Posted on 01/19/2025 10:12:59 AM PST by God luvs America
Does anyone have any treatments for sciatica or any recommendations? I have it awful!!
Little background- i trained for the Olympics for 10 years (decathlon) and still workout daily, an hour and a half to two hours. A lot of running, swimming, weightlifting. I'm in good shape- great shape for my age.
I've had a problem with my left hip which has morphed into sciatica the past six months. It was initially annoying but now its almost debilitating. Had to stop three times on my run this morning.
Severe pain is in the lower half of my butt check through my hamstring. Calf and a achillies a bit tight but nothing bad.
Thanks
Good chiropractor would have been my suggestion, too.
I get it occasionally. Doc gave me an exercise.
Lay flat on your back. Bring a knee to your chest, hold in place with hands while trying to relax the back. Then alternate.
When that doesn’t help me....down to the doctor for a steroid shot.
I feel for you. I have it as a result of a nerve impingement from getting blown up in Iraq. Bit of shrapnel in just the wrong place.
It’s been so painful I fully understand why people consider suicide. Can’t sleep. Can’t stop hurting.
That said, any advice or treatment is very fact dependent on where your sciatic nerve is pinched.
A yoga instructor taught me to sit partially cross legged, like normally sitting in a chair, so you put one leg up like a man sits with his leg crossed. (So if you cross your right leg, your right foot sole faces left and your outside ankle rests on your left quad near the knee.)
I’m making that sound more complicated than it is. Pretty much sit cross legged.
Then PUSH down really hard on the knee of the crossed leg.
This feels like a donkey is kicking you in the crotch.
Embrace the pain for 30 seconds, then switch sides.
Repeat.
Eventually it opens up the channel pinching the nerve.
There are other, similarly painful, stretches for different locations.
To prevent flare ups, move and work out in pain, focusing on strengthening your abs and core in general. Sit ups, leg raises, deadlifts, good mornings, and deep squats.
It is not pleasant but came to embrace the pain of the workouts. It was me beating out the pain, and I was in control of it.
Decompression treatments.
Stretching. A lot. I did an exercise called the “dead bug.”
And take your wallet out of your back pocket.
If you are overweight (you don’t sound like you are) lose 10-15 pounds.
You might need a new mattress.
It sucks…
Check your PM :)
Ice packs for 3 days. The muscles tighten up to protect the back.
I can’t remember the name of the treatment, but my doctor strapped me to a table and put harnesses above anf below the affected disc. Then it used micro pulls to restore tge spacing between the discs. This was 30 minutes a day for 30 days straight.
That worked for me.
He also prescribed muscle relaxers but I rarely used them and only as a last resort
I was healed by physical therapy. As I recall, it was my Achilles tendon causing the problem.
Okay.
:^|
Correct stretching (targeted stretching to help a nerve problem) can relieve pressure on nerves, I know that. I am sure youtube has some videos showing what stretches to do to relieve sciatica pain.
BKMRK.
My wife had a bad case of it about 4 years ago. We found an excellent Chiropractor in Abilene. First treatment gave her relief, second treatment it was much better, 3rd treatment she was perfect. She has had a single very mild case since, she did some stretch exercises and it was gone.
Chiropractors have their place.
Bump
i sleep withmy legs raised on my back … seems towork for me.
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I’ll bet that really hurts. I can’t get my legs anywhere near my back. 80)
My wife had a bad case of it about 4 years ago. We found an excellent Chiropractor in Abilene. First treatment gave her relief, second treatment it was much better, 3rd treatment she was perfect. She has had a single very mild case since, she did some stretch exercises and it was gone.
Chiropractors have their place.
Also use all the stretching exercises described by the others.
Get a good firm pillow and learn to sleep with it. Put it under your legs when you’re on your back and between your legs when you’re on your side. This takes getting used to but I’ve been doing it for 45 years.
If 1 pillow isn’t enough, then stuff another in the same pillow case.
I also have a top of the line matress/bed that allows me to elevate the feet and head.
Getting the pressure/strain off your back is the key
I had a bad case of it 50 years ago so I went to a doctor. After an examination he said my back muscles were stronger than my stomach muscles and as a result I had a pinched nerve. He said I needed to do a few sit ups a day. Just a few to get my stomach muscles stronger.
IT WORKED! Have not had pains in 49 years!
I should mention the doctor I went to was a regular physician, not a chiropractor.
While it is unlikely, it is possible that an inguinal hernia may be pinching the sciatic or ilioinguinal nerve. The hernia might not be visible.
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