10 Products for Your Sciatica

If you want to break the habit of sitting too much at your desk, the Flexispot M2B standing desk lets you create a more supportive workstation. It has straight movement up and down, so you can smoothly switch between standing and sitting throughout the day, and it folds vertically, making it great for use in smaller spaces. Whether you have chronic sciatica or want to prevent back pain, this standing desk will do the trick.

When you're experiencing a sciatica flare-up, one of the best ways to calm your back is with the Ebung leg elevation pillow. Because of its wedged design, it snuggles up to your hamstrings, taking the weight off your back and providing gradual relief. Plus it's made of high-density foam, so it won't lose shape with repeated use. You can't reproduce that level of sustained relief with regular pillows.

While sitting for a prolonged period is not good for your back; there are times when it's unavoidable. Whether you have sciatica flares every-once-in-a-while or experience them regularly, the OPTP Original McKenzie lumbar roll ensures proper back alignment and comfort. It has a strap that you can securely adjust against most chairs, and it comes in standard or firm density, depending on which level of stiffness provides you the most relief. Not only can you use it while driving, but it makes a great travel companion on long flights.

Transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation, TENS, is a type of electrotherapy pain relief system that uses a small current through the skin to induce analgesia and provide pain relief without the need for drugs. The Quell wearable relief technology unit is a type of TENS. You just insert the battery unit in the sleeve, strap it around your calf, and let the electrodes provide continuous prescription-strength electrical stimulation throughout the day.

How many times have you bent over to pick up something, only to grimace in pain? Having your back in the flex position is an invitation for acute sciatica pain. A spine-supporting back brace keeps your back out of that dangerous position, regardless of the weight you're picking up. Just put the unit on, with the braces against your lower back, then smoothly pull until the braces tighten, and you feel their pressure.

For those who have dealt with sciatica, how you sleep is the difference between starting off your day productively or painfully. Sleeping on your side or supine are good positions, but your back needs extra support either way. The Kavil lumbar roll sleeping pillow has high-density foam that supports normal lumbar curvature while you sleep. It connects around your waist, so you can turn over anytime, and it won't shift out of position.

Spine misalignment is a major cause of sciatic pain, and while painkillers are convenient, gravity may be a better, more natural solution. In a 2012 study conducted on individuals with backaches and sciatica due to disc disease, nearly 77 percent of those who did inversion therapy avoided lumbar disc surgery. An inversion table uses gravity to gently stretch your back. Some therapists recommend about two minutes a day at an angle between 45 and 50 degrees to minimize the risk of headaches.

Clinical traction is one of the most effective forms of treatment, and you can achieve that level of relief with the help of an at-home lumbar traction unit. It comes in a case that you can open up and use on a flat surface. It has a manual hydraulic valve that allows you to control the amount of force you apply so that you feel relief over the course of about 20 minutes.

One of the quickest sciatica relief measures is to slap on a spot patch. Lidocaine is a common anesthetic, and when used as a topical medication, it works at the superficial level to give you relief from spasms. These patches can contain up to 4 percent of lidocaine—which is the most you can get without a prescription—and they're big enough to cover your back thoroughly. It's a good idea to keep a pack or two of these ready.

Robin McKenzie's book, Treat Your Own Back, is a great investment that is as valuable as any product that you will buy to help you deal with sciatica. It teaches you about your body and provides you with step-by-step advice about what you need to do for relief or prevention. Of all the products out there, nothing really beats a detailed educational guide like this one.