When Leg pain Feels Worse

One common complaint about sciatica—sharp leg pain— is, for example, that pain may be worse when sleeping. Sciatica may prevent you from sleeping, or it may be so severe that with throbbing pain, you wake up in the middle of the night.

Sciatic nervous suffering comes with pinching, irritation, or inflammation of the nerve root of the lower spine or pelvis. Various conditions, from a herniated disk to a bone spur to a tended piriformis muscle, may cause this type of leg pain. Continue to read below about how leg pain usually takes place while lying down and how to find relief when it is severe see your family doctors in OKC.

Pain While Lying Down

The natural inner curve (called the lumbar lordosis) of the lower spine is more emphasized when lying on your back than when sitting down or leaning. The position of the spine reduces the size of the portions (foramina) where nerve roots leave the spinal column. This position can pinch the nerve root directly and cause sciatica leg pain (lumbar spinal stenosis) when a herniated disc or bone spur is present.

Slowly, for many years or decades, the spinal canal is usually narrowed. With aging, the discs become less spongy and lose disk height which may cause the hard disk to blow into the spinal canal. There may also be bone spurs and ligaments thickening. All of these can reduce the central canal and can cause symptoms or may not. Inflammation, nerve compression or both are susceptible to symptoms.

Symptoms of Pain Are –

• Legs, calves, or buttocks suffer from pain, weakness, and numbness.

• Cramping with walking in the calves often requires a short rest to walk.

• Pain, similar to the lay term “sciatica,” radiation in a thigh or both thighs and legs.

• Loss of leg motor function, loss of normal bowel function, or loss of bladder function, rarely.

• Bending forward, sitting, or lying down can improve suffering.

Pain While Lying on the Side

Lying on one side can, in a few ways, cause or exacerbate leg pain –

• The nerve root gets pressure while lying down on the leg by sciatic pain.

• Lying on one side of the hips curves the spine, pins the nervous roots, and causes leg pain. Lying in the unaffected leg, for example, can make the affected hip curve to the ceiling, pinch the nerve root, and cause pain in the affected leg.

• Lying on the unaffected leg is usually recommended if you tend to sleep on your side. However, this advice does not work for all, and you can find that the opposite is more convenient, or you can see family doctors in OKC.

• Try placing a pillow between the legs and keeping your hips aligned with the back rather than curved sidewise to avoid leg pain when sleeping on your side.

When to Visit a family doctor in OKC?

If leg pain makes sleeping difficult or keeps you awake at night, schedule a doctor’s appointment. In addition to sciatica, peripheral arterial disease (PAD) and muscle cramps are possible causes of leg pain while lying down. A correct diagnosis can help you obtain the correct treatment and sooner find relief.

Visit our Longevity Institute for family doctors if sciatica pain makes you suffer a lot.

**Disclaimer: This content should not be considered medical advice and does not imply a doctor-patient relationship.