[Closed] Sciatica!

Me, big empathy.

Physio helped sort for me, then yoga once improved to help prevent a reoccurence. Took a while though.

Good luck, hope it resolves quickly.

Wonderfully amazingly horribly painful.

As in "stand up, pain down legs, collapse" type pain.

Tried physio, but it didn't work on its own

Steroid injection into the spine, epidural (like for child birth but different stuff in the needle) and the pain goes away.

Do your exercises and it doesn't come back.

That said the injection is socially uncomfortable. First injection of local to numb the pain, then a dirty great big injection, that feels about an inch from your bum hole, while you're laid out over a hospital bed with you're pants dropped (a bit).

Had a bad few months about a year ago, loads of painkillers and physio were prescribed. The physio worked in about 6 weeks. It was mostly a combination of gentle hamstring stretching exercise and very light core exercises. Physio said its a common complaint in people who do a lot of cycling as their only exercise as you build your leg muscles, tightening your hamstrings and don't exercise your core. I was convinced something much more sinister was causing so much pain but gave the physio a go (about 10 mins a day) & started getting results in 3-4 weeks

Do your exercises (stretches) and it doesn't come back (as often, or as painfully) +1

Nothing like igm's though, I just limp round (old war wound!) for a couple of days at a time, when I slack off my exercises. Though I still tend to go out on the bike as I often find I can still cycle even though I might not be able to walk, and "I think" it tends to help loosen up all those muscles you've locked up trying avoid cause more pain (sometimes)

Had it bad a few years ago. I've found stomach strengthening exercises seem to help, lots of sit ups etc. Still comes back, mostly when shopping (lots of slow walking, standing still).

Much the same experience for me as above - a mix of anti-inflamatories and pain killers (although the first GP prescribed the former but forgot the latter - the dick). A saving grace for me in north of the border you can get fast-tracked for things like physio if you're self employed or work for a small employer.

There can be a bit of a gulf between the advice your general advice your doc gives and the assessment a physio might make - so in my case the exercises my GP recommended were diametrically the wrong ones.

I've had it on and off, never kept me off the bike fortunately as comfortable in that position. Worst was on crowded trains as hard to control the pain by moving into a better position. I reckon I get mine after a hurt my lower back.

and its pronounced 'Sciaticaaarrrrrrghh'

+1 for the epidural although IIRC it depends on where the nerve is pinching.. (mine was due to a slipped disc in my lowest two vertebrae)

If you haven't been already ask to be referred to a neurologist. I was treated nearly 20 years ago and while I can't touch my toes anymore (due to the disc) I haven't had sciatica since the epidural.

I had it from about age 21 to 30. Bad enough that I couldn't get out of bed to take a piss at times and I vividly remember leaning on a roadside railing in west London one sunny Sunday afternoon nearly unable to walk and wanting to cry with the pain and frustration. Like richmars I went crazy on the stomach strengthening exercises when the pain was milder than usual, and started to cycle to work and both helped massively. It comes back every now and then, but nowhere near as bad. It's the Anklylosing Spondylitis that buggers me up at times now... 😥

Hyperextension and other stretching worked for me. But it took 6 months. So it might have had more to do with the 6 months than the stretching 🙂

This was the book:

http://www.amazon.com/Steps-Pain-Free-Life-Rapidly-Relieve/dp/0452282772

In my case, cycling was the one time I was relatively pain free. Walking was much harder.

Good luck!

I've had the epidural treatment. It's a mixture of saline and cortizone. Cortizone as a pain killer and the saline to help float the discs free to stop the pinching of the nerves. Mine lasted about 12 months even with exercises and physio. Mine is a side effect of an over stretched erector spinae. My back has a twist which then puts pressure on the sciatic nerve.

I'm now waiting for another appointment for a second course of treatment. Ultimately I'll have to have surgery to shorten the muscle. The downside is the recovery time and its the only thing not covered by my medical insurance.

Steroid injection into the spine, epidural (like for child birth but different stuff in the needle) and the pain goes away.

Do your exercises and it doesn't come back.

+1

My biggest regret, although they were very good when they got around to seeing me, was waiting 10 months to see an NHS specialist just cos I was too tight to pay for a private injection.

I had a private MRI scan (Cheltenham was cheapest I found - 220 quid for lumber MRI). Showed a slipped disc and a further ruptured disc. What I should have done then was found the 1,100 pounds for a private epidural.

Once you have it, it's like walking on air for most - I was so grateful! It began to kick on the walk home from the hospital. After two days I could actually stretch and do core exercises. Which I have done ever since. It's been a year now, and if I don't slouch like an idiot when at my desk I'm hoping all will stay fine.

Good luck to you and I like the childbirth comparison - that lends it some collateral alright!

Pilates got me sorted. I was lucky in so much they offered me an operation but then waited six weeks for the consultation. By that time a wonderful physio had had me doing Pilates and I was nearly straight again. The six weeks was built in so they only operated on the ones that couldn't or wouldn't sort themselves out!
What do you do for a living? I ask because I was desk bound when mine went and I just wasn't using my core muscles, after getting sorted I got a different job which I stood all day for. This is how the body is meant to work and the core exercises weren't as necessary. Having said that I've changed my job again and am desk bound for half the time now so have started with five minutes of Pilates now and again and it's keeping on top of it. Good luck.

Welcome to the club and real sorry to hear we have another member. I have two prolapsed discs following a major fall skiing years ago. It acts up every couple of years to remind me that, maybe just maybe, I should have had that surgery back then. Pain killers and anti-infalmatories do nothing for me other than make me dopey and give me stomach cramps. I use an ice pack - a proper gel one that I keep in the freezer - to stop the spasming and then go see a physio to help me keep mobile without irritating it all over. He also gets out the acupuncture needles, and that does amazing things.

One of the worst things about it is the lack of genuine understanding from people who have never had this sort of pain. My wife, as sympathetic and loving as he has always been, didn't get it until she had out second child. As the anaesthetist was inserting a spinal tap - she had refused pain relief for her first birth and left the second one too late for an epidural - he momentarily touched her sciatic nerve, sending what she described as lightning bolts down her back and legs and into her feet. A few days later she asked me whether that was what I felt and I said yes, but it lasts for days rather than a split second. She got it then.

Good luck managing your illness.

Off to the Physio this evening for my one hour consultation! £55 but could be the best £55 I have spent.

Yep, another here. Genuinely feel you pain, there is no way of getting comfortable whilst you're having a bout of it 🙁

Mine started about 8years ago combined with severe lower back pain ( crying with pain unable to move from my bed) was diagnosed with a degenerative L5 disc (they banded around AS as mentioned above, that scared me!) which puts pressure on the sciatic nerve.

Walking/standing can make my whole lower back stiffen up. Long grinding climbs on the bike sat in the saddle don't help.

However, if I have days of inactivity then this is when my sciatica starts now. When it is bad I often find the only comfort I get is actually whilst riding a bike.

Keep up the core exercises, make some adjustments to your desk at work (I'm lucky that we have some desks that raise up in the air so you can stand at them)

Can you give me an example of core exercises?

Thanks.

[url=

core exercises[/url]

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I have a stenosis, which is basically a crsuhed disc pushing out into the Sciatic nerve channels, which then leads to pins and needles followed by numbness followed by not being able to feel or move my legs. I fear that it is the upshot of a lifetime of off road cycling and consistently taking hefty impacts up through the back.
It was found after an MRI scan and a range of symptoms as described by others above over a period of time. It can be minimised through good physiotherapy and core strengthening, but it will not go away. The pathway is a) Physio, b) Epidural, c) Titanium Cage around the spine.

I suspect that these sort of problems are a function of the sport but are exacerbated by lack of stretching, and core strength, and most of all ignoring it with the aid of painkillers. Had I known this when I first started having symptoms the prognosis would be much better simply by doing the sensible things such as stretching and physio, and resting up when it was caning.

Check that it isn't really Piriformis syndrome - prod around the muscles around your hips/butt and look for any sore points.

I'm hoping that the hour with the Physio will get me on the right track, advise on exercises etc and will also identify what the real issues are but already I'm beginning to realise that good old fashioned walking seems to ease the pain which also gives me that extra stretch that I'm not getting with cycling! Lets see!

I suffered a lot for for 6-8 months. Tried to a chiropractor (total waste of money) and was also referred to an NHS physio. The later helped slightly, but taking it very easy eventually cured it, which at its worst was truly terrible.

Diagnosis is of primary importance, MRI probably the most important,
Have had prolapsed disc since July , 5 months continual pain, despite 2 perineural injections, so it can take a long time to settle down. Depends very much where the problem is even with a disc protrusion. Even some of the Physio light core excercises at times were too painful and seemed to exacerbate the problem, so take care!
So I would agree with above poster

Hope you get better soon
My tuppence worth - was offered spinal stabilization op
Had some time to think , did some physio / Pilates

Pilates has been a game changer for me
I'm not going to say I'm 100% but it's made a
Life changing difference , £60 fee for 10 weeks of
classes seems a pretty decent deal , and I like the folk
in the class too , really enjoy exercise in company
HTH

@ Berm Bandit

It is possible to actually break down the calcium deposits surrounding the dura mater. Its the buildup that narrows the spinal canal causing aggravation.
The deposit can be relatively soft. Think paste rather than bone.
I use specific spinal manipulations to "wear away" the deposit.
Doesn't work for everyone, but had good results with a 74 year old client whose MRI showed that her build up had reduced and pain issues much improved.

Podium the Bodyworker 😉

Weird. On Wed I was getting out of the car for the start of my ride, as I slide sidewats my lower back (literally my top right buttock area) 'twanged'.

My right leg has been 'weak' and it spasms every so often in my lower right back.

Yes its painful but absolutely nowhere near childbirth. So is it sciatica?

If I walk straight/upstairs I'm fine- if I crab/move sideways - it shows me whose boss.

Can I still ride tomorrow?!

If Its a disc- it'd be alot more painful alot sooner wouldn't it.

I'm 43 now and have had sciatica on and off since i was 17!!

At the age of 18 i ent under the knife and had two discs removed and three vertibrae fused. That was instant relief for about the next ten years and then i got another further serious bout. Under the knife again and a further disc removed and further vertibrae fused to he ones that were fused previously.

Touch wood, i've not had a serious reoccurance since, but i'm always weary. Althought the two operations worked in hindsight i'd rather have gone down some other route first.

Yes its painful but absolutely nowhere near childbirth. So is it sciatica?

your sciatic nerve passes through your butt muscle and it it can twanged there if you move in an awkward way, much the same way as you could bash your funny bone. It can take the nerve quite a while to get back to normal. Something like a slipped disk the nerve is being twanged continuously so theres a different degree of pain as its being triggered constantly

Ah got it/cheers. I'll do some stretching