Anyone with Sciatica? tips and motivation PLEASE

963Nitro

I was diagnosed with it a week ago, and it's still killing me. Started to do some recommended stretching. I'm only 25 and I don't want this for the rest of my life!

any experiences in dealing with it and continuing an active lifestyle?

ejmcam

My husband has problems with it and his dctor told him he should swim

ejmcam

My husband has problems with it and his dctor told him he should swim

chevy88grl

I have it due to a bulging disc in my lower spine. On days when it is REALLY bad, I try and just go for a slow walk. I've found that inactivity actually makes it feel worse.

I wish you the best. It is HORRIBLE to deal with.

dls06

There are exercises and stretches you can do but I would talk to a professional for them. Take Motrin for the inflammation.
Try Heat or Icy Hot patches.

shesblossoming

I have sciatica on the right side, so it shoots from my spine all the way down to my ankle. At first, I thought if I rested I would be fine, but it's that I have to keep on moving. I find that my pain is worse in the morning. I've been sleeping in the same position all night, and it's miserable getting up in the morning (I was recently diagnosed as well). But I found that ice and movement helps. My job is sedentary, and it's important that I get up every half hour to just walk.

I am also seeing a chiropractor right now too. I know some people have mixed views of chiropractors, but I've learned so much about my spine and how necessary it is to keep my spine healthy. I am going through treatments right now for it (as well as a subluxation... so much!) but it's going to be a long process for me, about nine months. They've been great, and they've been teaching me about nutrition, stretching, and exercising. Am I still in pain? Yep. But I've seen a lot improvements, and I'm not limping at all.

Just know that it WILL get better as long as you continue to work toward your goals. It is so important to eat right and drink plenty of water. Low impact cardio has helped me plenty as well.

I really hope it works out for you. I know the pain can feel like it might last forever, and the pain itself can just make everything else seem unimportant.

jamielise2

I have sciatica too. Swimming is good. Also, ice will help, and Excedrin migraine is my friend when the pain is too bad - works beautifully.

calimari

Yoga. I have scoliosis & plenty of back issues since I was a teen (I'm 47 now) and I started taking yoga at 19. I used to have to wear a supportive corset thing in college under my clothes so, back when I was thin, I had to wear clothes 2 sized too big to accomodate that thing - after ONE yoga class, the pain went away. Look for gentle yoga/ healthy back yoga/ hatha yoga.

Also, about 13 years ago I finally started seeing a chiropractor and he has changed my life. Even with the yoga, I would still go thru stings of back or neck pain, and now it doesn't happen nearly so often and, if it does, I know what to do to work it out, or I can go in and get an adjustment. My friend recently had terrible back pain - he went to my chiro and was walking & sitting & just fine within weeks. Turns out he has 2 herniated discs - he saw the surgeon & he 's doing so well w/ the chiropractor & exercises he has to do that the surgeon said keep doing it so long as he feels good. If it stops working, come back and he'll operate.

And ice - he always tells me ice packs, calcium before bed, walking.

963Nitro

Thanks for the advice! I tried some new stretches this morning focusing on the hip flexor muscles, and today has been pretty pain free.... I just have to keep up with it and not overdo it!

Atlantique

Thanks for the advice! I tried some new stretches this morning focusing on the hip flexor muscles, and today has been pretty pain free.... I just have to keep up with it and not overdo it!

After you've completed your hip flexor stretches, also do some piriformis stretches. I say to do the hip flexor stretches first because many of the piriformis stretches (like pigeon pose) are easier to safely perform if you've already loosened up the hip flexors.

Piriformis syndrome is unfortunately often overlooked as a source of sciatic nerve pain even though is quite common in anyone who does a lot of cardio. Piriformis stretches are a great addition to the routine of anyone who does a lot of exercise that uses the legs and glutes to prevent and/or alleviate sciatic pain.

Thriceshy

I've suffered vicious sciatica since a car accident in 1993 left me with two herniated and one ruptured disk. The weight really is key for me-the more I weigh, the more I hurt (and, sadly, the more I hurt, the less I move, and the less I move, the more I weigh). Even slim, the sciatica is there, but it's the difference between struggling to hike back out from the bottom of the Grand Canyon and struggling to walk to the car from the front door. The exercise that has been a lifesaver, for me, pain-wise? Riding my recumbent stationary bike- unlike regular bikes, the seat and angle keep pressure off my back, which keeps pain at a minimum.

Kris