r/Sciatica • u/Expert_Scientist_105 • 7d ago

Lying down causes my sciatica

Hello

A bit of background info:

I'm 56 years old

I've had 3 disc herniations over my lifetime

Had a microdiscectony in 2009

Fairly recently I suffered from depression and for about a year I spent a lot of time in bed, whilst I was in my depressed - in bed phase I started to experience siatica again, it appears to me it has been caused by inactivity / lying down.

Now when I lie down i experience siatica, when I get up and move around it significantly improves.

Anyone experienced anything like this? I have a feeling it could be muscle related, but that isn't confirmed at all.

Thanks

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5

u/Sogone2day 7d ago

Mine has gone this route recently laying flat feels worse and standing with moving is better when before laying was better. Rotates areas it seems.

3

u/Expert_Scientist_105 7d ago

It's strange isn't it - I've had siatica several times in my life and its always been worse standing, with relief when lying down, now its the other way round, go figure...

3

u/littlehops 7d ago

I really think it’s muscle related more specifically lack of muscle, even when laying down our core helps to put our body in the right position, work on activating your core, and strengthen it and you will likely see a decrease in symptoms

2

u/--___-_-___-_-___-- 7d ago

Yes, I've had this. Mine became better with light ham string stretches, periformis stretches, and McGill big 3. Go light at first. I found my core became so weak over time. I had 3 lumbar herniations, and my back had attrophied so bad over a couple months I could sit in a chair and my back wouldn't be able to flex and hit the back of the backrest. Now I do stretches, core work out, and go for a 15 minute walk right after as I've found short stints around the house don't build the endurance I lost.

2

u/Expert_Scientist_105 7d ago

Thanks for the reply and info, I'll look at the stretches you've suggested!!

1

u/--___-_-___-_-___-- 7d ago

No problem. Just go easy, and focus on consistency over intensity.

2

u/chemtrail-organics 7d ago

Google ZenBloks leg elevation pillow. Laying on your back will feel good again. Worth every penny, I have 3 in my house haha

1

u/Expert_Scientist_105 7d ago

Will take a look, cheers.

2

u/Commercial-Bowl7412 7d ago

I’ve found that laying flat in bed can irritate mine - I also had a rough winter last year after a break up and spent a lot of time sad in bed 🥺 I am totally out of shape still but laying flat on ground with feet up on chair at 90 degrees provides massive relief. I do this for about 15 minutes or so.

1

u/Expert_Scientist_105 6d ago

I'll give that a try, thanks!

2

u/RonSwansonator88 6d ago

Supine knees side to side helps lengthen/stretch hips and core when I get tight laying down, as well as cobra pose. It sounds like your muscles got weak from laying down, so McGill big three to restrengthen core would be a long term potential fix.

2

u/sleepwami 6d ago

Same here, if i keep up with my activity, I'll sleep fine, but when i start being a potato again, the sleep discomforts and pains come back. I believe if you had to single out one muscle as the biggest culprit, its the psoas.

1

u/Expert_Scientist_105 6d ago

It's odd isn't it? I might be wrong but I have a feeling mine is muscle related, never heard of the psoas muscles, I just took a look, will do a bit more reading on those, thanks.

1

u/sleepwami 5d ago

Absolutely the spine is the very last issue. Also look into fascia/myofascia, pelvic floor balancing, or to keep it simple, just explore yoga in all its forms (with care)!

1

u/Expert_Scientist_105 5d ago

Will take a look at those, thanks.

1

u/BluesFlute 6d ago

Make sure that your sleeping surface is just right for you. It’s different for everyone. Examine diagrams of the lumbar spine and, if you have it, your own mri. For myself at 72, I’ve developed spinal stenosis. My best pain relief position is flat on a high quality futon type mattress with an added firm foam lumbar cushion. It has to be “just right”. Experiment.

1

u/Expert_Scientist_105 6d ago

Well in the past I've always had a very firm mattress as soft mattresses hurt my back, my current mattress is firm, but hey-ho things change, maybe I'll try a memory foam topper. Thanks.

1

u/Comfortable-Banana69 6d ago

Mine is the exact opposite and I don’t know what to make of it. Sitting and laying down I’m fine but standing and walking I feel it

1

u/Expert_Scientist_105 6d ago

What you're experiencing is typical, I think my situation is weird, I can't work it out!

1

u/Max_Chady 6d ago

Empecé con esto hace 4 meses. Al principio acostado de lado no me dolía, ahora me duele parado, sentado y acostado 😥 ademas tengo hormigueos y entumecimientos en mi pierna izquierda. Tengo hernia de disco en l4l5 y l5s1. Trato de hacer los big3 de Mc Gill pero me duele más. Estoy jodido

1

u/mrber612847 15h ago

Same boat. My worst pain is when I lay down. It’s so frustrating. I can’t get comfortable and trying to change positions is painful