Sciatic Nerve Stretches
Pain Relief With Sciatic Nerve Stretches
Many people find that a combination of sciatic nerve stretches and physical therapy can provide effective pain relief of their sciatica symptoms. In fact, even those who undergo surgery for these symptoms often find that their pain returns in a few months if they do not also follow some form of preventative physical therapy.
Sciatic nerve stretches can be used to treat the immediate pain as well assist in long term pain prevention, so it is a very useful form of self-therapy. But the key is to select the correct stretches for your specific condition.
Simple Sciatic Nerve Stretch Example
Here is an example of a very easy stretch that you can do. It may not work for everyone, but it gives you an idea of what is involved.
Video: Simple Sciatic Nerve Stretches
Know The Cause Of Your Sciatic Pain
Please do not attempt any of the exercises or stretches mentioned on this page or elsewhere on the internet without consulting with your physician first. The information here is only for educational purposes. Your doctor will be able to recommend the best course of treatment for your condition. But even more importantly, you need to find out the underlying cause of your sciatic pain. Where you feel the pain might not be where the problem is. Once you know what is causing your pain, then you can choose the best course of physical therapy.
The sciatic nerve is the largest and longest nerve in the human body. It stretches from the base of the spine, passes through the pelvis, and travels down the length of the leg. It is responsible for relaying messages between the brain and the muscles of the leg. Sciatica pain is caused by a compression, pinch, or area of irritation somewhere along the length of the nerve.
There are two areas of the body that are responsible for most sciatica and sciatica-like pain. Both areas involve compression of the sciatic nerve.
Spinal sciatica refers to the pain resulting from compression of the nerve roots at the base of the spine. Piriformis Muscle Syndrome is another form of sciatica. It is more accurately called pseudo-sciatica because it occurs away from the spine.
What Type of Sciatica Do You Have?
Once you know what is causing your sciatica pain, you can choose the right stretches and exercises to help relieve the pain. There are different exercises for each kind of sciatica.
Herniated Disc Sciatica
A spinal disk is a section of soft material between each of your spinal vertebra. Various factors can cause a spinal disk in your lower spine to bulge outwards or herniate so that it presses against your sciatic nerve. Sciatic nerve stretches for this type of condition have to be customized to the specific location of the disk herniation.
Sciatic from Spinal Stenosis
Spinal stenosis is a condition in which the area around the spinal cord and nerves becomes constricted. If you have this type of constriction you become more vulnerable to irritation and impingement of the sciatic nerve.
Stretches for this type of sciatica will focus on flexing the lower spine to increase the space, relieve the pressure, and allow the irritation to heal.
Spondylolisthesis Sciatica
Spondylolisthesis is a painful condition of sciatic in which one of the vertebra in the lower spine slips out of place and moves forward on to another one. Fortunately, this is relatively rare compared to the others.
The stretches for this condition can be a little complex and it helps to have the help of a trained professional. Basically they focus on flexing and building strength in the muscles around the spine.
Piriformis Muscle Syndrome
The forth cause of sciatica pain occurs away from the spine. The sciatic nerve passes close to the piriformis muscle in the hips. Usually it passes over or under this muscle. In some individuals, the sciatic nerve actually passes in between branches of the muscle. Due to its close proximity, the piriformis muscle can press against or pinch the sciatic nerve.
How to keep the pain from coming back?
Sciatic nerve stretches can be very helpful, but they are only part of the solution. If you only treat the pain without treating the underlying conditions, your sciatica pain will very likely return.
The best solution is to follow a comprehensive program for sciatica relieve and long term prevention. You can work with a physical therapist or you can choose one of the many self-guided sciatica relief programs available. The one that seems the most well rounded in a program called Lose The Back Pain.
Here are two more videos on Sciatic Nerve Stretches
Also, keep learning about sciatica. The more you know, the more you can help your self.
Good luck!
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