Sciatica

Wholelottaass

Good Morning MFP!

I have a question. I suffer from Sciatica flare-ups periodically (mainly after ling road trips). My starting weight was 295, and I'm currently 274-276. I'm 5'5.

Any chance the flare-ups might go away with the more weight I lose? Is Sciatica tied to weight in any way?

Thanks.

Phrick

YES a billionty-seven times over. The pressure on your sciatic nerve will be reduced as your weight is reduced. It's not a *cure* for sciatica but it will help massively. At 256 pounds I suffered from almost debilitating back pain including sciatica that was crippling some days. I was targeted as a candidate for surgery but told I had to lose some weight first. No longer a candidate for surgery, because at 151 pounds, I'm almost 100% back pain free (except the self-induced, over-did-the-exercise type)

jessicapk

Look up yoga moves that help with sciatica. There were a few poses / stretches that did amazing things to help mine. And, YES, losing weight helps, too!

Wholelottaass

Phrick wrote: »

YES a billionty-seven times over. The pressure on your sciatic nerve will be reduced as your weight is reduced. It's not a *cure* for sciatica but it will help massively. At 256 pounds I suffered from almost debilitating back pain including sciatica that was crippling some days. I was targeted as a candidate for surgery but told I had to lose some weight first. No longer a candidate for surgery, because at 151 pounds, I'm almost 100% back pain free (except the self-induced, over-did-the-exercise type)

Thank you!!! It's good to know, and adds a little more to my motivation!

Wholelottaass

jessicapk wrote: »

Look up yoga moves that help with sciatica. There were a few poses / stretches that did amazing things to help mine. And, YES, losing weight helps, too!

Thank you! I'll look some up!

kuranda10

I use the Pigeon and the double Pigeon yoga poses

Pilates will also help.

mkakids

Ok, I had this with all 4 of my pregnancies. Weight loss will definitely help!

Also, look into prenatal yoga dvds. Its very common in pregnancy and these can be a lifesaver! Plus, in the prenatal dvds, most moves are already modified - which is beneficial if your not used to yoga.

I know your a man, but research it from a pregnancy standpoint.....there is ALOT of info out there because of how common it is.

Also, I find it helps to sleep with a pillow between my knees.

jenn26point2

In my experience, my sciatica is directly related to what I eat, not what I weigh. At my highest weight, I had sciatica issues. I changed my diet to be more whole foods, less processed foods including grains and refined sugars, and my sciatica went away. I dropped 55 lbs and my sciatica stayed away unless I ventured off course to a McDonalds or some other place that uses poor quality foods and oils. A few hours after eating, my sciatica would return. My chiropractor says the leading cause of sciatica is inflammation and to reduce inflammation, one should eat a low inflammation diet (one devoid of grains, industrialized seed oils - canola, soybean, vegetable) and stick with a high omega 3 intake (grass-fed and forage-fed meats, cold water fish, cod liver supplements, olive oil, coconut oil, etc). I didn't believe her at first and thought for sure I had SIJ disfunction... I gave her advice a shot and a month later I discovered I hadn't felt a sciatica twinge in quite some time.

I'm not saying weight loss doesn't help, I'm just saying weight might not be the only cause. You might just be suffering from increased inflammation and some small dietary changes may be all it takes to ease your pain.

Good luck.

Kimdbro

I'm very thankful someone posted this. Mine has been excruciating, particularly after I've been walking and working out heavy. To lose weight I need to work out, but afterward, I have excruciating sciatica flare... as soon as I try to go to sleep. Really hoping I can find a way to get rid of it. I bought a roller and am working on it every night now. I will look up some Yoga moves too. Good to hear that weight loss will help. Spurs me forward even more!

jenn26point2

Also nerve flossing. YouTube it. It's incredible.

jessupbrady

Yes! I have issues with my sciatica as well; not only will losing weight help a LOT, so will exercising and strengthening your core.
Likewise, and I say this from personal experience, a sudden stop to exercising your core may cause flare ups with existing sciatica problems - so be committed.
This is a great stretch video for sciatica: http://www.fitnessblender.com/videos/lower-back-stretches-for-sciatica-pain
Fitness blender is a great site for free exercise videos and there might be other routines on that site that can help you.
Yer more than welcome to friend me

TheBigFb

I suffered from it for years, my leg would go numb from standing for a few minutes. From what I learned, there are many many different causes of it and the only way to find out is to get to a doctor. I went to mine, got MRI's and then went to a specialist and had xrays etc.

Mine improve greatly from stretching, increase flexibility and getting insoles. However what works for one, may not work for the other

Walrozz

Yep! Weight loss would help a lot.
I have mild piriformis syndrome (a form of sciatica - the piriformis muscle is perforated by the sciatic nerve, and can press on the nerve causing a cramp-like sensation in the glute), and I've found that doing some light stretches helps a lot. The stretches you do depends on the type of sciatica you have.

chubby_checkers

Yoga and/or Pilates helps with mine.