If you suffer with sciatica, a type of back pain caused from irritation of the sciatic nerve, then one of the most difficult things can be finding a position that feels comfortable to sit in.
You can toss and turn, constantly moving around trying to find the angle that keeps the pain at bay, but it’s something that can be so hard and become so frustrating.
Well, this article has you covered and will help to solve this issue for you! Below are some of the best tips to help you sit comfortably with sciatica. So, read on and find out how you can watch your favourite movie without it being spoilt by sciatica pain.
#1 Don’t Sit for Long Periods of Time
One important thing you need to be aware of when trying to sit comfortably with sciatica pain, is that no matter what position you are sat in, if you are sat down for too long then it’s going to aggravate the pain.
Therefore, what you need to do is make sure that you stand up and have a little stretch or move around every 20 minutes or so. You don’t have to stand for long, it’s just about making sure your muscles don’t get too tense and that pressure doesn’t build on your back or neck.
You can still enjoy watching your movie as you don’t have to move far from your area! You can literally just stand up when you are, do one or two stretches, and then sit straight back down!
#2 Invest in Good Furniture
If you suffer with sciatica, and have done for a long time, then it is a good idea to invest in good furniture that has the proper cushioning and support needed for you to sit comfortably.
Have a little research into what other people with sciatica recommend, but a good idea is to get sofas and chairs that have good back and neck support. You don’t want to be holding up the weight of your neck the whole time you are sat down, as this will be very uncomfortable and will irritate your sciatic nerve even more. So, make sure the backs of the furniture are high enough that you can rest your head on it comfortably.
Furthermore, if you are someone who finds that their sciatica pain is alleviated more when you are leaning back slightly, then a good idea is to invest in furniture that reclines. There are plenty of sofas and armchairs out there that can recline back, and this will mean that you can angle yourself and find that perfect sitting position where you feel the most comfortable.
Furthermore, when it comes to your desk chair, you can’t just grab any normal one. You need to get one that includes proper ergonomics. It needs to have good padding for support, and also needs to be sturdy so that it can hold all your body weight, without you having to compensate and hold your own weight up. It needs to have good balance so as to distribute your weight evenly, and another good idea is to get a chair that has wheels. This means that you don’t have to twist into awkward positions and can instead move your body as one whilst maintaining your comfortable position. And, as mentioned previously, getting a desk chair that reclines is a great idea so you can lay back slightly when you need that extra bit of pain relief.
#3 Use a Lumbar Support Pillow
One situation when it can be trickier to get the right sitting position that feels comfortable for you is when you are travelling. For people with sciatica running errands and commutes to work can be a huge ordeal.
A great thing to do is to make sure you have a lumbar support pillow handy. Either have a portable one that you can use on public transport or keep one in your car. Then, when you’re travelling, place this behind you to give your back that extra bit of support.
This is something you can also use when you’re working at a desk. Keep a pillow on your desk chair for that extra bit of comfort. Lumbar support pillows are also great for helping you to keep good posture, which will help to make sure you aren’t putting strain on your back or neck.
#4 Use Heat
Another good idea that will help you to sit comfortably when your sciatica pain is bad, is to try and apply heat to the area that is causing you discomfort.
Take something such as a hot water bottle and apply low heat to the painful area continuously. This will promote blood flow to the area, which will then help to relieve the pain.
If you find yourself to be feeling particularly uncomfortable at certain times, then there are lots of special creams you can also get that you can apply directly to the area to provide pain relief. However, it is important to check with your doctor about if they are safe and which one might be best for you.
#5 Keep Things Close
A final tip for sitting comfortably with sciatica is to make sure that you can keep everything you need close to you.
So, if you are doing work at a desk then make sure your chair is positioned close to your desk, with your keyboard, work material etc at arm’s reach. This prevents you from having to lean forward to reach what you need, which would be very uncomfortable and put a lot of strain on your back.
There you have the top 5 tips for sitting comfortably with sciatica. The reality is that different things will work for different people, and you just need to find what works best for you and makes you feel the most comfortable. If you try all of these tips and just still can’t cope with the pain, and find that it’s impacting your daily life, then please make sure you consult a doctor and get medical advice.