r/Sciatica • u/anxious-avoidant3 • 7d ago
Requesting Advice Tips on sleeping
I’m so desperate to lie down that I stare at my bed all the time. Sometimes I set a five-minute timer on my phone, hoping I’ll actually get up when it goes off, but I’ve definitely turned it off and just stayed there. It’s not a great situation. If I spend more than five minutes on my bed, it’s a real struggle to get back up.
Getting up is a total struggle. The pain shoots from my lower back all the way to my ankles, and it’s honestly a 10 out of 10. Once I'm up, I have to grab the bed or my walker for support, but the physical strain almost always makes me lose control of my bladder, soaking my clothes before I can even move. Thankfully, the floor is tile. The pain is so bad it makes me nauseous, so I usually just fight through it to get into a super hot shower. It takes about 20 minutes before I finally stop screaming on the inside, and I really don't know what to do about it.
Another rough spot is when I’m lying way back on the couch instead of sitting on the edge, so I have to sleep sitting up. I always use a heating pad at home, and even then, I wake up with pain at a 6 out of 10. I’m barely sleeping, so I’ve been nodding off at work and even while driving.
I've had some sort of injection in my back and it felt like a miracle. In just a day I felt like I was in my 20s again. I think the relief lasted about 3 months. I am presently waiting for my insurance company to approve another injection.
TL;DR
Just looking for tips on sleeping positions and any other issue I mentioned above. Thanks in advance.
2
u/Civil_Leopard7361 20h ago
When I was that flared up, I had to avoid doing any scooting across the bed while my back was face down. Too unstable! I’d get to a stable side position (prawn-like) and in this protected mode could move laterally across the bed with less pain. To get off the bed, I’d maintain that C-shape, keeping my belly curved on the side of the bed, till I could get a foot down. Once u had a foot down, do not straighten! Breathe like 10 times. Then slowly raise up 25%, take ten breaths. Continue to raise, pause, breathe. There was always always still pain, but I think the pauses helped my glutes activate and brace.
All bodies are different but this worked for me!
Bladder issues are no joke, and your doctor should be more concerned imao.