No matter your age or general ticket of health, chronic lower back pain is a horribly debilitating condition.
With desk-based jobs becoming the norm in recent decades, it’s safe to say that the general population has neglected proper lumbar support both at the office and when working from home.
When our lumbar region isn’t supported, it doesn’t just affect our posture aesthetically. Poor posture can lead to pain, discomfort and injuries in the back muscles, nerves, vertebrae or discs. This is because when we slouch, the muscles surrounding the spine are significantly weakened over time, which can also cause hyper-extension.
One of the most common chronic pain conditions resulting from poor lumbar support is sciatica. The NHS estimates that around 80 per cent of the population will suffer from LBP (lower back pain) at some point, while sciatica affects anywhere between 15 and 40 per cent of people at all life stages.
What is sciatica?
According to the NHS, “Sciatica is where the sciatic nerve, which runs from your lower back to your feet, is irritated or compressed”. Though it can get better within four to six weeks, symptoms may persist for chronic sufferers.
Symptoms can range from mild to severe and include stabbing, burning and shooting pains from your bottom to the back of your leg, feet and toes. It might also manifest as a tingling, numb or weak sensation similar to that of pins and needles.
How do pillows help alleviate sciatica symptoms?
Maintaining proper lumbar support when seated or sleeping is essential to managing sciatica pain, alongside regular exercises and gentle movement. Lumbar support is any apparatus which supports the lumbar (lower back) region while seated or lying down. Lower back support also helps to maintain the natural curve of your spine.
If your sciatica persists and numbness spreads to new regions, contact your GP or head to A&E.
We’ve curated a selection of the best sciatica pillows to ease pain and manage symptoms.
Shop now
The Slumbar Pillow
You’ll be wonderfully surprised by what placing a specially designed pillow in between your knees at night will do for chronic back pain. The Slumbar Pillow has been developed to alleviate pain associated with lower back problems ranging from slipped discs and sciatica to hip joint issues and pregnancy discomfort.
Contoured to fit comfortably between your thighs, it works by aligning your spine, hips and knees into the correct position which in turn alleviates pressure on your lower back. The hypoallergenic cover is removable and machine washable.
Buy now £21.99, Amazon
Ajiteogy Orthopaedic Coccyx Cushion
Made with 100 per cent high-density memory foam, this orthopaedic cushion from Ajiteogy has an innovative U-shaped design for supreme lower back support. The ergonomic curves of this cushion also help to improve sitting posture, making the cushion ideal for office chairs or your sofa at home.
Buy now £19.99, Amazon
Orthoback Set
A two-in-one set which has been designed for premium, holistic lower back support, the Orthoback set consists of a pressure relief seat cushion and a back lumbar cushion. The former reduces pressure on the back while the latter helps to improve your sitting posture over time.
The ergonomic spinal fit has been achieved with the help of two muscle expansion cushions, padded lower back support and the divot in the middle which offers a supportive S-shaped spinal alignment.
Buy now £89.00, Amazon
Supportiback Cushion
The perfect office accessory, the Supportiback cushion employs accu-sense response technology for up to 49 per cent more lower back support. Accu-sense is a form of targeted pressure distribution which relieves lower back tension.
Inside, you’ll find 99.75 per cent plant-based foam, which means you won’t fall victim to the typical chemical smells of other foam pillows. Easily adjust the pillow to fit your chair with the adjustable stretch straps, and pop the rip-resistant cover in the washing machine when it’s time for a refresh.
Buy now £28.87, Amazon
Cushy Tushy Premium Foldable Piriformis Cushion
Foldable and highly portable, the Cushy Tushy cushion may have been designed to help with piriformis syndrome pain (nerve pain in the hips and buttocks), but it also helps to relieve sciatic pain. The contoured, memory foam cushion evenly distributes body weight to relieve intense spinal pressure, no matter where you are. It’s also got a washable cover, and carry handles, and comes with a handy travel bag.
Buy now £58.96, Amazon
Aeyla The Dual Pillow
Walking the tightrope between support and squish, Aeyla’s osteo-approved Dual Pillow could say goodbye to neck discomfort for good. It's a bit of a Matryoshka-esque design with a smaller pillow sitting within a larger one for improved support without feeling like you're laying on a rock.
A 100 per cent cotton cover keeps the pillow feeling blissfully cool, and there's built-in support along the edges, which helps the pillow maintain its height with minimal plumping on your part.
Buy now £69.00, Aeyla
Original Groove Pain Relief Pillow
Recommended by physiotherapists and osteopaths, the Groove pillow is designed to ease chronic pillow-triggered neck pain with a unique look that, sure, may not win any beauty contests, but is sculpted to properly support your head and neck while you’re out for the count.
It’s a lower height than traditional pillows, but the magic is all in the groove, a contoured dip in the middle bottom edge of the pillow. This supports the neck and shoulder’s natural curve (known as the cervical area) so your spine stays straight whether you’re on your back or your side, the two most common sleep positions.
The groove means no chance of flipping it over for a cool side. The Groove is made from memory foam - a famously heat-retentive material, yet there’s a thermogenic protective inner layer, which takes care of changing temperatures as you snooze.
The antibacterial bamboo and charcoal fibres that partly make up the pillow also help on this front. No sweat, no funky odours, just blissful, uninterrupted sleep.
The cherry on top is the scuba fabric protector, which you can throw in the wash when it needs freshening up.
Buy now £29.95, Groove
Bedding Home Full Body Cuddly & Maternity Pregnancy Support Pillow
Restless sleeps may have met their match in the form of this full body support pillow that is like a continuous giant hug while you sleep.
The body pillow itself is an impressive 12 foot long with a cotton cover and a hollow fibre filling. You can wrap it around you, fold it up or have it just about any way you like it to release and alleviate joint aches and pains at your back, hip and more.
Buy now £20.98, Amazon
Bed of Nails Acupressure Mat
The original bed of nails was designed with real nails pointing upwards from a piece of wood. When distributed just right, they would not puncture the skin when pressure was applied. It was used as part of a magic trick as well as mediation in Asia with one of the key benefits being relief from back pain.
Brought in line with the modern day, the acupressure mat has been reinvented in a totally safe way in order to alleviate aches as well as reduce stress and prevent sleeplessness. The 8,800 non-toxic plastic spikes increase blood flow and release endorphins in a similar way to acupuncture needles.
Buy now £70.00, Cult Beauty
