Has Anyone Had Experience with Sciatica?

April 4, 2009 | MetsJetsandNets

[MetsJetsandNets]

I'm in the midst of my first bout with sciatica and would enjoy hearing from any Freepers that have been through it and have some home remedy tips.

A bit of background...I've suffered broken bones, had plates and screws and even a bone graft, but the pain from the sciatica matches any of that. It travels across my right buttock, down my thigh, encircles my knees and deadens my leg from the knee down. I can't lie on my back, sitting is difficult. Lying on my left side provides the best relief.

The doctor prescribed prednisone for inflammation, tiazidine as a muscle relaxant and hydrocodone and neurontin for pain. I've completed a one-week cycle of prednisone and, after three days off, am about to begin a second cycle.

I would appreciate any suggestions for home remedies or tips that may help speed recovery. Thank you in advance since I can only spend a few minutes sitting at the computer and may not be able to respond to each suggestion individually.

[srmorton]

I will never forget the August morning that I turned over in bed and felt a pain that I had never felt before. The pain persisted for two years, but it is now much better. One thing that helped was losing about 10 pounds.

I also had an MRI (which I would recommend that you do if you have not had one) and went to a wonderful neurosurgeon who explained that my problem was congenital. The space between my fifth lumbar vertebra and my sacrum is too narrow on the left side. He felt that surgery would only exacerbate the problem. Although it might stabilize the lumbar area, it might cause problems in another part of the vertebral column. It helped me to understand why my pain was only on one side. He said that the vertebrae were also very close on the right side, but that even 1 mm of space can make a big difference.

He prescribed a course of physical therapy (traction) which helped to create a little more space in that area. He also gave me a mild muscle relaxer which helped prevent any muscle spasms. I also go to exercise at a fitness center for women. One of the machines that others dislike because it bothers their back actually made mine feel better. I did not understand it until after I had the traction. The traction created more space by pulling down on the hips. This machine helps me because it is designed to stretch your back from the other direction. I would recommend any exercise that gently stretches out your lower back.

I am just so thankful that my sciatica is so much better! I pray that you will find what is causing yours and that it can be successfully treated. The constant pain and the inability to find a position in which it does not hurt is very stressful and can almost lead to feelings of hopelessness and depression. Fortunately, that is not my natural disposition, but the period of time that I suffered with sciatica is one of the most difficult things that I ever had to deal with in my almost 60 years on this earth!

[Let's Roll]

Exercise specifically for the hip/lower back part of the body and a vitamin B complex of at least 100. (always take the complex - never take a B vitamin alone - the B vitamins support each other). Keep taking the B complex after symptoms subside.

http://www.google.com/search?q=sciatica+vitamin+B&rls=com.microsoft:*&ie=UTF-8&oe=UTF-8&startIndex=&startPage=1

[NellieMae]

What I’ve found to most helpful is stretching types of excersise and massage. Staying in bed too long and sitting too much exacerbates my pain. I find that ice packs help a lot. It relieves the stress in my back to lie on the floor with my knees bent. I watch TV that way sometimes.
I’ve had this problem since I was in my early 20’s. Wouldn’t listen when my grandmother told me not to work so hard and lifted too many heavy things that I shouldn’t have. I have a disc that has completely disappeared and the vertebrae have fused together on their own. Degenerative disc disease is what I was told it was. I had a sciatica attack that left me with permanent nerve damage in my foot and leg and walked with a limp for a while until I figured out how to live with it. I wish you good luck and a pain free life.

[wintertime]

but the pain from the sciatica matches any of that.
^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^

Have you seen a neurosurgeon?

It is my understanding that the pain comes from pressure on the nerve. The prednesone (et.al.) is an attempt to reduce any inflammation on surrounding tissues that might possibly be putting pressure on the nerve. Hopefully the medication will help and you will soon have relief.

I had sciatic nerve pain during my pregnancy with my fourth child. It was hell on earth! Thankfully, after delivery the pressure on the nerve was relieved and I have never had a recurrence.

I am very sorry. You have my sympathy and prayers.

[whodathunkit]

I quickly scanned through the previous posts and didn’t see any reference to using a spa or whirlpool tub (I apologize if I missed it). When the pain is acute and constant, I found that the buoyancy provided gives some temporary relief. It doesn’t cure anything but any relief that you can get is welcome.

[Ruy Dias de Bivar]

I had sciatica about 30 years ago. My local doctor said it was because my stomach muscles were weaker of my back muscles causing a nerve to pinch. He prescribed situps to correct the imbalance, not a lot of sit ups, just a few a day.

It worked. I hae had no pain since.

[tongass kid]

Home remedies may not address the problem. I suffered this problem for 30 years and usually missed 3 weeks of work a year because of the pain. I finally saw a neurosurgeon and discovered several disc and narrow canal problems, but the real problem was a thumb size tumor in the spinal cord. In 2004 the surgery corrected all three problems and I have been pain free.

[Maigrey]

The reason that crunches work is that it balances the weight load on your back - so if you have a strong set of stomach muscles, the back doesn't have to work as hard to support the body.

I had back issues for the longest - and now that my workout routine includes some brutal core work - back and stomach - I don't have as many issues with my back.

[Wissa]

There is likely something in your everyday life that is hurting you. In my case it was my wallet in my back pocket and the driver’s seat in my car. Find out and get rid of it.

Same situation for me. I've been going with my wallet in my front pants pocket now for several years. I don't care if it does look odd. I just know I don't want to have to endure that pain again.

It took awhile before it didn't flare up on a long long drive anymore, but I haven't had the problem at all for a few years now, so making that change did take care of it.

[jetson]

An anti inflamitory regime, see a therapist about stretching the lateral hip muscle plus try an inversion table ( maybe at a gym or friend who owns one).

http://www.losethebackpain.com/backpainvideos/inversiontherapy.html

I've blown a disc three times and use an inversion table every day. Also helps my knee with no cartilage. May not be for you if your all broken up.

[COBOL2Java]

My wife’s was helped greatly by doing 20 minutes of slow stretching (to a Yoga video in her case) each morning.

I agree with dinoparty. I have piriformis syndrome, complicated by the fact that my sciatic nerve goes right through that muscle. When the sciatic nerve gets irritated, the pain shoots down my leg to the ankle. The orthopedic doctor gave me these stretching exercises, which really helps. For pain, I take generic ibuprofin.

[Marie Antoinette]

I had it flare up during pregnancies. It was the worst pain ever, if I had to take weight off my left leg the searing pain would make me cry. It was horrible, worse than any unmedicated labor pain I’ve had. I started doing an exercise program called T-Tapp, and in subsequent pregnancies I was able to minimize or avoid the pain altogether. Primary Back Stretch (PBS) was a Godsend! Just standing in the T-Tapp stance helps for me.

[Marie]

Alternate ice and heat. Do this all day long. 20 minutes ice, then 20 minutes heat.

I feel for you. I’ve had it for years and am going through a mild bout right now. Only the drugs allow me to sleep. They wear off early in the morning and I have to get up and take more to finish the night.

Also, take a good multi-mineral supplement, drink 2 eight ounce glasses of V-8 every day and get sunshine.

It’s really important for your body to be properly nourished while it’s healing. ANY issues with the back can result in muscle spasms which damage tissues, compound inflammation and prolong the healing process. Keeping your mineral intake balanced helps prevent this.

[Marie]

A mild case can just give you an ache in the lower back and be a real pain in the butt. If not treated, it can get worse.

[Marie]

Oh! One more thing: NO SITTING! Lay on your side and change positions frequently. People can develop this problem just by sitting too much.

[Marie]

Yup. Chiropractors are awesome. Just be sure that you actually do feel better. If you’re feeling worse after two weeks with a certain chiro, change doctors.

I’ve had two that made me much worse! That’s not bad when you consider that I’ve had about a dozen over the years. (We move a lot.)

[WayneLusvardi]

1. Get MRI to make sure it is not something more than sciatica
2. Take anti-inflammatories (aspirin, ibuprofin)
3. Stretch by doing same as Muslims; sit in crouched position and put your head down like you’re praying to allah and stretch your back out.
4. Go to chiropractor so that your recovery time will be shortened.
5. Stay off carbohydrates; stay on high protein and fruit.
6. Eventually try going to gym and doing spinning with spin shoes. I had 100% recovery by doing so after years of putting up with condition.

[mysterio]

I'm almost certain I had it. Very painful and annoying. I found the only OTC that really helped much was advil. I also used a heated rice bag for extended periods. The heat seemed to shut it down for a while.

The year after that, I started a lot of walking and treadmill exercise, and since then, I haven't noticed it much. Although this could just be a coincidence. I feel the slightest bit of pain now, but for the most part it seems better.

[teenyelliott]

Get an MRI. That is an absolute must.

Hubby had the same problem. He went to a chiropractor, and it made the problem much, much worse, absolutely unbearable. He went through the drugs, which only made a dent in the pain. He had the spinal injections, which also didn't work.

Hubby finally had surgery, just a tiny incision in his lower back to remove the bit of disc that was pressing on the nerve. There just was no other way to stop the pressure on the nerve.

You must have an MRI to discover the cause of the nerve problem. Do NOT let anyone manipulate your spine until you know the cause, I cannot stress this enough.

If it is true sciatica, there is no home remedy other than pain management.

[reformedliberal]

I also have piriformis syndrome. Usually, people with the nerve growing through the piriformis also have a longer 2nd toe. This changes your gait, causes an antereo-lateral rocking motion and the piriformis tightens, putting pressure on the nerve.

Everything else witten here will help. It is vital to get an image and make sure it isn't something more serious than just muscle spasms. Find a sports medicine practice with a PT or MT with real Neuromuscular Massage Therapy certification. In combo with everything else, this will help you through the bouts of muscle spasm.

For daily low level moist heat, try ThermaCare, the oxidizing heat wraps. 2 for $7 at Walmart. I swear by them. Place the heat-producing portion over the area of the upper buttock that hurts the most. You can shift the wrap during the day as the tightness shifts around the upper glutes/low back/hip. They last 8-10 hours.

Until you can get the massage, which will relax and release the psoas (anterior hip flexor), keep your back straight, like riding a horse and bend at the knees, not the waist. Move your weight over your hips. In Tai Chi, this is called Horse Stance http://www.wikihow.com/Do-Tai-Chi%27s-Horse-Stance and it is best to use this without necessarily having your arms outstretched whenever you need to bend forward, such as making a bed, brushing your teeth, wiping a counter, speaking to a child or someone shorter than you. To do the activities without injuring the involved muscles, use a variant of the Tai Chi Grinding Corn exercise http://www.ehow.com/how_11968_perform-grinding-corn.html The pics show a forward bend. Don't do that. Keep the back straight and the legs bent and go about the activity. Your thighs will become strong, as well. That slight forward bend at the waist can aggravate the pain and if your core is weak, just a sneeze while bending forward at the waist can spasm the psoas. Common triggers are picking up a vacuum cleaner or a small child or animal while bending forward at the waist. The pain will refer to the low back, but the problem originates in the psoas. We flex this muscle hundreds of times a day, but it is one muscle that never bulks. It begins to weaken in your mid-thirties.

The condition is chronic-remitting. It will come and go. Everything mentioned, especially too much sitting and cold damp weather, will set it off. Once you have a set of exercises/stretches and a PT/MT/chiro who help you, see them at the first twinge to stave off increasing pain, misery and disability.

It is very common, as you can see from this thread.