If you suffer from sciatica you may experience pain that begins in your low back, travels through your buttock and down your leg. Because your sciatic nerve is inflamed, any movement, including exercises suggested to relieve symptoms, can actually increase them.
Considerations
According to the Mayo Clinic, your radiating sciatic pain is a symptom of a another problem that is the root cause. Often, this is a sign of a herniated or bulging spinal disc in the lumbar or low back area. Sciatic pain can be severe and debilitating or more of an annoyance. The degree of discomfort is based on the cause. If you have a disc that continues to irritate your nerve you likely will require additional medical care. If your symptoms are caused by a muscle spasm that resolves, your symptoms will ease as well.
Stretching
Often, stretching exercises are suggested to help reduce sciatic pain, especially if your symptoms are caused by muscle spasm. Stretching helps to lengthen your muscle fibers, which encourages your muscles to contract and relax normally. Stretching can also help relieve sciatic nerve root compression. If stretching is causing more pain, be sure your movements are fluid. Avoid jerking, bouncing or twisting when you stretch. An improper stretching technique can cause more nerve irritation.
Endorphins
When you engage in regular, prolonged exercise, your brain releases natural pain fighters called endorphins. If you begin to exercise, feel pain and stop, your actions will not result in release of these painkillers. Often athletes and individuals who exercise regularly continue to move through their pain and actually feel improvement of their symptoms once their body releases endorphins. However, with an injury it is prudent to advise your health care provider that your exercises are actually increasing your symptoms.
Risk Factors
Sciatica can be the result of fairly benign muscle spasm or disc disease or it can also be the result of a tumor in your spine or on the nerve itself. If you have diabetes, you are more likely to have nerve damage and will experience delayed healing or increased pain with exercise. If your occupation requires a lot of sitting, twisting of your back and torso, or moving or carrying heavy objects you are at higher risk for inflammation of your sciatic nerve. If you have a risk factor, it may be beneficial for you to consider working with a physical therapist. Therapists provide education on correct body mechanics for sitting, moving and walking. They can observe your exercise technique and identify any improper movements that could be increasing your pain. Your physical therapist will teach you how to perform your sciatica exercises correctly and work directly with your health care provider.
