How to Treat a Sciatic Nerve After Back Surgery

According to information from the spinal health website Spine-Health.com, the sciatic nerve is a nerve which runs through your lower back, your glutes and down the back of the leg. This nerve can become pinched after surgical procedures or injury, resulting in the development of symptoms such as localized pain in the leg, chronic tingling, weakness or numbing throughout the affected areas. Fortunately, this condition can be helped through the use of simple stretching techniques.

Things You'll Need

• Exercise mat (optional)
• Towel

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Instructions

• 1

  Lie on your back and perform a simple knee-to-chest stretch to alleviate the pain of a sciatic nerve following surgery. Simply grasp the affected leg with both arms wrapped around your lower leg, tucking the knee upwards and pulling it to your chest. Hold this stretch for 10 to 20 seconds, repeating several times if necessary to improve the symptoms of sciatica.

• 2

  Perform a cross-knee stretch while still on your back to further stretch out the affected area. Begin by lying with your feet flat on the floor with your knees bent at a 45 degree angle. Cross one leg over the other (begin with the right leg being crossed over the left) then push both legs towards the right. Increase the pressure gently to avoid aggravating the affected muscles, holding in the stretched position for 15 to 30 seconds before reversing the position and repeating with the opposite leg.

• 3

  Stretch your hamstrings to further reduce the pain and symptoms from sciatica. Lie on the floor with your feet straight out in front of you. Grab the towel at both ends and wrap it around the arch of your foot on the side that is affected. Lie back, using the towel to gently raise your leg upwards towards the ceiling until you feel a mild to moderate stretch in the hamstring. Hold here for 10 to 15 seconds, repeating several times as necessary to improve symptoms.