When the sciatic nerve starts acting up, you’ll notice a searing pain shooting down the back of your leg. Sciatic nerve pain is usually intensified by movements like bending down, and many people with the condition find it crippling, leaving them stranded on the couch. While sciatica usually affects seniors, it can happen to anyone of any age. How do you get your sciatic nerve to stop hurting?

How Do I Get My Sciatic Nerve to Stop Hurting?

Why Does My Sciatic Nerve Hurt?

The sciatic nerve hurts because it’s trapped by the piriformis muscle in your hip. The pressure exerted on the nerve by the tight muscle causes the sensation of pain, numbness, and tingling. Bending over tightens the piriformis, leading to more pressure on the sciatic nerve.

Sciatica is a problem for millions of Americans of all ages. Typically, it’s a symptom of a sedentary lifestyle and rarely occurs in active people. However, some fit people can also experience piriformis dysfunction, leading to sciatica’s onset.

So, how can you relieve sciatic nerve pain?

How Do I Get My Sciatic Nerve to Stop Hurting?

While sciatica is painful, it’s treatable and doesn’t require a trip to the doctor’s office or emergency room. If you’re mobile, you can fix it at home with a few minutes of stretching in the morning, midday, and evening.

If you’re immobile, you’ll have to seek the assistance of a physiotherapist to help you overcome your condition and restore your mobility. The good news is that you don’t need to undergo surgery, and there’s no need to take painkillers to relieve the pain.

Stretching Your Piriformis Muscle

Stretching the piriformis is easy; all it takes is a few minutes of floor exercises, and you’ll feel relief immediately. YouTube has hundreds of videos that can show you how to stretch the piriformis muscle. You don’t need to be an athlete to master these basic moves and gain range of motion.

Regular Stretching Daily

After stretching two or three times a day every day, you’ll notice you get pain relief. In fact, sciatica will generally go away in three to five days of regular stretching. Keep going with your stretching program after sciatica disappears to prevent sciatica symptoms from reoccurring.

Rest As Much as Possible

Rest is important. After stretching:

1. Take time to relax and take the weight off your legs and hips.
2. Don’t do any physical activities while you’re treating the problem.
3. Stretch and spend as much time off your feet as you can.

Sleep with a Sciatica Pillow

Sciatica is a recurring problem for many people suffering from the condition. Oftentimes, they stretch the piriformis, and sciatica disappears after a few days but returns days, weeks, or months later.

Your sleeping posture might have something to do with the problem. If you sleep on your side, buy a sciatica pillow. Place the pillow between your knees to take the pressure off your hips and the piriformis while you sleep.

Acupuncture for Sciatic Nerve Pain

Acupuncture is a complementary therapy for sciatic nerve pain. Evidence on its effectiveness is mixed, but some studies suggest it can provide relief and reduce pain. Acupuncture may also help restore energy flow, stimulate endorphin release, and improve function. Consult a qualified professional for personalized advice and treatment.

Sciatica isn’t a permanent problem. Follow these tips and watch your sciatic pain disappear.

Southlake Natural Family Wellness

Our mission is to support the health and well-being of our patients by offering individualized, comprehensive holistic care including acupuncture, herbal recommendations, customized nutritional counseling, allergy elimination (NAET), whole food supplements, lifestyle suggestions, moxibustion, and cupping, as well as helping couples get pregnant and STAY pregnant by supporting all the paths to conception.

About Farrah Hamraie

Farrah Hamraie, L.Ac, MOM, Dipl.OM (NCCAOM), is licensed and board-certified in Acupuncture and Herbal medicine in the State of Texas with a Masters of Oriental Medicine from the Dallas College of Oriental Medicine. She is also a Diplomat of NCCAOM (the National Certification Commission for Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine), a Board Certified Acupuncturist, Chinese Herbalist, and a member of the American Association of Oriental Medicine.