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6 Worst Things That Causes Sciatica to Flare Up

by Dr Brent Wells DC(more info)

listed in back pain, originally published in issue 280 - August 2022

 

Originally published on betterhealthalaska.com

https://betterhealthalaska.com/what-causes-sciatica-to-flare-up/

 

Sciatica is one of the most common and painful issues that people face. The shooting or radiant pain from the low back and down the leg can make walking a difficult task. There are plenty of articles out there telling you what you can do for sciatica, but if you’re doing the good things and the bad things, your sciatica will never get better.

 

Sitting Image Sciatica

 

A common question among sciatica sufferers is, “Why is my sciatica not going away?” And the answer usually involves something that you wouldn’t think would cause sciatica to flare up. That’s why we want to tell you all about the worst things you can do if you have sciatica

  1. Poor Posture;
  2. Weight Gain;
  3. Improper Stretching;
  4. Lifting Heavy Things;
  5. Tight Pants;
  6. The Wrong Shoes.

Some of them are generally lifestyle tips, some will likely surprise you, and some are things you probably do every day without a second thought. So read on to find out what’s causing your sciatica pain to get worse. Knowing this can be just as effective for helping sciatica as knowing what is best to do for sciatica.

What Causes Sciatic Nerve Pain?

The sciatic nerve is the largest nerve in the body. It exits the spine through the pelvis and then travels down the leg all the way to the foot. There is one sciatic nerve on each side of the body, and either one can become irritated. However, it’s rare that they both become irritated at the same time.

The underlying cause of sciatica nerve pain varies. Most often, it’s a herniated disc in the spine that presses against the sciatic nerve, causing the pain. Even though this happens in the low back, you may only feel pain down the buttocks and in the leg. Other causes of sciatic nerve pain include:

  • Spinal stenosis;
  • Bone spurs;
  • Degenerative disc disease;
  • Muscle inflammation and/or spasms;
  •  

What Makes Sciatica Worse?

What makes sciatica worse depends mostly on its underlying cause. For most people, this is a herniated or bulging disc pressing against the nerve. In these cases, anything that increases pressure on the discs of the spinal column will make sciatica worse.

This is where sciatica is tricky. You would think that sitting down would take the load off, but it in fact puts more pressure on the spinal discs, making the pain worse. Something similar can be said for lying down. When the pain is at its peak, lying down for a short time can help, but doing so for too long will do the opposite.

Standing with a neutral spine, and even walking around a bit, can help with sciatica nerve pain relief and with the overall healing process.

1. Poor Posture

The number one culprit for sciatica nerve pain has to do with poor posture. Especially the rounding of the lower back. Most often, this rounding occurs when we’re sitting down.

Among people with sciatica, the rounded lower back is often an adopted posture that they think will help with sciatica pain. Unfortunately, the opposite is true. Rounding or low back can make sciatica worse.

The spine has a natural S-curve for a reason. So the more you can maintain that natural curve of the spine, the better off you’ll be.

2. Weight Gain

One of the big tips on many sciatica lists is weight loss. Of course, this is easier said than done. Many people who are experiencing sciatica pain have trouble exercising. Not only that, eating is a way many people deal with pain, anxiety, and depression. But weight gain and poor overall health can be terrible for sciatica.

The more weight you have on your body, the more pressure you’re putting on your spine, and therefore on your sciatic nerve in the case of a herniated disc. Overweight people also tend to experience more inflammation in the body, which can make sciatica even worse.

If you can’t lose weight while dealing with sciatica, the next best thing is to not gain any more.

3. Improper Stretching

There’s something about sciatica that makes people want to stretch. Maybe they’re not exactly sure it’s sciatica, and they try some common stretches to see if it helps the pain. The problem is that there are good stretches for sciatica, and there are bad ones.

Stretches that have you bend your low back (as opposed to hinging at the waist) can put more pressure on the discs in the lumbar spine, which can cause sciatica to flare up. Essentially, if you’re going to stretch, avoid stretches that cause you to round your lower back, like hamstring stretches.

4. Lifting Heavy Things

In the same vein as certain types of stretches, lifting heavy things can worsen your sciatica pain. Particularly if you lift improperly. Again, this has to do with the bowing or rounding of the lower back. Any time you take your back out of its natural S-curve, you’re putting undue pressure on the joints and discs of the spine. When you lift heavy things in this position, you’re compounding the problem.

If you can, avoid lifting anything heavy while you’re dealing with sciatica. It’s good to stay fairly active, but don’t go crazy at the gym and lay off the heavy lifting. If you must lift something, keep your back out of it and lift with your legs.

5. Tight Pants

Believe it or not, tight pants can contribute to sciatica pain. Whether it’s shorts, jeans, or skirts, avoid wearing overly-tight, form-fitting pants until you’re certain the sciatica is gone. When you wear these types of bottoms, they can put undue pressure on the low back, buttocks, and legs, which can inflame the pain of sciatica.

6. The Wrong Shoes

Like tight pants, another part of your wardrobe could be making your sciatica worse. The most likely culprits are high heels and shoes without adequate support.

The problem with high heels is they force weight distribution to the front of your feet. In order to compensate, it’s normal to push your pelvis and hips forward. When you spend enough time like this, it starts to put stress on your hamstrings, which is a sure-fire way to exacerbate your sciatica.

Similarly, shoes without adequate support can also put stress on the feet, which is then transferred up the leg to the hamstrings. This is why there is a wide range of shoe inserts designed especially for people with sciatica.

Signs of Sciatica Improving

There is no set length of time that sciatica takes to heal. If you avoid making it worse and take steps to help it heal, you may be back to normal within 2 weeks. For most people, however, it takes around 4 weeks for the pain to go away. Of course, this depends on many factors. For example, if you’re suffering from sciatica during pregnancy, you may have a harder time getting rid of the pain.

One sign to look out for that your sciatica is improving is called centralization. Essentially, if you feel the pain moving out of your leg and into your back, it’s a good sign that you’re on the right track. However, this is not to be confused with leg and back pain.

And if you do notice the pain is better in your leg but not in your back, it’s not time to celebrate yet. Keep doing what you’ve been doing! And make sure to take care of your back in the future!

Resources
https://www.bmj.com/content/334/7607/1313?flh=
https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S1521694209001417
https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S1529943018302432

Acknowledgement Citation

Originally published on betterhealthalaska.com

https://betterhealthalaska.com/what-causes-sciatica-to-flare-up/

 

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About Dr Brent Wells DC

Dr Brent Wells DC has been a chiropractor for over 20 years. His practice has treated thousands of patients from different health problems using various services designed to help give you long-lasting relief. He founded Better Health Chiropractic & Physical Rehab in Alaska in 1998.

Dr Wells is also the author of over 700 online health articles that have been featured on sites such as Dr. Axe and Lifehack. He is a proud member of the American Chiropractic Association and the American Academy of Spine Physicians. And he continues his education to remain active and updated in all studies related to neurology, physical rehab, biomechanics, spine conditions, brain injury trauma, and more. For further information and to schedule an appointment please visit Brent Wells DC at  Better Health Alaska

    

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