If you’ve ever experienced Sciatica Pain, you know it, though you may not have known what to call it at the time. Researchers estimate that 43 percent of the population will experience this pain at some point during their lives. Sciatica pain comes from the lower back, and travels down through the buttock into one or both legs. The sciatic nerve is the longest nerve in the body, and therefore can produce serious pain down your entire body, even into your toes. You may experience pain in the form of tingling, numbness or weakness in your lower back, buttock, legs, and toes.
There are many different treatments for sciatica pain:
- Pain medication
- Steroid injections
- Acupuncture
- Chiropractic manipulation
- Massage therapy
However, taking pain medication or having injections can disrupt your day to day life as well as your overall health. Thankfully, there are some easy exercises you can do regularly to help manage your pain.
Knees to Chest
For this exercise, lay down flat on your back, and slowly hug your knees to your chest for 30 seconds. Try repeating this three times in a row a couple of times a day.
Modified Cobra Stretch
To do a cobra stretch, lie on your stomach with your legs together and extended, toes pointing. Rest your forearms and palms on the floor close to your body. Then push up from your palms to partially straighten your elbows, bringing your chest and stomach up off the floor. Hold this pose for five seconds before laying back down on the floor. Repeat this up to ten times.
Seated Spinal Twist
Sit up with your legs out in front of you on the floor. Bend your right leg and place your right foot on the outside of your left knee. Twist your body toward the right. Hold this for 15-30 seconds, and repeat on the opposite side.
Low Lunge
Step your right leg out in front of you and bend your knee to a 90 degree angle. Place your left knee on the ground. The top of your left foot should be flat against the ground. Lift your torso and put your hands on your right thigh. Make sure to keep your right knee from going over your toes, lifting your torso to feel the stretch in your hips. Keep this position for thirty seconds. Then switch to do the same thing with your left leg forward and bent with knee over ankle, and right leg behind you on the ground. To feel an extra stretch, raise your arms straight above your body, with your elbows close to your ears.
Pigeon Pose
This yoga pose is especially helpful for sciatica pain. Bring your right leg out in front of you, and left leg flat on the ground, like you would for a low lunge. Then take your right foot, calf, and knee to the ground. Your right foot should be next to your left arm. Slowly lay yourself down on your forearms, feeling the stretch in your right thigh. Hold here for 30 seconds and repeat with the left leg in front and on the floor, and your right leg behind you.
Foam Roller- Hip Rotator
If you are feeling pain in your hips and buttock, implementing the use of a foam roller is a great way to relieve the sciatic pain. Sit on the foam roller with your knees bent, and feet flat on the floor. Put your right hand on the floor behind you, leaning back slightly. Next, cross your right leg over your left thigh. Roll back and forth, supporting yourself with your right hand and left foot. Do this for 30-60 seconds, and then repeat crossing your left leg over your right thigh.
The doctors at South Orange Chiropractic Center can help you manage and relieve your sciatic nerve pain with regular chiropractic adjustments. Contact us today to get natural pain relief and start living a life of improved health and wellness.
