Lower back pain/Sciatia???

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TamTastic
TamTastic Posts: 19,224 Member
edited October 2024 in Fitness and Exercise
Hey all.

I suffer from back pain. Not sure what caused it in the first place. Maybe just the fact that I was so overweight and carrying that weight on my frame. I am starting to wonder if it could be a long term side effect to the spinal blocks from my c-sections.

It "goes out" maybe once or twice a year. Recently I strained it at the gym a bit....and then slipped on my son's toy..wrenching it. It felt better in about two weeks from just being careful and babying it.

Walking seems to be harder on it than the elliptical. I have been exercising fine....and then went for a good walk with my boys on Saturday. It felt a bit strained on Sunday...and then I sneezed and caused a muscle spasm!!

NOW....the pain seems to have changed from lower back..into sciatica down my entire left leg...worse around my knee and calf. It's OK during the day but gets so much worse at night. To the point I haven't been able to sleep very well all week. In and out. Or I fall asleep and then the pain wakes me up and I can't fall back asleep.

If any of you suffer from sciatica/lower back pain, what do you find relieves it?? Especially at night. Are there certain positions that work for you? Medications?

Any help would be great!! I'm used to knowing how to treat the lower back pain but this sciatica is something new.

Thanks!!! :)

Replies

  • Ashleypeterson37
    Ashleypeterson37 Posts: 347 Member
    I usually just take a muscle relaxer and lay with a heating pad on my back. I also get steroid shots for my doctor to help with my spasms. I would say go to a doctor. He/she would be able to tell you what to do...
  • trainguy917
    trainguy917 Posts: 366 Member
    I've been seeing a chiropractor who also does acupuncture. It hasn't been miraculous, but it has eased the pain and increased my mobility after a couple sessions.
  • ansonrinesmith
    ansonrinesmith Posts: 740 Member
    Some back problems in overweight people are caused by weak abdominal muscles.
    Try adding a few crunches to your work out routine and help strengthen your core.
    My wife use to wrench her back just reaching down in the shower to turn off the water.
    Since doing a few crunches a night, she hasn't done it since.
  • MamaJilldo
    MamaJilldo Posts: 63 Member
    I have the exact same thing. My back will go out every once in awhile (few times a year) and it will go out more if I don't get to the chiropractor regularly. Go to the chiropractor!!! I get aligned everytime my back starts to feel a bit off. They can also do therapy to relieve the sciatica pain. I bet you anything you have a bulging/herniated disk that is irritated and swollen and pinching the nerve causing sciatica. Also, you should ice for 15 min. every two hours. NEVER heat!! it feels good to heat because it loosens up the muscles, but it will cause more swelling and your back could go out. I've also recently cut out high impact exercising. I get the highest calorie burn from spin class and biking (more then when i ran everyday!). So biking, swimming, walking etc. If you're injured right now you should take some time off for it to heal and then start into exercising. There are certain back exercises you can do to strengthen your lower back whihc helps it stay healthy. NEVER lift weights until your back and core are strong. Hope this helps! I'm in the same boat, it sucks and I'm sure mine is genetics like most dr.s say.
  • MamaJilldo
    MamaJilldo Posts: 63 Member
    I usually just take a muscle relaxer and lay with a heating pad on my back. I also get steroid shots for my doctor to help with my spasms. I would say go to a doctor. He/she would be able to tell you what to do...

    Hon, you really should never heat a back injury! It can make it so much worse for you! Ice, ice, ice! Steroid shots help with swelling and pain relief and you are back tracking by heating it!
  • katberz
    katberz Posts: 123
    Walking makes mine worse too but my physiotherapist said to keep moving anyway or the muscles will get even more tense. I take ibuprofen to reduce inflammation and put an ice pack on it after exercise. In the morning, when it's stiff from the night before, I put a heat pack on it to open it back up again. The best recommendation I can give however is Callanetics (www.callanetics.com). The exercises are designed to protect, strengthen and stretch the back. I've had huge improvements since I started it a few weeks ago - I no longer need ibuprofen and only need the ice pack if I've done a very strenuous workout.

    Good luck!
  • marquesajen
    marquesajen Posts: 641
    I was suffering from both of those during my last two and a half years of college! I coughed REALLY hard in bed one night and my back just froze and pain was shooting down my right leg. I panicked and my then-boyfriend had to practically carry me to his living room and help me go to the bathroom, eat, etc. I couldn't even turn myself over. I slowly, very slowly got better and frequented the chiropractor more than ever. I took it easy for a long time and didn't lift anything, I got adjustments once every one or two weeks and stretched everyday. Everything was getting better and then I slipped on the stairs at the train station and landed on my lower back, also getting a concussion from whiplash. More chiropractor, stretching, no lifting. Even for awhile after I graduated college it was on and off problems. Honestly, once I started riding my bike more my back muscles started strengthening. I also started taking fish oil pills at the suggestion of my chiro. I've been pain/problem free for months now.

    I highly recommend seeing a chiropractor, doing light stretching, and strengthening those muscles. If you have a bike, ride it. Use heat to relax those muscles if you feel a twinge. Good luck!
  • TamTastic
    TamTastic Posts: 19,224 Member
    Thanks guys!!

    It's amazing, I went to the gym yesterday to see how I did and because I know working out can help so the rest of your body stays loose. And I did my normal elliptical routine and I didn't feel pain ONCE. I do keep my posture right...and use my arms too, etc...but for some reason, that motion feels GREAT! The second I get off and start walking...I feel pain.

    My core is pretty decent but I can do more crunches and maybe try yoga to stretch it out.

    I am on anti-inflammatories and muscle relaxers. It does help..but I use my two doses of the anti inflammatory during the day..to function..so at night I'm on nothing. Not sure what to do! Maybe I can try stretching the doses out more.
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