure off your lumbar spine.
Body Movement Therapy
Try Feldenkrais Massage Therapy, reflexology, Viniyoga or the Alexander Technique. Feldenkrais Massage stresses "awareness of movement," which is based on the theory that we can actively help to heal our own mechanical problems by reteaching our bodies stand and sit properly. Reflexology works by alleviating pain via reflex points in the feet. Viniyoga, which is a form of Hatha Yoga, condones relaxation over achieving perfect form. Viniyoga can help relieve sciatic pain through the combined therapeutic effect of gentle stretching exercises and mental clarity. And the Alexander Technique assists individuals in identifying the coordination habits they have accumulated throughout their lifetime and might be contributing to sciatic pain.
Shoes
Try and wear more comfortable shoes. Avoid hard-soled shoes, which can cause a compressive effect on the spine and aggravate sciatic pain. Look for cushioned, well-padded shoes that offer good support.
