The sciatic nerve is the largest nerve in the body, and sciatic pain is a serious health issue that needs to be addressed on time, since it leads to debilitating pain, numbness, and tingling all along this nerve.

The most common causes of this health problem include narrowing of the spinal canal, pinched nerve, a herniated disc, or degenerative disc disease.

According to Spine-Health:

“Sciatica is a term that describes symptoms of pain, numbness, and/or weakness that radiate along the sciatic nerve from the lower back to the buttocks and leg. The medical term for sciatica is lumbar radiculopathy.

The vast majority of sciatica symptoms result from lower back disorders between the L4 and S1 levels that put pressure on or cause irritation to a lumbar nerve root. Sciatica symptoms are typically felt on only one side of the body.

They may include a combination of leg and foot pain, weakness, tingling or numbness. Sciatica pain is often described as searing or sharp, as opposed to achy or throbbing. Depending on where the sciatic nerve roots are compressed, symptoms may be felt in different areas of the leg and into the foot.”

Since painkillers only soothe these symptoms, you need to treat its root cause in the first place, and it has been confirmed that yoga and stretching exercises are among the most effective methods to do so.

The massage of the muscles with the help of a tennis ball is a simple technique that reduces the tension in the muscles and relieves pain. In this way, it improves the blood flow, and the needed nutrients get to the affected area. Here is all you need to do:

Lie down, with a tennis ball beneath, and start rolling over towards the position of the sciatic nerve, from the lower back, down to the hip, legs, and even the feet. Repeat by rolling up and down the painful areas, using moderate force, and compressing each area for about 15 seconds.

Repeat on a daily basis, and soon, you will experience dramatic improvements.

Source: www.spine-health.com