Help with my Sciatic

[Succulent-one]

Ok, I need help from anyone out there who knows what to do about the Sciatic nerve. It has had me in bed for 2 days now, I can hardly stand it. Does anyone have tips on how to get rid of the ache??? I can't walk too far, I can't sit too long, I can't stand too long.....yikes and I am usually such a busy person this is hard on me.

 

[original cindy]

I feel your pain. I've battled back problems that resulted in surgery and I still have pain from it. To help relieve the pain from the sciatic nerve try stretches. It hurts but in the long run it helps. Stretching the muscles and ligaments helps relieve the pressure on the nerve. If the pain doesn't go away after a week or you start having the problem very often i'd insist on an MRI. X rays do not always show damaged disks. I hope you get better soon.

 

[Weird Harold]

Does anyone have tips on how to get rid of the ache??? I can't walk too far, I can't sit too long, I can't stand too long.....yikes and I am usually such a busy person this is hard on me.

I don't think you really want to try it, but...

I pinched my sciatic nerve and suffered for about five years with constant back spasms and occassional shooting pains in the right leg. Thn one night, while riding my bicycle to work, a speeding (drunk?) driver snagged the kickstand with his front fender and snatched the bike out from under me, flipped me about six feet in the air, and dropped me flat on my back on the soft shoulder of the road.

That cured about 90% of my back spasms and an occasional ice pack has consistently dealt well with what remains.

When I have to be out and about for any length of time, I use a magnetic therapy/back support that staves off the back pain for as much as eight hours. Wearing it for a couple of hours usually provdes a fairly long period of relief if I'm not too active.

Over the years, I've found that a heating pad provides immediate relief but has a "backlash effect" that results in a day or two of back problems.

 

[Imi]

Get thee to a DOCTOR!!

A combination of muscle relaxants (from a regular doctor) and some work by a chiropractor and a massage therapist should loosen up the performis muscle so it's not racheted tight on the sciatic nerve.

I'm all about solving the problem, more than solving the symptoms.

 

[Succulent-one]

I feel your pain. I've battled back problems that resulted in surgery and I still have pain from it. To help relieve the pain from the sciatic nerve try stretches. It hurts but in the long run it helps. Stretching the muscles and ligaments helps relieve the pressure on the nerve. If the pain doesn't go away after a week or you start having the problem very often i'd insist on an MRI. X rays do not always show damaged disks. I hope you get better soon.

Thanks....I have another friend who told me to stretch like a cat before I ever attempt to get out of bed in the morning. This is something I am trying. At least I could bend over some today and actually pull on my pants LOL

 

[Succulent-one]

I don't think you really want to try it, but...

I pinched my sciatic nerve and suffered for about five years with constant back spasms and occassional shooting pains in the right leg. Thn one night, while riding my bicycle to work, a speeding (drunk?) driver snagged the kickstand with his front fender and snatched the bike out from under me, flipped me about six feet in the air, and dropped me flat on my back on the soft shoulder of the road.

That cured about 90% of my back spasms and an occasional ice pack has consistently dealt well with what remains.

When I have to be out and about for any length of time, I use a magnetic therapy/back support that staves off the back pain for as much as eight hours. Wearing it for a couple of hours usually provdes a fairly long period of relief if I'm not too active.

Over the years, I've found that a heating pad provides immediate relief but has a "backlash effect" that results in a day or two of back problems.

Ok, I think I will pass on the truck and the bicycle part....LOL but thanks for the icing info. I would have thought a heat pack would have been better, but then I imagine that you get fast results and they try and be too active when you shouldn't. I have a friend that believes in the magnets too....hummmmm....may have to give her a call. Thanks

 

[Succulent-one]

Get thee to a DOCTOR!!

A combination of muscle relaxants (from a regular doctor) and some work by a chiropractor and a massage therapist should loosen up the performis muscle so it's not racheted tight on the sciatic nerve.

I'm all about solving the problem, more than solving the symptoms.

You are probably right on all three counts. I am bad about going to doctors, but I have a feeling I can't ignor this. My brother says a chiropractor, but I was thinking some acupunture? Have you ever tried that. Right now I can hardly stand to sit here, so I am willing to make a deal with the devil to releieve the pain. LOL And you are right take care of the problem in the long run.
Thanks

 

[Imi]

My brother says a chiropractor, but I was thinking some acupunture? Have you ever tried that.

Nope, can't say that I have. Maybe I should.

Since we are swapping crazy stories, I'll contribute mine. My sciatica is result of a rather bad muscle pull/tear about ten years ago. It flares up periodically and can be a real booger to get rid of. I had been going to the chiropractor, who works in conjunction with a massage therapist, to try to loosen stuff up. They were attacking it rather aggressively, so the sessions were not relaxing at all.

So, in the midst of my treatment, I went away for the weekend to meet some internet buddies. It was a rip roaring weekend to live in infamy. We laughed, we cried, we burned the candled at both ends. I don't think I've ever purged so much emotion in the space of 72 hours in my life. All the way home, the buddy I went with and I alternatively cackled and balled at the most esoteric things that only we could understand as a result of the weekend. We had everyone looking at us askance.

So I got back and went to the chiropractor. I got on the massage table, only to have my therapist say, "WHAT did you do?" I had gone from being wired tighter than a banjo string to a completely limp noodle. And once the muscles released, the pressure was lifted from the nerve and it calmed down.

Apparently, I purged more than emotion. It was three years before I got wound up again.

 

[Succulent-one]

Nope, can't say that I have. Maybe I should.

Since we are swapping crazy stories, I'll contribute mine. My sciatica is result of a rather bad muscle pull/tear about ten years ago. It flares up periodically and can be a real booger to get rid of. I had been going to the chiropractor, who works in conjunction with a massage therapist, to try to loosen stuff up. They were attacking it rather aggressively, so the sessions were not relaxing at all.

So, in the midst of my treatment, I went away for the weekend to meet some internet buddies. It was a rip roaring weekend to live in infamy. We laughed, we cried, we burned the candled at both ends. I don't think I've ever purged so much emotion in the space of 72 hours in my life. All the way home, the buddy I went with and I alternatively cackled and balled at the most esoteric things that only we could understand as a result of the weekend. We had everyone looking at us askance.

So I got back and went to the chiropractor. I got on the massage table, only to have my therapist say, "WHAT did you do?" I had gone from being wired tighter than a banjo string to a completely limp noodle. And once the muscles released, the pressure was lifted from the nerve and it calmed down.

Apparently, I purged more than emotion. It was three years before I got wound up again.

There is probably more accounted to stress than most want to let on being under. I finished an 8 week training program that had me working about 60 hours a week. I would get about 2 hours a day to myself before I had to get to bed and start over. I have also moved 3 times and had to adjust to 2 new jobs in 15 months......LOL Hummmmm I wonder what that stress factor is. But I do like the idea of going and tying one on over the weekend with a friend.....sounds good to me....

 

[EJFan]

i had some sciatic nerve problems a few years back, but it was comparitively mild (thankfully). i don't know if it'll help you in your specific case but two things i did that at least gave some temporary relief were:

1. lie on the floor on your back like you're going to do situps (with your knees bent), then keep your knees touching each other and roll them toward the floor to one side, then the other. keep your shoulders flat the whole time.

2. lie on your side in a fetal position and put a pillow between your knees when you sleep.

for a case like yours, sounds like the best route is to see the doc as others have said. maybe these things'll give you some momentary relief in the mean time.

good luck. i feel your pain... sux, i know.

 

[Cathleen]

Mine is bothering me at the moment. I do stretches too, it seems to help. Keep moving. One stretch that I like is to lay on your side on the edge of the bed. Move the top leg over the edge - your hip joint moves with you and sometimes it will help with sciatia. I drop (gently) my leg over the ege and hold it for half a minute or so. Do both sides of course.

I've felt my hip joint realign sometimes - feels good.

I feel for you

 

[JustSkye]

Chiropractor chiropractor chiropractor.... Depending on the severity and how it happened, I would highly recommend seeing one. Taking meds to dull or limit the pain is not a good thing. It helps short term. But it also causes more damage if there are other things going in this area.
It masks the pain and symptoms. Please see a chiro and have he/she do a through set of xrays and thorough exam. And go from there. You won't be sorry. Usually there is a full back and leg massage before adjustment and you may be tender for awhile, but I'd almost garantee it will make things so much better if not treat it completely.

Do 'J' stretches too. Stretching as everyone suggests! It helps!

 

[Weird Harold]

I have a friend that believes in the magnets too....

I can't positively say whether it's the magnets or the support that makes the difference, but I've tried magnets without the support and the support without the magnets and neither seems to works as well alone as they do together. (for back or wrist problems.)

 

[Succulent-one]

i had some sciatic nerve problems a few years back, but it was comparitively mild (thankfully). i don't know if it'll help you in your specific case but two things i did that at least gave some temporary relief were:

1. lie on the floor on your back like you're going to do situps (with your knees bent), then keep your knees touching each other and roll them toward the floor to one side, then the other. keep your shoulders flat the whole time.

2. lie on your side in a fetal position and put a pillow between your knees when you sleep.

for a case like yours, sounds like the best route is to see the doc as others have said. maybe these things'll give you some momentary relief in the mean time.

good luck. i feel your pain... sux, i know.

Thanks for the info......I had a friend tell me about the pillow between the knee trick....I am really going to give it a try tonight! I will also try the floor exercise. actually that sounds like it might hurt a little but then give some relief!

 

[Succulent-one]

Mine is bothering me at the moment. I do stretches too, it seems to help. Keep moving. One stretch that I like is to lay on your side on the edge of the bed. Move the top leg over the edge - your hip joint moves with you and sometimes it will help with sciatia. I drop (gently) my leg over the ege and hold it for half a minute or so. Do both sides of course.

I've felt my hip joint realign sometimes - feels good.

I feel for you

Wow I will have to give that a try. It seems like it would keep the hips limber as well. Does anyone take Glucosamine, Chondroitin, or MSM? Thanks bunches!

 

[Succulent-one]

Chiropractor chiropractor chiropractor.... Depending on the severity and how it happened, I would highly recommend seeing one. Taking meds to dull or limit the pain is not a good thing. It helps short term. But it also causes more damage if there are other things going in this area.
It masks the pain and symptoms. Please see a chiro and have he/she do a through set of xrays and thorough exam. And go from there. You won't be sorry. Usually there is a full back and leg massage before adjustment and you may be tender for awhile, but I'd almost garantee it will make things so much better if not treat it completely.

Do 'J' stretches too. Stretching as everyone suggests! It helps!

I appreciate the input. I think I will have to go see a chiropractor. I have never been to one, so I guess I will have to ask around and see if I can get a good one that I can trust. I don't really know how it happened. I think I have been too stressed and then was moving some boxes in the garage, and the next morning I couldn't move....yiiiieeeekkss.

 

[Succulent-one]

I can't positively say whether it's the magnets or the support that makes the difference, but I've tried magnets without the support and the support without the magnets and neither seems to works as well alone as they do together. (for back or wrist problems.)

Harold, I already emailed my friend that does all the magnet stuff, and she said she would get me some to try for a couple of weeks. I will have to see

 

[77Cobra]

Other than going to the Dr. which I will not do anymore for back pain and problems with the sciatic nerve.I do exercises or stretches,you lie on the floor on your back hook both arms behind your knees and pull your legs up towards your chest and hold that for one minute.Then do the same with one leg then the other allowing the leg not being used to lie flat on the floor.It helps stretch out the muscles and the vertibrae and put more space between the discs so the nerve is not pinched.Other than that I see a chiropractor sometimes and also another trick that works for me is,when I am having back problems I start wearing my overalls instead of jeans or slacks.Not having anything tight around my waist really helps the back problem go away.Once the Dr. prescribed Oxycontin and wow did it ever get rid of the pain,but I got hooked real quick.

 

[77Cobra]

Also do not let them shoot die in your spine to get the discs show up on x-rays.Had it done twice and both times were very,very bad experiences.That is why I do not go to the Dr. for back problems anymore.

 

[Succulent-one]

Other than going to the Dr. which I will not do anymore for back pain and problems with the sciatic nerve.I do exercises or stretches,you lie on the floor on your back hook both arms behind your knees and pull your legs up towards your chest and hold that for one minute.Then do the same with one leg then the other allowing the leg not being used to lie flat on the floor.It helps stretch out the muscles and the vertibrae and put more space between the discs so the nerve is not pinched.Other than that I see a chiropractor sometimes and also another trick that works for me is,when I am having back problems I start wearing my overalls instead of jeans or slacks.Not having anything tight around my waist really helps the back problem go away.Once the Dr. prescribed Oxycontin and wow did it ever get rid of the pain,but I got hooked real quick.

Thanks for the exercises. I will try this one as well. I found that most of the time you have to know what is wrong with you and how to treat it before you ever get to the doctor or they do all kinds of crazy tests on you. The dye thing....no way.

I appreciate the comments

 

[wideeyedgrin]

My reccomendation is to first see a doctor. Sometimes its more than just a pinched nerve. There are a number of ways to work on this.Muscle relaxants, physical therapy to get the muscles stretched properly, and a little gizmo called a Tenz machine (its an electrical muscle stimulator) can help. Along with that, alternating hot and cold packs (aabout 10 minutes each) will help relax the muscle and nerve. Chiropractors can help also. Combinng a chiropractor and deep muscle massage can help the muscles relax enough for the nerve to stop twinging.

A good source of information can be found on WebMD.

 

[Succulent-one]

My reccomendation is to first see a doctor. Sometimes its more than just a pinched nerve. There are a number of ways to work on this.Muscle relaxants, physical therapy to get the muscles stretched properly, and a little gizmo called a Tenz machine (its an electrical muscle stimulator) can help. Along with that, alternating hot and cold packs (aabout 10 minutes each) will help relax the muscle and nerve. Chiropractors can help also. Combinng a chiropractor and deep muscle massage can help the muscles relax enough for the nerve to stop twinging.

A good source of information can be found on WebMD.

Hey thanks for the info. I did go to the net and found some sites on the Sciatic. Stetching, cold packs and anti-inflamatories seem to be what most call for. I fell better today, but I will probably go see a doc tomorrow to be on the safe side. If it looks like an on going thing I am going to find a chiropractor.

 

[MagicFingers]

I am an expert on nerve pain and disk damage!

Really. I have had surgery for a bad disk at L4-L5, another surgery on my neck for bad disks, removal and fusion, and have had a bad disk at L5-S1 for 4 years now - No insurance now. I had all the symptoms you have ++. Could only sleep 1 1/2 hours, woke up with cramps, had to walk for 20-30 minutes before I could stretch it enough to get back to sleep, etc.

Most ALL of the suggestions listed here are good ideas, like Ice being better that heat, because it shrinks the inflamation. Heat is sometimes good because it can spead healing in the area, but ICE will shrink everything and numb the area. For me, ICE or cold things, like weather, can cause bad cramps, so switching off each every 4 hours or so is a good idea.
Anti-imflamatory medicine, like asprin or Ibuprophen or prescription medicines help some people.

Go see doctors and insist on MRI's and CAT Scans if needed. X-Rays can show flatttened disks, and/or arthritic bone spurs, but not the actual disk damage. Get surgery if you need it!!!

But try all the other stuff first, or, in the mean time.
Do the stretching for the back and hips, and stretch your hamstrings.
BE AWARE: While stretching helps, it can also cause the disk to protrude out even further!!! Making the problem worse. It's a catch-22 thing. That's why you need to FIX the problem if you can. Learn how to do the stretching RIGHT! I went to "Back school" after my first surgery and know the proper way to do them. Both ways described here are part of the routine.

I had an epidural once for my current problem, about 4 months after it started, and it really relieved the pain and made it bearable. (The dye for the x-ray is a bad idea like the other guy said.)

Chiropractors can help relieve the pain and might help shrink the bad disk, so try one, but don't keep going if you don't get relief after a few visits.

Tenz machines probably won't help. They just mask the pain. Didn't help me at all.

Loose pants - yeah, yes. The tight ones can cause pain and cramping in the leg and foot.

Muscle relaxants never helped me, only made me tired, since they do not help the cause of the problem - a bad disk, not tight muscles.
Of course, you MAY have a pinched nerve and inflamed muscle, or vertebrae out of alignment, so, by all means, try those methods to see if they help.

GO TO THE DOCTOR, and insist on an MRI. It will show the problem, then you will know what you are dealing with and how to go about treating it.

A bad disk is like a jelly doughnut: When you squeeze it in the middle, or on one side, the jelly squirts out the other side. You can't put it back in. It just sits there, like a bad disk, pressing on your nerve until you have permanent damage that cannot be repaired!

I hope you don't have a bad disk, but if you do, get it repaired as soon as possible. They cannot heal themselves any more that you can put the jelly back into that doughnut! You might be able to shrink it enough to relieve most of the pain, as I have. But, if I could afford surgery, or won the lottery tomorrow, one of the first things I would do would be to check into micro-surgery for it.
Good luck,
MagicFingers

 

[Succulent-one]

Magic Thanks for your input. It really has made me appreciate all the times I don't hurt and am flexable. Your visual you created here is rather effective....geeze I don't want any permanent damage.

I did feel better today. I actually went to work and put in the full day. It is a little tender, but I wasn't miserable. I have been stretching. I made sure today that I did some stretching exercises about every 2 to 3 hours. I didn't want everything to freeze up.

 

[Undomiel]

I have it in my right leg but it spreads to my left leg when its really bad. My doctor said it should go in "phases" of 6 weeks repeated every 1 to 10 years. But I have it pretty much all the time, but sometimes its worse than others. I know the discomfort. Standing for too long hurts. Sitting for too long hurts. Which is a bitch if you have 4 lectures in a row. I usually end up skipping some. If I walk a little in the day it eases it though. I try to avoid painkillers as they make me too groggy. It really sucks!