Sciatica HELP

[DOSA]

anyone have any real help for the sciatica?

I was up 5 times last night with pain shooting all the way down the leg. I usually can deal with it but of late it has really got out of hand.

Any real help?

[Igifuno]

I had it pretty bad a few years ago after a herniated disk. Was a big issue for a few months and I began doing stretching movements a couple times a day. I did this consistently for quite a while (several months) and it got progressively better but not completely cured. One day I was doing stretches and I felt a huge amount of relief and it was GONE.. never had any more issues.

Yoga type stretches like the ones I did can be very helpful. I know Haz has sciatica right now and he's been to the chiro, but I think has only had minor relief.

These are some of the stretches I'm referring to:

7 Poses to Soothe Sciatica | Yoga International

[lovbyts]

1 of 2 things will help . I'm sure you've heard it before but its true use ice. 20 minutes on 20 minutes of repeated least three times in a row and repeat at least 3 times a day.

If the ice does not help within 1 to 2 days then there is one other thing that I can almost guarantee will help right away, prednisone. It's a miracle drug when it comes to the sciatica and I have a lot of experience with that

[Igifuno]

I can almost guarantee will help right away, prednisone. It's a miracle drug when it comes to the sciatica and I have a lot of experience with that

Had no idea.. made a thread on prednisone a couple months ago. Was concerned about muscle deterioration but there was no concern with the dose and length of time I was taking it.

[lovbyts]

One of the main side effects from prednisone is water weight gain. Women especially have a hard time with this and its difficult to get rid of the weight gain after the fact

[Igifuno]

I saw some horror pictures of people who were on for extended periods at high doses. they get that hunch back syndrome... nasty.

[Bedford]

I had some of the same problems as stated above by Igifuno . I also did a lot of stretches. Another thing that helped with my pain was getting an inversion table . Stretching out my spine & getting pressure off the disc that was pinching the nerve did worlds of good. After time I started weighting myself too while inverted to put extra pull on my torso.

[Igifuno]

Like this?

[lovbyts]

I had some of the same problems as stated above by Igifuno . I also did a lot of stretches. Another thing that helped with my pain was getting an inversion table . Stretching out my spine & getting pressure off the disc that was pinching the nerve did worlds of good. After time I started weighting myself too while inverted to put extra pull on my torso.

Be careful while using the inversion table. That's what I was doing when I ruptured l5/s1 at 4 a.m. And was 90 percent paralyzed from the waist down for the next two weeks until after surgery.

It was the worst pain I have ever been in to date and that was 6 years ago. Don't get carried away and try doing inverted sit ups like I did, just use it for stretching.

[Igifuno]

lov you have taken your body through hell and back..

[diesel101]

4 epidural shots in the lower back and now my pain is gone but my left leg is numb from glute to the knee but at least I can walk and sleep at night.I have 1 bulging disk and 2 ruptured disk in my lower back that caused my problems the numbness is from nerve damage the doctors claim.One thing to remember the shots only cover up the pain they do not repair the problem. I have two friends that had surgery to cure their same problem one turned out good the other one is worse off now than before surgery.

[Igifuno]

Back surgery is nothing to play with. I have an uncle who had a bad back and messed him up real bad.

[Bedford]

Like this?

Yes.

[Bedford]

Be careful while using the inversion table. That's what I was doing when I ruptured l5/s1 at 4 a.m. And was 90 percent paralyzed from the waist down for the next two weeks until after surgery.

It was the worst pain I have ever been in to date and that was 6 years ago. Don't get carried away and try doing inverted sit ups like I did, just use it for stretching.

No sit ups for me , but I would take 15-25 lbs & hold it against my chest for the stretch .
I was in therapy for 3 months with my herniated disc . During that time I was on a traction machine that pulled me from the hips down while my chest was strapped to the upper part of the table . It pulled at different percentages of my body weight during the 20 minute sessions. That got me fairly right but once my insurance ran out for covering the visits I got the inversion table for at home.

[DOSA]

Thanks for all the input fellas

[Igifuno]

You bet dude, hope it gets better.

[crazy_rocks]

Using an inversion table saved me form needing surgery. You don't need an expensive $300 one either.

[Leroy Jenkins]

Get a foam roller and roll a lot on your lower back. Especially before bed. Buy the "black" one as it is firmer than the white version. You can get them at most sporting good stores. Also, buy a lacrosse ball. Lay on it and isolate the sore areas. It is brutal but can work some things out.