[Closed] Sciatica

Go see a physio. You need to learn how to manage it, and the physio will teach you that. I had sciatica caused by some disc problems. I now spend half an hour to an hour per night doing hamstring, buttock and piriformis stretches and core strength exercises. Has it made a difference? Yes but it's very gradual, and I still get periods where it comes back.

I now spend half an hour to an hour per night stretches and core strength exercises. Has it made a difference? Yes

+1, when I miss a couple of nights, the warning signs start showing up.
Little annoying doing stretches every night, but the Sciatica is worse...
Also check your posture is correct when driving/working, I was educated that my long distance driving gave me a tendency to stoop over the wheel when tired, I do the same at a computer work station - this aggregates the problems.

I suffer with this - the best way to deal with it (l find) is finding stretches that stretch your hamstrings, buttocks and lower back. I tend to use a figure 4 strech (lying flat on your back, put one leg over the other with that knee bent, then twist your body the opposite way so that you feel a stretch in the buttock.) Hope that makes sense! Also, strecth your hams by putting one leg on the edge of a sofa, rotate the foot slightly outwards, then lean forward with a straight back.

I find these keep it at bay.

Another good one the physio showed me, is to sit on the edge of a table or bench with your legs dangling and not touching the floor. Then slump your shoulders and back into a poor slumped posture, then extend your legs one at time until horizontal, hold for a few seconds, then repeat. If you have the same as I had, you should feel tightness/pain in the lower back on the opposite side to which leg is raised. The intensity of the tightness/pain gives is a good indicator of how bad the sciatica is apparently. No idea how or why, but this works great for me. you can also do something similar lying flat on your back, pulling a knee up to your chest and then extending your leg.

I found a couple of exerciss that worked well for me:

+1 for the stretches. Also worked for me. There are loads of good ones on YewToob. The one I found best was where you lie on your back, move one leg to knee at 90 deg-ish, foot on floor. Then cross the other one over it. Join your hands at the back of the knee with of leg with foot on floor...eg. if it's your left foot on floor, your right leg crosses over it, then your left hand is on the outside of your left knee and your right hand goes through the "hole" made by crossing your legs. Pull and you feel a lovely stretch across your arse cheek. A few nights of this gave me instant relief from bloody weeks of pain.

Get thee to the doctors and have it checked out.
Also get to Pilates classes - strengthens core and is very helpful.

Thanks for the feedback.

Im loathe to go and see the Doctor tbh, feel like its a bit of a waste of his time, its not really that important in the grand scheme of things. I think I will go straight to a physio.

I will scour you tube for some relief in the meantime.

Thanks again.

You stretching your piriformis??? A physio once told me this was the root cause of most problems. Whether I believe him or not I'm not sure but when I get pains it normally helps after a few days.

Had it bad when I had a bad off and busted my L2 L3 L5 in my back
and the gel pressed onto my Sciatic nerve,

I went to a guy whom told me that he will train me to extend my Core muscles
and with the exercises will grow me taller and will take the pressure off the nerve.
in which has worked,

The Piriformis stretch helps also putting a cushion under you when sitting down helps
has this stops you sitting 90degrees and takes pressure off your lower back

pilates.
gentle and yet so incredibly effective. sorted my herniated disc out and gave me incredible core strength. all from sitting down too much. i now stand all day at work and haven't suffered from back problems for years. make sure you vary the pilates though as doing cycling specific can over compensate. variety.

lie on your back, move one leg to knee at 90 deg-ish, foot on floor. Then cross the other one over it. Join your hands at the back of the knee with of leg with foot on floor...eg. if it's your left foot on floor, your right leg crosses over it, then your left hand is on the outside of your left knee and your right hand goes through the "hole" made by crossing your legs.

maybe all us sciaticists should get together for a game of twister 🙂

😆

The groaning may be mis-construed though

Y'know, I read that back and thought to myself "just find a ****ing YouTube link you muppet"

But I hit "Send Post" - someone will laugh at it. 😛

Had it for 18 months whilst at uni many years ago. Apart from renal colic it's the most pain I've ever experianced. Pills didn't touch it without turning me into a zombie and I often had to sleep where I was laid due to not being able to get to bed

It just disappeared on its own accord eventually. It makes threats to come back on occasion but as a whole I believe I won the health lottery and kiss my lucky stars whenever I think about it

Y'know, I read that back and thought to myself "just find a **** YouTube link you muppet"

Why would you ever need to post a youtube link ever again when you paint such lovely pictures with words! 🙂