One of the most recognizable and treatable forms of back pain is sciatica pain which is caused by pressure on the sciatic nerve. The sciatic nerve is the longest nerve in the human body and stretches from the lower back down both legs. (1)
Pain in the sciatic nerve can be very painful and make standing unbearable. Most commonly, sciatica is caused by a disc problem, such as a herniated disc that is pressing against a nerve root. (2) This type of pain is sharp and shooting, so if you've had it, you know that what you want most is immediate relief.
Home Remedies for Sciatica Pain
Over-the-Counter Pain Reliever
Pain and inflammation can be mitigated using over the counter pain relievers, such as aspirin, ibuprofen, and naproxen. (3)
Heat Therapy
Many people find relief by using inexpensive heating pads set on a low or medium setting, placed on the lower back for about 15 to 20 minutes every day. You can practice this several times a day, about every two or three hours, while at work or when you’re home.
While heat can be used to dull pain, just the opposite also works for some people. Some find that applying an ice pack to the back for 10 to 15 minutes every two to three hours does the trick. (4)
Keep Moving
Sitting for many hours, such as working at a desk or watching tv, can make matters worse when it comes to bulging discs and back pain. Many sciatica treatment plans call for more movement in general, along with targeted exercises to loosen up inflamed areas. Begin with taking short walks throughout the day. When you are sitting, work on lengthening the spine by improving your posture. (5)
Yoga and Stretching
Moving in certain ways can aggravate sciatic pain, but in some cases it can actually help relieve the pain. Some people find that sitting, standing for a long time and moving around abruptly tend to trigger pain. (4) This video is a little long, but if you have sciatic nerve pain you will be grateful for it!
Massage
We've saved our favorite for last! You don't know when sciatic nerve pain will strike, so having a massage chair at home will be a godsend in those moments. Massage acts like a natural muscle relaxer to help kick this debilitating pain for good. It also helps increase your pain threshold by stimulating the release of endorphins. Endorphins boost pleasure and relieve pain, causing an increased feeling of well-being. (6)
Massage can be highly effective in treating the pain of sciatica. WebMD describes a study of 400 people with low back pain who received either weekly massages, or permission to try whatever they liked. (Alternatives to massage therapy included medication, seeing a chiropractor, doctor or physical therapist, or taking no action at all.)
Ten weeks later, the massage recipients reported better functioning and less pain. In fact, more than a third of them said their pain was completely or nearly gone, while only 4% of those in the other group reported such improvement. Massage, concluded Dr. Daniel Cherkin of the Center for Health Studies in Seattle, "does help a significant chunk of people who have not benefited from other treatments." (7)
Here are a few of our favorite massage chairs to help alleviate sciatic nerve pain.
The all-new Human Touch Super Novo will really change the way you think about what's possible with an at-home massage experience that doesn't include a housecall from your local therapist. The Super Novo delivers cutting edge design elements coupled with a 3D + 4D L-track roller system which truly puts the comfort and control of your massage at your fingertips.
The Super Novo is also “the first chair of its kind to implement Alexa capability with the help of Virtual Therapist™.” You can create a truly personal massage experience by asking the Virtual Therapist to give you a customized massage.
The OS-Pro First Class has a 3D L-Track that delivers a smooth, therapeutic deep tissue massage, 2-stage zero gravity, 23 auto programs, foot rollers, heat therapy, Bluetooth, and negative ions. With it's body scan technology, it will map the key areas of the neck, back and shoulders to ensure the optimal amount of pressure is applied during the massage.
he Panasonic MAJ7 is able to massage from the base of your neck all the way down your spine and through to your glutes in an impressive "J" style. This is often referred to as an L-Track in the industry while Panasonic prefers to call it a "J" Track. The Real Pro Ultra travels along the X-axis, Y-axis and Z-axis offering full freedom of movement in a 3-dimensional space. Because of this the rollers can easily switch between different massage techniques, reach above the shoulder sand traps as well as completely soothe every single part of your back. As an added bonus, the rollers are infrared heated.
We invite you to give us a call at 803-574-9474 if you have any questions! Our relaxation experts are there to assist you find the perfect massage chair that fits your needs and budget. We proudly offer a lowest price guarantee, so please reach out and let us make this process trouble free for you with our world class customer service!
Resources:
(1) https://coloradopaincare.com/best-ways-to-treat-sciatica-pain/
(2) https://www.spine-health.com/video/video-what-your-sciatic-nerve-and-why-does-it-hurt-so-much
(3) https://thehealthlife.site/6-natural-ways-to-relieve-sciatic-nerve-pain/
(4) https://draxe.com/health/back-and-neck-pain/sciatic-nerve-pain/
(5) https://www.healthline.com/health/massage-for-sciatica#benefits
(6) https://www.massageenvy.com/massage/massage-benefits/sciatica-massage/
