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Bed Rest for Sciatica
Bed rest for sciatica is an old fashioned conservative treatment option which is sometimes a necessity, rather than a choice, especially during an
acute sciatic
nerve attack. Although short term bed rest might be needed for patients in extreme pain, staying inactive and reclined for long periods of time is almost never advised.
Bed Rest for Sciatica /
Emergency Treatment
Patients who are suddenly struck with acute pain and
muscular spasms
are typically advised to rest and relax as much as possible. Stress will make this condition worse, as will pushing yourself to work or do other things which are beyond your current physical abilities. However, patients should not acquiesce to the idea of staying in bed for days, weeks or months, based on a pre-determined formula. Instead, patients should test themselves several times a day to see if they are able to get up and gently move around. Bed rest retards the healing process, since it slows the circulation. In the case of
sciatica,
in which the vast majority of symptoms are actually due to
ischemia
to begin with, this reduced cellular oxygenation caused by long periods of rest is actually a perpetuator of the pain syndrome.
Bed Rest for Sciatica / Chronic Treatment
Patients with
chronic sciatica
should not depend on bed rest as a long term treatment option. Staying in bed for a long time will only weaken your body and extend the life of your agonizing symptoms. Besides reduced oxygen reaching the painful location, you will also suffer a build up of metabolic waste products, such as lactic acid, in your muscles. You will also endure the loss of muscle mass and strength, called muscular atrophy. In general, the longer you stay in bed, the weaker you will become and the more painful your body will feel. Patients are reminded to challenge themselves to get up and do small tasks, as soon as possible, to avoid bedridden complications.
Bed Rest for Sciatica Advice
It still surprises me when patients from some parts of the world write to me and tell me that their doctor prescribed 2 or 3 months of bed rest. This is the most unenlightened and antiquated
sciatica treatment
I can think of and most patients are much worse after going along with this ridiculous notion. Back pain patients, in general, have to get up and move gently, but steadily, to repair the physical and emotional damage caused by their
suffering.
Unless there is a serious traumatic injury which requires a static position to heal, such as extreme spinal damage with many broken bones, bed rest is simply poor medicine. If you have been advised to stay in bed for extended periods of time for your common
back and leg pain,
consider getting a second opinion… You will be glad you did!
Bed Rest for Sciatica to Sciatica Home
7/22/08 Revised 12/15/09
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