Sciatica help please

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  • karinapeterson
    karinapeterson Posts: 195 Member
    I had this last summer. I had to be careful even just standing or a shooting pain would go down my leg and it would collapse (and this was only a couple months before heading off the University on a cross country scholarship so I was pretty freaked out). If you're wondering what cardio you will be able to do the first thing I could do was biking, and later on walking. About a month later I could elliptical and a month after that I could run. I would definatly check with you doctor before excercising though, because you don't want to aggravate anything. Also, everyone is different so you might be able to do different things than I was.

    I'm no doctor, but the pain in your butt sounds like it could be your piriformus (hope I spelled that correctly). I believe some people's sciatic nerve goes through thieir piriformus muscle and when the muscle gets too tight can cause sciatica. Again though, I'm no expert, but its something you might want to consider. Maybe some stretches?

    Good luck. :) The hardest part was never knowing when/if the pain would go away but it does, and I'm sure you'll be back to running in no time.


    Thanks so much, just what I wanted to know and I suspect you are right. I have an appointment at the doctor on Monday and will go from there but pretty sure it will be as you said because you just described everything I feel hehe. Disappointed to have to lay off running but hey, a temporary set back in that. I am also going to lay off the cardio parts of the jillian michaels ripped in 30 and just do the strength and ab work too for a bit too :o) Thanks again and to all others who have placed feedback, every little bit of info helps :o)
  • Lose_It_Leo
    Lose_It_Leo Posts: 91 Member
    Apparantly a good dose of the antioxidant cranberry supplements help with this. I have only heard from a few people that this works, but then they are the only people I now with sciatica! Might be worth a try.
  • tbhoover
    tbhoover Posts: 402 Member
    Google foam roller piriformis stretch. I started this a few days ago and its changing my life already
  • byrnet18
    byrnet18 Posts: 230 Member
    Ok I went to the doctor again yesterday. He referred me to a neurologist and wants me to get a nerve conduction study and also an electromyogram and then he also wants me to do physical therapy. So I am still taking ibuprofen three times a day along with a muscle relaxer. But this pain is beginning to make me go insane. I am going to go try swimming today as I haven't had any cardiovascular activity in almost a month and I'm afraid of losing all that I worked so hard for. I'm starting to get depressed about it all. Summer is finally here and I can't do a damn thing. :(
  • gpstrucker
    gpstrucker Posts: 930 Member
    I'm glad you saw a doctor. As someone who has suffered from back problems for many years, and underwent one back surgery, I can tell you that it's nothing to ignore. Treating it early can save you a great deal of misery later on.
  • bbgalini
    bbgalini Posts: 6
    Try glucosamine supplements. I take 1000 mg per day and it helps general stiffness and pain first thing in the morning. I'm not a flexible person and it has really helped me.:smile:
  • CyberEd312
    CyberEd312 Posts: 3,536 Member
    I also suffer from Sciatica and I use 3 methods... 1. The Chiropractor 2. Deep Tissue Massage 3. Stretching...... I do daily stretching before and after exercise as a preventive maintenance and go and see the Massage Therapist once a month... My chiropractor see me for maintenance every couple months for adjustments... This 3 pronged approach normally keeps me pain free..... Best of Luck...
  • 03221961
    03221961 Posts: 17 Member
    I have been doing my fitness pal since january 2013 lost 11 pounds. For exercise i was doing Jillian Michaels 30D shred yesterday I was on the floor in pain from a sciatic injury after looking through all these posts on sciatic problems it seems we all have one thing in common we were doing jillian's tape. I will never use the dvd again i think it caused my injury and i am sure everyone elses.
  • fittocycle
    fittocycle Posts: 827 Member
    Please listen to your body and if anything causes you pain, stop. I know you want to work out and it is important, but it's much more important to let your body heal right now. You won't like hearing this, but I would stop all workouts until it calms down a bit. That doesn't mean you have to be a couch potato but do give your body a break for a while.

    Have you tried icing the area? When my back issues and sciatica flare, ice and stretching help me the most.

    When things have calmed down, I would also suggest biking or spin classes. Even at it's worse, cycling never bothered my back.

    Good luck!
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