Sciatica pain

[Cyismymonkey]

Anyone been through this and have tips/help?

Been dealing with lower back pain for 2 weeks then woke up Thurs to pain through the back and down the leg.

Went to doctor. They have me on a few medications.

This really sucks as standing or sitting has me in excruciating pain.

I had the same situation a few years ago. Did physical therapy, stretching, various medications etc.Nothing worked it grew significantly more difficult to live with. I had ruptured a disk. Ended up @ the Stiendler Clinic in Iowa City. In hindsight I wish I would have gone there sooner.

 

[deadeyededric]

I've been dealing with it for about 5 years. Best decision I made was getting a foam pad for my bed. Stretching, working out my lower back, and going to the chiropractor(as long as they do the leg tug) make it pretty manageable. I also got an inversion table that helps a lot. Ibuprofen is your friend.

 

[CycloneRulzzz]

Well after I was doing better till I had to lay down to sleep. Pain is back.

 

[FriendlySpartan]

I had the same situation a few years ago. Did physical therapy, stretching, various medications etc.Nothing worked it grew significantly more difficult to live with. I had ruptured a disk. Ended up @ the Stiendler Clinic in Iowa City. In hindsight I wish I would have gone there sooner.

Yep that’s why it’s always good to get imaging done, most times it’s unnecessary except for when it really isn’t

 

[Nococy]

Anyone been through this and have tips/help?

Been dealing with lower back pain for 2 weeks then woke up Thurs to pain through the back and down the leg.

Went to doctor. They have me on a few medications.

This really sucks as standing or sitting has me in excruciating pain.

Had the same pain and the doctor said it was sciatica but are friend who is pa specialist looked at the X-rays told me to come in right away as it was actually bone on bone and I had hip replacement and no problems since.2 years ago

 

[clonechemist]

+1 for physical therapy here.

Tweaked my back carrying my 5 year old in early June and realized something wasn’t right over the next few days. Saw my primary care in August and got a prescription for 24 sessions of PT, so my out of pocket cost is like $25 per PT session.

Before starting the PT, I found walking was really helpful, and sitting or standing for any length of time was really uncomfortable. I think my back was honestly getting better by the time I started PT in September, but doing a lot of work on hips and piriformis and core strengthening has helped. Having a trained therapist supervising was really helpful for me mentally - going in I was hesitant about doing anything that worked my core or back for fear of tweaking something again. We also realized I have an issue in my foot (Morton’s neuroma) on the same side as the sciatica, and we’ve now been working on that and seeing improvement

I started to do a pretty deep dive on this in the summer (Reddit has a ton of stuff), I realize my case was probably mild and PT doesn’t help everyone. But for me it was a great start

 

[BryceC]

I despise coffee.

I’m the same. I do crystal light energy. Cheaper than celcius/aulani stuff like that

 

[Cyhig]

I just hope you get pain free soon, Rulzzz.

 

[Cyburbbalz]

Anyone been through this and have tips/help?

Been dealing with lower back pain for 2 weeks then woke up Thurs to pain through the back and down the leg.

Went to doctor. They have me on a few medications.

This really sucks as standing or sitting has me in excruciating pain.

I've had back problems for alot of years now. Stretch your legs especially hamstrings. If you have to reach low to do something just sit down instead. If 1 side bothers you more don't sleep on it. Vary your positions as much as possible.

 

[RedDog]

Well after I was doing better till I had to lay down to sleep. Pain is back.

Rulzzz, I hope you heal quickly.
Sometimes a little comedy can take the edge off.

 

[CycloneRulzzz]

I've had back problems for alot of years now. Stretch your legs especially hamstrings. If you have to reach low to do something just sit down instead. If 1 side bothers you more don't sleep on it. Vary your positions as much as possible.

I've been that last part. I always switch up as I never sleep in one position all night.

 

[Cyburbbalz]

I've been that last part. I always switch up as I never sleep in one position all night.

Me too man. People who sleep well are very fortunate.

 

[madguy30]

I've had back problems for alot of years now. Stretch your legs especially hamstrings. If you have to reach low to do something just sit down instead. If 1 side bothers you more don't sleep on it. Vary your positions as much as possible.

Stretching all parts of the legs possible can do wonders just to take the pressure off of other areas.

The amount of relief I get some times if I've been standing too long by stretching my quads kind of blows my mind.

 

[arobb]

walking is the only self-medication that's helped me. trying to fix yourself with golf balls or whatever is likely to do more harm than good, imo and experience.

Same experience for me. Walking is the only solution.

 

[CycloneRulzzz]

Have had a couple of pt appointments.

Some changes. Don't have much back pain. The pain I'd been having in hamstrings is better.

Now for the bad part. The pain I'd been having in hamstrings has moved to my calf. In last 24 or so as soon as I stand or sit my pain in my calf is an 11. They feel like they are on fire.

 

[BWRhasnoAC]

Well after I was doing better till I had to lay down to sleep. Pain is back.

Experiment with a pillow under your legs. If you're a side sleeper put a pillow between your knees. You can also while laying on your back open your hip so that your leg with pain is on it's side. So instead of both legs being open as she is in the photo, only the side that has pain will be open and the other will be straight. You don't have to use blocks like she is but if it's painful you can limit your motion which is what she is demonstrating.

 

[Cyburbbalz]

Experiment with a pillow under your legs. If you're a side sleeper put a pillow between your knees. You can also while laying on your back open your hip so that your leg with pain is on it's side. So instead of both legs being open as she is in the photo, only the side that has pain will be open and the other will be straight. You don't have to use blocks like she is but if it's painful you can limit your motion which is what she is demonstrating.

View attachment 160383

Pillow between the knees can be very helpful.

 

[JohnnyAl]

Anyone been through this and have tips/help?

Been dealing with lower back pain for 2 weeks then woke up Thurs to pain through the back and down the leg.

Went to doctor. They have me on a few medications.

This really sucks as standing or sitting has me in excruciating pain.

Google McKenzie method for back pain. Has helped me many times over years

 

[madguy30]

Have had a couple of pt appointments.

Some changes. Don't have much back pain. The pain I'd been having in hamstrings is better.

Now for the bad part. The pain I'd been having in hamstrings has moved to my calf. In last 24 or so as soon as I stand or sit my pain in my calf is an 11. They feel like they are on fire.

My experience is the calves may have adapted to whatever was going on with the low back/hamstrings and now are re-adjusting to the pain relief/PT for the sciatica.

I basically had quasi-double calf strains once from this.

 

[CycloneRulzzz]

This pain is unbearable. Before last night I could sleep on my bad side but now I can't. This ******* sucks.