Sciatica is the term for pain that radiates from your lower back down to one or both of your legs. It can be caused by various factors, including, but not limited to, pregnancy, obesity, and inflammation in the discs between vertebrae.
There is no denying that sitting with sciatica can be a nerve-wracking experience. You might feel like you are on pins and needles or like someone is stabbing your back. The pain and discomfort of the condition make it difficult to focus and enjoy anything at all. While there may not be any cure for this painful condition, we do have some tips on how to sit with sciatica so that you don’t end up feeling as bad as possible!
Seven Tips on How To Sit With Sciatica and Feel Better
Invest in an ergonomic office chair
Sitting on the wrong chair that doesn’t support your back can make your condition worse. If you want to feel better, invest in a good ergonomic office chair with adjustable lumbar support and armrests. If the chair has transportation wheels, you can move it to different parts of the house or office as needed. This will not only be great for your back but also makes it easier for those moments when you need to get up!
Use a sciatica cushion
Sitting with sciatica can be a painful experience. To reduce some of the discomfort, you should use one or more cushion(s) under your legs and lower back to create extra support—essentially taking pressure off your already inflamed discs.
Choose the right sitting posture
The sitting posture has a big impact on your back and sciatica pain. Avoid slouching or leaning forward because it puts an immense amount of pressure on the discs located between spinal vertebrae, which can cause serious injury down to your legs when they are constantly bent in one position for too long.
Instead, try to sit upright with your back away from the chair and feet flat on the floor. This will ensure that you keep a healthy sitting posture while still taking pressure off the painful discs in your lower back.
Take breaks when possible
Since we already know that sitting with sciatica can be a painful and nerve-wracking experience, it is important to take your mind off of the pain as much as you possibly can. We suggest taking quick breaks between long periods of sitting to stretch and relax different muscles around your back. It will also help circulate blood flow throughout the body, so when you do sit for longer sessions, you won’t feel quite as uncomfortable!
You might want to consider setting the alarm every hour or two. Once that timer goes off, then get up from whatever position you are currently in, even if this means going out into another room because not doing so can have long-term consequences.
Your knees should be even with hips
When sitting, make sure that your knees are at the same level as your hips or slightly lower. This will help straighten out the spine and avoid putting pressure on anyone specific area for too long, which can cause serious injury down your legs!
If you need an extra pillow under your feet, then use it if this helps keep them flat on the floor. You might also want to lean slightly forward towards a desk or table in front of you so that way no matter how much pain you may be experiencing, there is not one particular spot where all of it is coming from since sciatica symptoms can vary person-to-person depending upon severity.
Make use of pivots on your chair to turn the whole body
Avoid twisting your spine when sitting because it puts a lot of pressure on the discs and can cause serious injury over time. Instead, try to pivot your body in one direction when possible so that way you do not have to put any strain on just one section of the back.
Keep your feet flat on the floor
When sitting, make sure that your feet are kept flat on the floor for support. If you need an extra pillow under them, use it if this helps keep them in place.
If you cannot get your feet into a relaxed position without moving around too much, then try turning one leg inward or outward to help take pressure off certain muscles and joints. Remember not to cross either foot over the other because doing so can put excess strain on already inflamed tissue!
If these tips don’t work, seek treatment. For those from Birmingham, visit us at Hoover, Alabama, for specialized treatment. For more inquiries and bookings, call our line: 205-637-1363.
