Sciatica

ATK57
ATK57 Posts: 302 Member
edited December 18 in Fitness and Exercise
Anyone on here suffering from sciatica? What do you do for some pain relief?

Replies

  • Ejwelton
    Ejwelton Posts: 331 Member
    Ice and ibuprofen help me. When it gets bad I also see an Osteopath.
  • ATK57
    ATK57 Posts: 302 Member
    Thanks. Ice has been helping me as well.
  • ickarusx
    ickarusx Posts: 8
    try to Ignore the pain if you can, that's what I used to do.
  • ATK57
    ATK57 Posts: 302 Member
    try to Ignore the pain if you can, that's what I used to do.

    Yeah, I try not to let it bother me. It comes and goes.
  • ibuprofen and stretching
  • Ge0rgiana
    Ge0rgiana Posts: 1,649 Member
    *bump*

    My right hip's been angry off and on lately. Gets to where I can't sleep on it. :frown:
  • jsapninz
    jsapninz Posts: 909 Member
    my mom goes to the chiropractor
  • DietingMommy08
    DietingMommy08 Posts: 1,345 Member
    try to Ignore the pain if you can, that's what I used to do.

    Yeah, I try not to let it bother me. It comes and goes.

    Same here.

    Been dealin with it for 4 years.
  • Kougra
    Kougra Posts: 358 Member
    Go to a massage therapist who does sports massage. They can work out the pain and help with stretching out the muscles.
  • mariacolumbus
    mariacolumbus Posts: 227 Member
    would stretching and maybe some light yoga help?
  • DietingMommy08
    DietingMommy08 Posts: 1,345 Member
    *bump*

    My right hip's been angry off and on lately. Gets to where I can't sleep on it. :frown:

    oh yea I cant sleep on mine at all.

    When i was in labor they tried to put me on my Right side bcuz that was the only side they could find the babys heartbeat....
    Ohhh no, it hurt worst then labor pains!!

    It has gotten easier to deal with in time tho...
  • rmhand
    rmhand Posts: 1,067 Member
    I thought I had sciatica and finally asked a professional who termed it trochanteric bursitis. Tight tendons in my hit causing the fluid sacs in my hip to get inflamed. I get a standing desk at work since I have a desk job. Stretch a lot. 20 min of ice after a workout. Ibuprofen didn't help much so I was on 1000mg of naproxin sodium (Aleve) for a few weeks.
  • grex1949
    grex1949 Posts: 125 Member
    I can relate. I've had some chronic right-side sciatica for awhile. Since I've been rowing for a few weeks, it seems to be getting better. Maybe some strengthening exercises for your low back?
  • AmyW4225
    AmyW4225 Posts: 302 Member
    My doctor prescribed me Flexeril(muscle relaxer). I take that and I do a weird stretch, I lay on the couch, head on the floor, and pull my knees behind my head. I also get on my hands and knees and try to stretch as much as I can. Then, I lay on a heating pad. It usually feels better the next day. I don't think Sciatica is a pain that I could ignore, it is very PAINFUL!
  • rjo921
    rjo921 Posts: 130
    would stretching and maybe some light yoga help?

    I would not ignore pain...take it from someone who has had two back surgeries. Stretching, an OTC pain reliever, and yoga will definately help!
  • wendywwhite
    wendywwhite Posts: 24 Member
    I've had it for about 6 years too - comes and goes depending mostly on my own workout routine (or lack thereof). Mine is caused by piriformis syndrome http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Piriformis_syndrome

    Ice is great, but make sure you do good piriformis stretches always after exercise and after sitting for any length of time, really work to strengthen your glutes, and if you can, have your gait checked to see that you are not over-pronating on that side. I also found that my SI joint locks up and when I see a chiropractor I get a LOT of relief from having that worked on.

    Clearly I have too much experience with this one...good luck.
  • steffihoney
    steffihoney Posts: 392
    My sciatica was pinched really bad. My pain relief was surgery in January!!!

    But seriously, before that, my back dr. recommended heating pads. Felt really good. Also, lots of walking. It helps to get the back joints loose. Usually sciatica pain is something pressing on the sciatica nerve. You should get it checked out, because it can be more serious than you know.

    Good luck!
  • ATK57
    ATK57 Posts: 302 Member
    Thanks everyone! I tried strengthening it, but yesterday I went a little heavy with "good mornings" and the pain came back. Ibuprofen does not really help much.

    Regarding yoga... Anyone know of any good yoga stretches for this problem? I do stretch my hamstrings as they are unbelievably tight...
  • leahsevilla
    leahsevilla Posts: 127 Member
    Hey there, I had sciatica for about 5 years, in both legs due to herniated discs in my L4-L5. If yours is because of herniated discs I'd check out having a selective nerve root block. i've had 4 of them over the years, and they are magic. seriously...i had intense intense pain for years and then one of these took it ALL AWAY within 2 days. it didn't return for a year, in the other leg and then again a few years later after a car crash.

    it was the best thing i ever did! check it out!
  • ATK57
    ATK57 Posts: 302 Member
    Hey there, I had sciatica for about 5 years, in both legs due to herniated discs in my L4-L5. If yours is because of herniated discs I'd check out having a selective nerve root block. i've had 4 of them over the years, and they are magic. seriously...i had intense intense pain for years and then one of these took it ALL AWAY within 2 days. it didn't return for a year, in the other leg and then again a few years later after a car crash.

    it was the best thing i ever did! check it out!

    Mine is from a herniated L4-L5 as well! I'll definitely check out the nerve root block! Thanks.
  • wendywwhite
    wendywwhite Posts: 24 Member
    Reading this thread is giving me a bit of anxiety :) I can so relate to all the pain people here mention - it can be unbearable when it is flared up. Good luck everyone.
  • rmhand
    rmhand Posts: 1,067 Member
    Google piriformis stretch. Works well for me and recommended for sciatica.
  • tbhoover
    tbhoover Posts: 402 Member
    Try a foam roller! I have piriformis syndrome with extreme pain in my sciatic nerve and glutes.

    You can find videos on youtube that show you have to use the foam roller to target these areas. I just started a few days ago and it is pretty painful to massage out those pressure points but after a few days I am starting to feel a difference.
  • ATK57
    ATK57 Posts: 302 Member
    Thanks everyone!
  • OceansForever
    OceansForever Posts: 221 Member
    Google piriformis stretch. Works well for me and recommended for sciatica.


    ^^^ This! I do this every day. I also try to strengthen my core muscles and Pilates but this stretch is the only one that helps me to move again without pain.

    My entire lower back is very tight and since I've been working on strengthening the core muscles it flared up several times but I am hoping that in the end it will help.

    The periformis muscle is the one that spasms and squeezes the sciatic nerve.

    I've had from numbing pain all the way from hips to toes to stabbing, unable-to-move pain in my hip through knee area.

    It absolutely sucks!

    Sorry you have been dealing with that as well!
  • Quasita
    Quasita Posts: 1,530 Member
    As long as the diagnosis is from a physician, I've no problem advising... Then again, if your physician diagnosed you and it's that bad, you should have a physical therapist visit to negotiate the issues. PT can really help with disc herniations as well.

    Swedish graduating to deep tissue massage helps me sometimes but I don't really have sciatica so much as acute pain from a collapsed disc at L5/S1.

    A week from Saturday, I go for my first accupuncture session, add me and I'll let you know how that goes :)
  • ATK57
    ATK57 Posts: 302 Member
    Google piriformis stretch. Works well for me and recommended for sciatica.


    ^^^ This! I do this every day. I also try to strengthen my core muscles and Pilates but this stretch is the only one that helps me to move again without pain.

    My entire lower back is very tight and since I've been working on strengthening the core muscles it flared up several times but I am hoping that in the end it will help.

    The periformis muscle is the one that spasms and squeezes the sciatic nerve.

    I've had from numbing pain all the way from hips to toes to stabbing, unable-to-move pain in my hip through knee area.

    It absolutely sucks!

    Sorry you have been dealing with that as well!

    Thanks! It did flare up now because I am trying to strengthen my core. My lower back is super tight though and it is hard to do certain exercises because of this.
  • OceansForever
    OceansForever Posts: 221 Member
    Google piriformis stretch. Works well for me and recommended for sciatica.


    ^^^ This! I do this every day. I also try to strengthen my core muscles and Pilates but this stretch is the only one that helps me to move again without pain.

    My entire lower back is very tight and since I've been working on strengthening the core muscles it flared up several times but I am hoping that in the end it will help.

    The periformis muscle is the one that spasms and squeezes the sciatic nerve.

    I've had from numbing pain all the way from hips to toes to stabbing, unable-to-move pain in my hip through knee area.

    It absolutely sucks!

    Sorry you have been dealing with that as well!

    Thanks! It did flare up now because I am trying to strengthen my core. My lower back is super tight though and it is hard to do certain exercises because of this.


    Yes, that's my problem as well. I've been trying to find other stretches to help with that tightness around my tail bone but haven't found anything yet. The only thing that seems to help a little is the "roll in a ball - knees to chin - arms wrapped around knees" exercise that seems to stretch the lower back somewhat. So I do that plus the periformis stretch a lot during the day.
  • I have followed the workouts presented in the Foundation book. It has relieved all my back pain issues.


    Foundation: Redefine Your Core, Conquer Back Pain, and Move with Confidence
    http://www.amazon.com/Foundation-Redefine-Your-Conquer-Confidence/dp/1609611004/ref=sr_1_7?ie=UTF8&qid=1334782925&sr=8-7
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