Sciatica can be triggered in an instant. All of a sudden, everything is painful and uncomfortable. Knowing how to sleep with lower back pain and Sciatica can mean the difference between a good night’s rest followed by a productive morning and, well, the opposite of that. To make matters worse, your body needs sleep to heal properly. Less sleep means less healing, and less healing means less sleep! It’s a vicious cycle you need to break free of. Thankfully, there are a number of things you can do to get the sleep your body and mind desperately need.
What is Sciatica?
Before you can learn how to sleep with Sciatica, you need to know what it is exactly. Sciatica is a very common type of back pain that radiates down the sciatic nerve. Sciatica pain is caused by an irritation, inflammation, pinching, or compression of a nerve in the lower back. The most common cause is a herniated or slipped disk that causes pressure on the nerve root. Carrying extra weight and bad posture are common causes of Sciatica, as is a sudden injury like lifting a piece of furniture that is too heavy.
The experience is not just painful, but also uncomfortable. Some people have difficulty standing, walking, and sitting. Beyond these, many Sciatica sufferers have difficulty learning how to sleep until the pain and uneasiness passes.
Most people with Sciatica get better on their own with time and self-care treatments. That being said, it may take weeks or even months. You can’t go that long without getting seven to eight hours of sleep a night. This means learning how to sleep with Sciatica while you wait for the pain to subside. While it may be tough to do, it is not impossible!
Why is it Hard to Sleep with Sciatica?
Any time you’re in pain, sleep can feel nearly impossible to achieve. When you have Sciatica, you’re in a lot of pain! Sciatic pain can make it almost impossible to find a comfortable position and fall asleep. A better sleeping position and a few bedding essentials will make all the difference.
Best Sleeping Positions for Sciatica
One of the best things to do is to find the best sleeping position for sciatica pain. The key here is to relieve any pressure being put on your lower back and Sciatic nerve. You may think this means sleeping on your stomach, but the opposite is true. You see, when you sleep on your stomach your spine curves or bows, which actually makes your Sciatica pain worse. The ideal Sciatica sleeping position is actually to sleep on your back, with the right sleep products to make the position comfortable and pressure-relieving.
Sleep Solutions for Sciatica
Laying on your back is the best sleeping position for Sciatica pain, but only if your mattress and pillows are right. With the right bedding essentials around you, sleep will come much easier. You’ll stay asleep longer, sleep deeper, and get the rest your body needs in order to heal the nerve damage. The mattress and pillows you outfit your bed with are essential for relief.
Mattress for Sciatic Nerve Pain
A mattress should keep your spine well-aligned over the course of the night. A mattress that is too soft and not supportive enough will not give you what you need. You’ll be sinking down, putting pressure on your spine all night long! A mattress that is too firm may not allow the shoulders to sink down sufficiently, putting painful pressure where your body meets the bed. What you’re looking for a Medium to Medium Firm comfort feel. We have dozens of new mattress options that fit this criteria. We recommend you look into high-quality options like the Serta iComfort Foam CF1000 Medium and Tempur-Pedic ProAdapt Medium Hybrid.
Pillows for Sciatic Nerve Pain
You will want to lie flat on your back and keep your buttocks and heels in contact with the bed.
Bend your knees slightly towards the ceiling, elevating your legs. This can be done with a Sciatica pillow for sleeping. Slide a pillow under your knees, possibly adding additional pillows until you find a comfortable knee and lower back position. You can also try out the Malouf Wrap Around Pillow, which fits the natural contours of your body to provide support and relieve Sciatica pain. It's ergonomically designed to wrap around your body supporting the head, neck, back, hips, and belly to provide the comfort of up to six standard pillows.
Learning how to sleep with lower back pain and Sciatica is made much easier when you come to City Mattress for help! We carry many items to help you sleep during your time with Sciatica, including supportive mattresses of course, but also adjustable bed bases and full-body pillows. Finding the right sleep situation may involve a bit of trial and error. No one mattress is right for everyone. We offer a 90 Night Comfort Guarantee if your new mattress doesn’t feel as good as you had hoped once it is delivered. When you find the right mattress and Sciatica pillow for sleeping, you’ll finally have a great night of sleep.