Relieving Sciatic Nerve Pain Caused by Piriformis Syndrome

Being the largest nerve in a person's body, the sciatic nerve is naturally prone to different types of conditions that can lead to sciatic nerve pain or sciatica. A person suffering from sciatica may experience varying degrees of pain shooting down from the buttocks and spreading to the lower legs, sometimes even affecting the feet and the toes.

Although many people consider sciatic pain as an illness, it is actually just a symptom of an underlying condition which can either be severe or not. One proven condition which can cause sciatica is what we call Piriformis Syndrome. This type of condition occurs when the piriformis muscle, which is located partly in the pelvis and partly at the back of the hip joint, exerts pressure on the sciatic nerve therefore causing a tingling sensation and pain in the affected areas.

Though not as serious perhaps as a herniated disk, Piriformis Syndrome causing sciatic pain can however cause intolerable discomfort to the one experiencing it. A lot of exercises and stretches are recommended for the people suffering from this condition, and most of them have been proven effective in relieving the pain.

Most people sit with one ankle crossed over their other knee, and this is a great way to stretch the piriformis muscle and relieve sciatic nerve pain as it diverts the pressure from the inflamed nerve. Once in that position, try bending forward at the waist as far as you can tolerate it, and you can immediately feel the stretching of the muscles. Massaging the lower back after a long drive or after standing for long periods of time also helps to lessen sciatica. There are a lot of massagers that can be used at home which almost have the same effect as a therapeutic massage.

Another thing that you can consider is investing in a good bed that can help you minimize or eliminate sciatic nerve pain. People suffering from sciatica lose sleep because of the pain, so you should consider lying on a bed that can help you relax the muscles in the lower back area where the sciatic nerve is located. An excellent foam mattress will evenly distribute the pressure to different parts of the body when lying down, instead of being concentrated on the lower back. There are also adjustable beds that allow you to recline the legs or head to divert the pressure from the sciatic nerve, therefore giving the comfort of a good night's sleep even if you're suffering from sciatic pain.