Therapeutic Sciatica Pillows

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Sciatica pain is experienced when the sciatic nerve is compressed or irritated. The sciatic nerve is the longest nerve in the body. It runs from the spine through the buttock and the leg; it provides feeling and directs muscles within the leg. Hence, the pain is typically felt radiating from the lower spine, through the buttock and leg. Various disorders can lead to sciatica pain, the most common cause of which is the herniated disk.

The sensation can range from a dull ache to an intense sharp pain, and normally only affects one leg. But for day-to-day sciatica pain, proper lumbar support can make a big difference in how you feel.

Today, the normal working person spends a great deal of time either working at his desk, or driving his car. This situation is hardly ideal for proper back care. Commonly, people hunch over their desks or steering wheels, using improper posture that places additional strain on their backs - backs that are often already tense or even painful.

The posture that puts the least stress on the back, thus allowing the back to rest, is termed the backs "neutral posture." Appropriate lumbar ...
... support helps to ensure neutral posture, whether sitting or lying down. (While standing, one can approximate this condition by putting one foot on a step stool, regularly alternating positions between one foot and the other.)

While lying on ones stomach, one can experiment by placing pillows beneath the chest and belly until finding the position that provides maximum relief. However, for those who lie on their side or back at night, it may be easier to find pre-made therapeutic pillows of the appropriate shape and size for their body type.

For side-sleepers, the support pillow is placed between the knees. It can be helpful to have a partner examine your spine while you are lying on your side with the support pillow in place, as a partner can confirm whether your spine appears to be in the straight line that indicates a neutral back posture for the side-sleeper.

Those on their backs may ease their pain by placing a pillow under their knees, or even by placing their feet on a step stool, elevating the lower legs at a ninety-degree angle from the body.

Some examples of therapeutic support for sciatica pain while sitting include back supports made of memory foam, especially shaped to fit into the curve of your back - some with straps that attach them to your chair or car seat - and so-called "driving wedges" especially made for automotive use.

There are any number of variations on this theme, including cylindrical lumbar "rolls", travel supports that inflate or flatten, and even supports that improve your posture when sat upon. Even a small rolled towel, when placed in the proper position within the natural curve of the lower spine, can provide excellent relief.

While no replacement for proper medical care, therapeutic support pillows can provide excellent relief from sciatica pain.