[Closed] trapped nerve

Has anyone had pain like this? and what is the best cure?

Yes, the shooting pain down your leg is classic 'sciatica-type' trapped nerve-type thingy ......to use it's technical term. It can clear up on it's own, or if it's bad, I have found that voltarol works a treat**. That's voltarol suppositories btw, don't take voltarol orally unless you don't mind the worst indigestion of your life. For further info, see a doc.

** my GP reckons there's bugger-all wrong with my back, and that I just like suppositories ! 😯

my mrs had this for weeks she was told to pull pelvic floor muscles in when lifting baby out of cot. Hers just went. Id be interested to hear of any fixes as this comes and goes every few weeks

Only an MRI can pin point the cause of pressure on the sciatic nerve, it can be disc damage, which you could of done lifting. I twisting motion is most likely to cause it apparently. You could also be prone to it if you cycle a lot and have strong leg muscles that detract from use of the Gluteus Medius and hip flexors. Are you getting any pain in a butt area (not like you'd get in prison, but more back pocket on jeans area?) and and trouble in the 'toilet' department, or weakness in the muscles on the affected side of your body?

EDIT: ignor the prsion reference i've just noticed your user name, just use your imagination for that one.

EDIT again: if you've just had a baby movement in the pelvis region can cause sciatica, usually thou through pregnancy, not so much after - although it shouldn't be ruled out.

Yep, I had it a year ago really badly, and gradually I've recovered to a state that I can manage. I was diagnosed with a prolapsed disc, which bulges and pushes on the sciatic nerve.

The doctor did say that it was most common in middle aged men, lifting children in and out of cars etc.

Time and keeping it sensible are the only healers, that I've found. A good general back massage seems to help. Do not go to a chiropractor!

I have sciatica at the moment.Starts in my right buttock and runs down my leg with pain in the calf and a numbness in my foot.A visit to my Chiropractor gave me instant relief from these symptoms although it hasnt cleared it up 100%.Im going for a second treatment next week.Curiously I dont feel any pain when riding the bike although I dont want to push my luck so Im taking it steady on the road and smoothish trails.

Woodsman - why do you say "Do not go to a Chiropractor" ?

I had similar, and got some treatment from a chiropractor, seemed to do some good, after a few visits I ended up in hospital. There is nothing they can do, manipulating the spine aggressively will make it worse. I found that a general light massage (muscle)worked as well or better than 'black art chiropractors'. Be carefull, it doesn't take much to get from where you are now, to where I was. The worst pain I've experienced, thumping pain in legs, buttocks, lower back. I had to eat my breakfast kneeling as I could not sit at all. It was hell.

PS: It takes a year to recover when it gets like that, and that was a year ago for me. Last weekend I entered a race, really pleased with the result. You need an understanding partner, which I didn't have at the time, who is patient and willing to help with light massages.

Hi Retrogirl. Where are you based?
If you can find a remedial massage therapist then I really recommend you give that a try. My boyfriend is a remedial masseur and has had some very positive results with clients suffering from sciatica.
Unless you have an existing skeletal problem then it is pretty likely that it could be a muscular issue.

There are some horror stories here but really, depending on the cause, it can be sorted 😀