Sciatic pain in and of itself is not a disease or a disorder but a symptom of another problem involving your nerve. This could be a herniated disc, degenerative disc disease or a narrowing of your spinal canal.

Pain usually radiates in the lower back, buttocks, hamstring, calf, side of the foot and heel. You may also experience numbness or a tingling sensation.

There are many ways to get relief from this reoccurring pain including yoga, and various stretching poses. But have you thought about using a simple household item to give yourself some relief?

Tennis ball therapy uses the principles of massage, acupressure and reflexology to help to relieve sore muscles and tension.

When the tennis ball presses against a trigger point, it reduces muscle tension and rigidity as well as helped to improve mobility and blood circulation to the area.

You can use one of more tennis balls depending on your pain level and ability to balance. Place the tennis ball under your muscles where you're experiencing the pain. One ball will apply more pressure on the area whereas multiples balls will spread it out and work more areas at once.

Slowly shift your weight onto the ball or balls and note any areas of increased tenderness. Use a moderate amount of force to compress each painful spot for 15 to 20 seconds before you move to the next area. You can also roll back and forth in gentle movements to loosen up the area.

The sensation you should feel should not been too strong. If the pain is too intense, adjust the ball slightly or add more balls to release the direct pressure.

If you feel sharp pain, stop as that may damage the muscle or nerve.

While this may be a cheap and easy solution to get some pain relief, it's always important to talk to your doctor before continuing long-term with this practice.