Sciatica

[funnygirl]

I am suffering terribly and my doctor is no help, just prescribing pain killers all the time.
I know Ruby talked about this last month, but has anybody who suffered gotten pain free either with the help of a chiropractor or any other method.
I got mine after stumbling over a paving stone and I cannot lift my leg to get on the pavements.
I am like an old woman!

[Goodsoulette]

It's sciatica friday apparently. I got relief through physio and then slowly working the muscles in back bottom and tummy to be stronger. HAs your doctor told you where the sciatica is starting. Its obviously not a bulging disc otherwise you would have been referred to the hospital so I should imagine its your sacroiliac joint (does the pain hurt most in your bottom, or bottom of back but to the side slightly).... if it is there, warm compresses help, tens machines are good and lying on your back and pulling your knees up to your chin, to free the nerve are good. Another good exercise is to lie on your side but with your shoulders as flat to the floor as possible and try and bring your knee across your other leg and get it as close to the floor as possible. Im always rubbish at describing that last exercise...sorry!

[funnygirl]

Well when I get home from work I am gonna try all these exercises.
I have the pain in my left bum and some movements are a killer.
Thanks for your answer.

[Goodsoulette]

well thats exactly where mine was. Nothing serious bur the muscle is probably bulging onto your nerve. Unfortunately we use our butt for most stuff and it takes a fair while to heal.

[jackthehat]

Excellent advice from Goodsoulette.
However, if you don't get any relief, here's my story.........

It first presented as galloping sciatica in my right buttock and then started to travel down my leg and into my foot. My GP gave me pain-killers and a referral to the Physio-terrorists. On my initial examination I was asked to sit on the bed (so my feet didn't touch the floor) pivot my 'bad leg' foot up into the air and then drop my chin onto my chest.............I thought someone had shot me in the ar$e ! lol
That's when the physio-terrorist brought in the mini-spine they have to hand and showed me where the problem was :o) I have polapsed L5/S1 disc which was confirmed by MRI scan.
{Exercise helped for a while but ultimately I had to have a little more medical intervention, which I can scare you with later, if you like :o)}

You could have a go at that at home...........if it does hurt like stink I suggest you march back into your GP and demand he gets his finger out..........

[shaneystar2]

I got this many moons ago while pregnant with my first child .I ended up looking like a beached whale with a walking stick !
Over the years ,of which there are now many I had recurring bouts of it .Acupuncture ..about five years ago ..not had a twinge since.
Mind you what works for one may not work for another but I was desperate as I suffer with arthritics as it is and the sciatica just added to the misery ...So off I went ..best days work I ever did.
Yoga may help too if it's bearable to do . Don't let your doctor fob you off with painkillers .Hope you soon feel better .

[jackthehat]

oohh.....I forgot to mention that I received acupuncture via the physios and found it to be excellent !
I couldn't believe the relief it gave me the first time.........:o)
Unfortunately, I was unlucky enough for the exercise and needles NOT to be a lasting solution, but ensure that your GP exhausts ALL the options available to him.

I have had this problem for just over 2 years now and whilst I have been lucky to have had a medical team working with me the pain has been debilitating and depressing and you really don't want to let it all drag on any longer than necessary..........:o)