If you’re suffering from sciatica, which is causing your legs and back to ache horribly, then you might be wondering if there’s any way to sleep peacefully. After all, many people suffering from sciatica may have difficulty sleeping.
However, here’s good news. Even if you have sciatica, there are some ways to sleep nicely. Given below are some tips on how to sleep with sciatica!
Tip 1: Find An Appropriate Sleeping Position
First of all, you need to find the best sleeping position for your sciatica pain. For instance, you can go for sleeping on the side or even the fetal position.
Sleeping on the side is considered to be one of the best sleeping positions for people having sciatic pain. This is because when you sleep on the side, the pressure on the nerve has reduced significantly. Thus, helping in reducing pain.
If you are not comfortable sleeping on the side, you can also try to sleep in the fetal position. This may be because this position can help reduce back pain. However, this hasn’t been effective in many patients.
So, make sure you try to find the sleeping position that helps in lessening your pain.
Tip 2: Make Use a Pillow
A pillow is extremely helpful if you are going through sciatic pain. Depending on your sleeping position, you can adjust the pillow accordingly.
For example, if you are sleeping on the side, then consider placing the pillow between your legs. This will keep your spine as well as pelvis in a proper position. Moreover, it can also help in keeping the legs in their place.
Tip 3: Keep Your Knees Elevated
Elevating your knees while sleeping may help in reducing the pain of sciatica. So, if your comfortable sleep position allows you to do, try elevating your knees a little. However, if you’re a side sleeper, then also try to elevate your knees just a bit.
If you’re elevating your knees, consider putting a pillow underneath your knees. This will help you find a comfortable position while helping you avoid pain while sleeping.
Tip 4: Go For The Right Mattress
For every type of sleeper, there’s a correct mattress. Hence, it is imperative that you also try to find the right mattress for you instead of going for any random one.
When it comes to sciatica patients, medium-firm mattresses are thought to be the best. It is because mattresses that are too soft won’t be able to hold your back properly. Similarly, mattresses that are too hard may cause discomfort.
Tip 5: Consult a Doctor
Lastly, if nothing works for you, consider consulting a doctor. They might be able to help you by offering proper assistance. They may also suggest other treatment methods that will help you sleep comfortably.
Final Thoughts
To conclude, sciatica can certainly ruin your sleep if you don’t act upon it. However, with the above tips, you can ensure that you get a lovely sleep.