Life with sciatica is challenging. The condition causes pain to spread from your lower back into the back of one of your legs. It causes a burning, tingling sensation that is usually worse when sitting down. However, it also makes it difficult to sleep.

Since sciatica is caused by pressure and irritation in the sciatic nerve, your goal should be to adjust your sleeping position to reduce this pressure. We want to help you reduce and prevent sciatica pain, so here are some tips that can help you sleep with sciatica.

Best sleeping positions for sciatica

One of the most effective ways of treating sciatica pain is to visit a physical therapist for help. A physical therapist can examine your condition and guide you through a personalized routine to help treat and prevent the pain. However, your physical therapist can’t be with you all day, especially when you need to sleep, so here are some tips that can help you get a good night’s rest with sciatica:

• Put a pillow between your legs — If you like to sleep on your side, you can place a pillow between your thighs to help reduce pressure on the spine. The pillow helps keep your spine and body in alignment, which can reduce irritation on the sciatic nerve. Plus, sleeping on your side in general may help reduce spine-related pain.
  
• Raise your knees — If you prefer to sleep on your back, you can help reduce pressure on your spine by sleeping with your knees elevated. Place a few pillows underneath your knees to help alleviate pressure and get a comfortable sleep.

If you’re still having trouble sleeping, it may be time to consider getting a new mattress. A mattress that is too hard or soft or that has collapsed springs can contribute to sciatic nerve irritation.

Visit Franklin Rehabilitation for sciatica treatment

Is sciatica making it difficult to sleep and affecting other areas of your life? Our team at Franklin Rehabilitation is here to help. We can examine your condition and guide you through a personalized routine to help manage the sciatic nerve pain. 

Our treatments are always personalized to the needs of each patient, but generally, you can expect:

• Gentle exercises and stretches
• Hands-on therapy
• Posture guidance
• Patient education

Contact our team today for more information about sciatica treatment or to schedule an initial appointment.