What causes sciatica to flare up?

The most common triggers are prolonged sitting, bending and twisting motions, and heavy lifting. If you work at a desk, sitting for hours compresses the discs in your lower spine and puts pressure on the sciatic nerve.

Other triggers include sleeping in certain positions (especially on a soft mattress), weight gain, and stress (which increases muscle tension). Cold weather seems to make symptoms worse for many people, probably because muscles tighten up.

Tracking your triggers helps prevent future flare-ups. Most patients notice patterns once they start paying attention.