Sciatic Nerve giving me fits........

[Vet4jdc]

I've been dealing with a sciatic nerve issue for almost two weeks. I get up every morning and can hardly put any weight on my left leg. Sharp pains run from my butt cheek all the way to my foot. As the day goes on, it loosens up and feels somewhat normal again by bedtime....then the following morning it starts all over again. I've seen three doctors and have been given muscle relaxers and Prednisone but no relief in sight. The last doctor wants to schedule an MRI to see what is causing the problem but I have to wait until my insurance will approve that....oh what a wonderful healthcare system we have! What say you VBOT....anyone else experience sciatic nerve pain? What did you do for relief?

[GS Ragtop]

I squished a disc a couple of years ago -- two days later, my left leg went numb and I had weakness in the morning like you described.

Doc said the body's reaction to the injury was swelling. The swelling created pressure on the nerve. Choices, at least for me, were cortisone shots to reduce the swelling or wait it out. I didn't want the shots.

Doc did say there is normally quite poor blood flow in the lower back area, so healing takes a relatively long time. Best way to increase blood flow is gentle, repetitive movements. Two that he suggested were:
- Sitting on an exercise ball and bouncing gently for 30 minutes
- Stand on an exercise tramp and bounce gently for 30 minutes

I did the first one as it was more comfortable on my back. I got lucky and the worst of the symptoms faded within a couple of weeks.

[mrvette]

I have an extra Lombard vertebra, they call it spondalitis L6, supposedly a vestigial rib growing out left side......

I remember getting lo back pains starting around age 12-13, which is why I never did much in sports/gym class.....some days much worse than others, age 22 into the .mil and lift over Army cots from WW2 that slept like a hammock, basically it was OVER for me, so in/out in one month.....

wasn't until near age 30 that the pains eventually subsided, and I have learned to 'live' with it.....age 70 now.....and some times I have to wear a belly/back strap/brace......

A family member who is much shorter only maybe 5'7", short for a guy, he developed lo back pains so bad he was in a 4 wheel walker, granny style....he only in early 30's.....had surgery, they got in with some modern miracle gear, and scraped some bone/disc/whatever off his spinal column nerve, and he is fine now....does a day's work easy...he still has to 'watch it' like I do.....he is not Godzilla any more....

Get that checked out before you need a walker.....

[SnikPlosskin]

There is a stretch for that.

Lie on your back. Legs straight.
Bring one knee up to your stomach. Grab it with both hands and pull it to your stomach keeping the other leg straight.
Repeat with other leg five times each.

Then, ice.

This will stretch your lower back and relieve the pain.

[TheHammer]

I have sciatica issues,a few years back I was home bound and immobile for a month. Getting over a bout with it now, hung on for 3 months.

Sciatica sucks.

[mrvette]

Originally Posted by SnakePlissken

There is a stretch for that.

Lie on your back. Legs straight.
Bring one knee up to your stomach. Grab it with both hands and pull it to your stomach keeping the other leg straight.
Repeat with other leg five times each.

Then, ice.

This will stretch your lower back and relieve the pain.

My Father used to lay on the top of the stair landing, feet on top step, knees in the air, and rock his legs side/side.....pulling the back in position....

[Thunder22]

damn, when prednisone doesn't work that's a sure sign you're F*cked up.

[Cybercowboy]

You most likely ruptured your L4/L5 disc. Ask me how I know.

Here are your options:

1. Surgery - only if you are in constant pain AND can't sleep at night.
2. Steroid injection - dangerous because it penetrates the spinal cord's protective sheath.
3. Less effective steroid injection in the general area, probably won't do much to help.
4. Pop lots of ibuprofen.
5. Rehab it using correct forms of stretching exercises and strengthen your back muscles and abs.
6. Do 4 and 5 and learn to live with it for the rest of your life (that's what I did.)

[wwomanC6]

Originally Posted by SnakePlissken

There is a stretch for that.

Lie on your back. Legs straight.
Bring one knee up to your stomach. Grab it with both hands and pull it to your stomach keeping the other leg straight.
Repeat with other leg five times each.

Then, ice.

This will stretch your lower back and relieve the pain.

My physical therapist had me do that exercise as well a a few others to work the problem out with my right sciatic nerve when it acted up.

Also do the above but with both legs at the same time. Pull both legs to your chest and hold for 5 secs.

Lay on the floor bring one leg up, to to a vertical position with knee bent, at a time. Raise the lower leg up slowly as far as you can. Slowly lower the lower portion of your leg back to the bent position. Then lower the entire leg back down. This will also help stretch out that area. Switch and do the other leg. Start out with a 5 reps and build up a little at a time.


After 2 weeks of these exercises and others the pain went away.
Talk to your doc about physical therapy to help with this issue.

[Ol Timer]

I have a fused L5 that sometimes causes the numbness and fire down the outside of my upper left leg. The worst case I had, however, was cured when I quit carrying a wallet in my hip pocket.

[Meh]

If I were a medical professional dealing with this on a regular basis, I would say that the most important thing you can do to avoid surgery is strengthen the supporting structures while it heals, so get in for a few sessions of PT and they will teach you the exercises that you will need to keep doing regularly at home.

[TabuIsMe]

Originally Posted by GS Ragtop

I squished a disc a couple of years ago -- two days later, my left leg went numb and I had weakness in the morning like you described.

Doc said the body's reaction to the injury was swelling. The swelling created pressure on the nerve. Choices, at least for me, were cortisone shots to reduce the swelling or wait it out. I didn't want the shots.

Doc did say there is normally quite poor blood flow in the lower back area, so healing takes a relatively long time. Best way to increase blood flow is gentle, repetitive movements. Two that he suggested were:
- Sitting on an exercise ball and bouncing gently for 30 minutes
- Stand on an exercise tramp and bounce gently for 30 minutes

I did the first one as it was more comfortable on my back. I got lucky and the worst of the symptoms faded within a couple of weeks.

I'm aware of some people that sit on an exercise ball while using the computer. Improves posture as well.

[Cybercowboy]

What really helped me back when I ruptured my L4/L5, which I wished I did immediately instead of waiting 6 months before doing so, was a daily 1 hour session of aerobic and light-weight intensive workouts that concentrated on legs, core, and arms on different days but always included core. Also it worked in some yoga type exercises. After about three months of that my back was immeasurably better and I'd also lost 15 pounds.

Just be really careful with weights. I didn't lift more than about 50 lbs during this time, and only barbells. Did tons of lunges, squats, planks, situps on a mat and also using an exercise ball, leg extensions, stuff like that. Oh, and always do a warmup that includes some light stretching. I know it sounds lame but believe me it works.

[Bucwheat]

Had the issue a few years back and a trip to the chiropractor very few days helped me through it along with 500 mg Advil

[Chris Fowler]

Originally Posted by GS Ragtop

I squished a disc a couple of years ago -- two days later, my left leg went numb and I had weakness in the morning like you described.

I've been there for a year now...numbness and weakness in my left leg.

Also have sciatic nerve additional sciatic nerve pain if I don't keep up with my stretching.

Best stretch I have found for dealing with sciatic nerve pain goes as follows:

• Laying on your back take your left leg, bend it up and cross it over your right leg with your foot beside your right knee.
• Grab your left knee with your hands and pull it down toward your right hip for a count of about 20.
• You may have to adjust the angle you're pulling at some. You'll know when you have it right.
• Repeat on the other side.

This stretch sucks when your sciatic nerve is inflamed, but it helps massively.

[markids77]

If you are physically able to do the stretches described, then your back does not hurt very badly at all. You know you're in trouble when it is excruciatingly painful to try and get out of bed; or if you are unable to get your underwear on because you cannot lift your leg without drawing tears, or have to get your wife to put your shoes on for you and tie them. Or if you actually fall down when you put pressure on the bad leg side. Or if there is a 3AM ambulance ride because the spasms which sometimes accompany the sciatica have you balled up in the fetal position on the living room floor, even after the Valium and oxycodone cocktail.

Lie flat and relax as much as possible. Take anti-inflammatory drugs like Acetaminophen or Ibuprofen, but do not exceed the recommended max dosage. Lift nothing heavier than a coffee cup. No rodeo sex for awhile. Get the wife to wash the cars and mow the lawn. Be exquisitely careful about reaching and twisting, or leaning and sitting at the same time. Lift with your legs when you feel able... then try the stretching suggested.

[mrvette]

When I drive long distance/time....I wind up taking my wallet out of my ass too, stick it in a front pocket,

[Meh]

Originally Posted by Gilligan

When I drive long distance/time....I wind up taking my wallet out of my ass too, stick it in a front pocket,

That explains a lot since you probably never post while driving long distance.

[lspencer534]

Sciatica isn't ever cured; it's a permanent injury (stretching) of that nerve. Use a painkiller and live with it. I've had it since I was 18-years-old, and it often flares up.

[Meh]

Originally Posted by lspencer534

Sciatica isn't ever cured; it's a permanent injury (stretching) of that nerve.

Incorrect. Sciatica is a symptom, not a condition. The underlying condition may or may not be permanent.