The lumbar spine is a vital section of the spine because it supports the upper body's weight and connects to an enormous nerve bundle in the human body: the sciatic nerve. Sadly, not many make an effort to check their lumbar spine region until they notice excruciating pain that starts on their hips and extends to one of their lower extremities – a condition doctors call sciatica. Are you among these individuals? Did you recently get diagnosed with sciatica? 

If you have sciatica (or know someone who suffers from it), you will find it helpful to get acquainted with sciatic nerve compression and the most helpful self-care tips. Find out what you can do to manage your pain and work around your everyday challenges. Also, read on to understand the vital role of a chiropractor for low back pain in Sacramento in caring for your spinal health.   

#1. Switch to a better mattress

The Sleep Foundation explains that poor quality sleep and worse sciatica pain often come hand in hand. Studies have yet to pinpoint which problem comes first. Some believe the crippling pain caused by the irritated sciatic nerve makes it extremely hard to fall and stay asleep. On the one hand, other studies insist that lack of sleep is a risk factor for worse sciatica pain. 

Notably, many patients report massive improvements in their sciatica symptoms by improving the quality of their sleep. One way they achieve this health goal is by checking their bed. Unknown to you, it could be the key trigger or a major contributor to your flare-ups. Here are helpful questions you can use to assess the mattress you currently use: 

• Do you always wake up with an achy back?
• Do you toss and turn all the time while sleeping?
• Is the bed too soft or hard? 
• Is your current mattress more than eight years old?
• Does your bed have lumps or uneven parts? 

If you say yes to three or more of our guide questions above, it may be time to consider buying a new bed. Otherwise, your backbones will get very little support whenever you hit the sack.

To learn more about the connection between head and neck injuries and low back pain, download our complimentary e-book by clicking the image  below.

#2. Carve out time for exercise

Many people claim they can't maintain a physically active lifestyle because of their hectic work weeks. Others argue that they're too tired to spend time exercising after unplugging from work. Unfortunately, your pain will most likely worsen if you are stuck in a similar situation. That's because lack of exercise or a sedentary lifestyle increases risks for several health concerns that can aggravate sciatica nerve compression. These problems include weakened core muscles, stiff back muscles and joints, and poor blood circulation. 

Needless to say, it would help to include helpful exercises or other forms of physical activities to keep your sciatica symptoms at bay and avoid creating worse health problems. If you are having difficulty planning how to squeeze physical activities into your already busy routine, we suggest trying the following tips: 

Bring your workout gear everywhere

Stashing a bag of clean clothes and footwear in your car is a must, especially if you are always on the go. This will help you seize every opportunity to work out. 

Exercise in the morning

Stretching, running, or doing other activities in the wee hours of the morning can help you do as much as you can before you attend to other things. 

Break free from the "I need to do this" mindset

Instead of perceiving exercise as an item you need to scratch off your daily or weekly to-do list, it's better to think of it as an enjoyable aspect of life. Doing so will help you feel more motivated to sustain your momentum and find better ways to boost your physical fitness. 

Tailor-fit your exercise routine to your needs and available schedule

Chopping your fitness training into smaller parts and choosing specific exercises might work wonders for your busy schedule. So we suggest evaluating your current routine and making necessary changes.

#3. Work on your emotions 

Emotional problems can negatively impact health and trigger problems, such as increased inflammation and pain sensitivity, stiff muscles, and neurovascular compression. That's why many doctors, chiropractors, and therapists who help with sciatica pain strongly recommend working out or managing emotional stressors. Here are some helpful tips from professionals like our chiropractor for low back pain in Sacramento:

• Steer clear from social media and online news outlets for a few hours each day
• Before bedtime, try to run a warm bath and light candles for maximum relaxation 
• Avoid alcohol and other products that can potentially aggravate your emotional health problems
• Talk to a professional therapist to learn how to manage or perceive pain in a better and healthier way
• Don't isolate yourself from family and friends, especially each time your sciatica pain worsens without warning

#4. See a chiropractor for low back pain in Sacramento

Many who experience noticeable low back pain work closely with chiropractic doctors. That's because neck bone adjustments can help release pressure on the sciatic nerve by eliminating postural misalignments along the lumbar area. It's a helpful approach if you have a history of neck injuries or notice apparent signs of cervical subluxation, such as an unleveled gait.  

We strongly recommend working closely with our chiropractor for low back pain in Sacramento so you can begin planning how to fix postural issues along the C1 and C2 vertebral bones. Your initial consultation will help you check if you have structural discrepancies along the neck and obtain the vectors needed to rectify the situation. 

Connect with an upper cervical chiropractor for low back pain in Sacramento online or via telephone at 916-655-0569 for more information about our approach. We would be happy to explain how you can live with less severe burning or searing pain along the body parts innervated by the sciatic nerve with the help of C1 and C2 bone adjustments.

To schedule a complimentary consultation with Dr. Gottlieb, call 916-655-0569, or just click the button below.

If you are outside of the local area, you can find an Upper Cervical Doctor near you at www.uppercervicalawareness.com.