Sciatica pain....

[Wolfwoman]

Other than drugs, anyone know of anything that helps?

 

[Camelot Farms]

My chiropractor used to do a lumbar stretch (?) that was heavenly. It would pull the 'kink' out and help for a few days.
My chiro said to alternate heat and ice. Not exactly my idea of comfort so I am more inclined to icy hot and take some ibuprofen and alternate it with tylenol.

I have also found that mine is worse when I switch shoes. For example right now I am wearing lots of flat or low heeled sandals. If I were to have to wear a pair of dress shoes or even sneakers for a day or two, I would be in agony the day after.

Good luck!

 

[jendh]

I agree with the Chiropractor! I would be miserable without mine, he does lower back decompression on me and I swear I'm an inch taller when I leave LOL! Also, if you can do some opposition strength exercises, like kneeling on all fours and extending your right leg and left arm at the same time and then switch, do a few reps of each side. It help with balance and strengthens the lower back muscles to help "keep everything in place". I've had sciatica pretty much my whole life, I feel your pain and I hope you feel better soon!

 

[Wolfwoman]

Dr. is out, no insurance and no money and a chiropractor is just laughable on my budget.

Jen I know the exercise you are speaking of and I'll try that. I know a few of the others but they aren't working... I hate it when I get up in the morning and have to call on my lab to help me get up.

 

[theoldchick]

Yoga has really helped mine.

 

[Mattemma]

I had this when pregnant.Would stop me in my tracks.Maybe accupressure would help.

 

[ranchhand]

Quote:
My sympathies, I have been fighting it for a year and a half. Migrates up and down my leg and hip. I have to use a cane by the end of the day.

My Lab helps me up the steps!

 

[JetBlack]

The only stretch I have found, that works, is one I discovered on my own! (I'm so proud).

If it's your right side that hurts... turn your right foot, so the toes point at the arch of your left foot. Make a T with your feet. Then rotate to the right a bit. You won't feel much stretching sensation, but hold it for a second.

With me, after I stretch like that, one time, the pain is gone for hours. And it's gone instantly. Let me know if it works for you!!!

 

[wegotchickens]

I've had sciatica issues since I was in my late teens / early 20's. Walking with a cane in college was no fun!

I had no $ back then, so a really nice doctor gave me some easy exercises. He said the trick was doing them right. I'm happy to say that if I do them regularly I feel great.

I also took Alleve long before it was OTC (back then it was called Naprosyn). I still prefer Alleve over ibuprofen.

Every few days I do leg lifts, lying flat on my back on the floor. When I do them I make a conscious effort to make my abdominal muscles press my back tighter to the floor. I can't do more than 5 per leg when my back is out, and have to slowly build up on reps. But once I get to 30 reps, if I do them every few days, I keep my abs tighter and better supporting my back. I do crunches the same way; while focusing on pressing tightly to the floor.

Any time I lose my balance, or trip over something, I can feel the muscles start to spaz on me (yes, I'm a klutz). If I take a 2 Alleve right away and exercise right then, I can keep myself from having a major sciatica issue.

Hope you egt to feeling better! No one realizes how debilitating back pain is until they've experienced it. You can't do anything without feeling it in your back!

 

[wateboe]

Pressure on the sciatic nerve can be caused by different things, such as compression around the spine (muscle, bone, slipped disc) or other muscle compression along the length of the nerve. Often the problem is caused by a tiny butt muscle called "piriformis". Piriformis is commonly strained (therefore tightened) by activities in which the body is rotated on it's leg... simple things such as repetative rotation while washing dishes (wash-turn- rinse-turn- stack-turn) or shoveling, or similar movements. The sciatic nerve is big, about as big around as your thumb, and it runs alongside or even through this little muscle.

It is fairly easy to discover if piriformis is the source of the pain. If you place the pad of your thumb on your hip bone (on the painful side of your body) and stretch the rest of your finger back towrd the central part of your buttock (the fleshiest part) your middle finger tip will be hovering over piriformis, aproximately! The muscle is deep, well concealed under the large muscles, but if you apply pressure in the general area you will likely find a VERY tender spot (IF that little muscle is , indeed, the culprit.)
If you have access to a massge therapist he/she should be well versed on this subject. If not, it is possible to self-massage pretty effectively by lying down on your back with a tennis ball pressed into that spot, or even carefully backing into the corner of a counter (might want to pad it with a towel) or other stationary object to apply steady pressure to that muscle.

Oh, it will hurt! That muscle usually responds well to deep pressure and once it "releases" the sciatica is usually resolved immediately. This muscle is very commonly the cause of sciatic compression, so it is worth giving this a try.

Now, again, that is just one simple cause of sciatica. Other cause can be far more complex and require knowledgable medical care. DO NOT use this type of technique near your spine even if you think that the pain originates there!

If you have/can afford a licensed massage therapist, give him or her a try.