Sciatica

proctors_perm

proctors_perm

Active member
It’s been creeping up on me for about 10 weeks (slightly less mobility etc) until about three weeks ago, with total agony getting out of bed, getting in and out of cars, sitting too long at my desk.

I’ve been to see an osteopath, and that’s not been hugely useful. I have just had acupuncture, and whilst I felt crap the next day, I have seen an improvement.

On top of regular exercises, have other posters got any tips to reduce pain, improve to a point of full movement/health again? I am moderately fit, cycle/run/yoga, although the guy who did my acupuncture recommended stopping yoga until I improve
 
I've just had about a year of this. It went through phases, ups and downs, but I will try to generalise so as to keep it short.

I had similar pains. Putting on socks, getting out bed, sitting at my desk. Total agony. I saw a physio, didn't really help. They gave me stretches and exercises related to piriformis syndrome (glute/lower back). I found that didn't really help.

What did help was walking. Literally I would have to start my days by 'walking it off'. I got a standing desk at work. And did that for several months whilst trying to get help through my GP/NHS.

I had to be referred to an NHS specialist. They saw me several times. And when it was clear that I wasn't really improving, they referred me to Tyneside Surgical Services where i saw an Orthopaedic Spinal Surgeon. Basically I had an issue at the very bottom of spine where a disc was pressing down on the right hand side, but not the left side. Squashing the nerve.

I ended up getting an injection in the lower spine area, directly into the nerve. This definitely helped.

For me it took about 12 months. Literally had the injection 6 weeks ago. I would say it was three factors - keep walking, time (it will just get better with time), and the injection.

I am now sat at my desk again writing this. No pain.
 
Thanks Hendrie, it sounds exactly like my experience (except on the left). Walking hugely helps, and I’ve just ordered a sit/stand desk
 
Plenty of stretching each day, massages and time away abroad in the sun for a couple of weeks worked for me in the end after 3 months of pain day in day out (after trying so many different things)

Has returned occasionally since from the left buttock down to the ankle but nothing as serious as the first time just go through the usual stretch routine shown by the physio appointments i had.

Unfortunately i think its one of those things you live with once you have it and learn how to manage it
 
You have my sympathies. The pain is excruciating.
I managed mine through a combination of strong painkillers and weekly visits to an excellent osteopath - completing exercises in between to the best of my restricted ability. Mine was about 9 months with around 2 months of intense, acute pain.
It will improve, I promise.
I was doing pilates at the time and was recommended to stop for the time being. I think you can do more damage than good whilst the sciatic nerve is pinching. As it happens there was absolutely no way I could have done the exercises anyway when in the acute pain stage. A good Yoga teacher would be able to advise you better than any advice I can give you, obviously.
I guess my recommendation is to stretch, walk etc as much as you can to prevent it from completely immobilising you. Good luck!
 
I suffer badly with it also and have done for years.
Particularly bad at the moment as I'm more desk based than I have been previously.

The answer really is just moving. It flares up for me when I'm sitting a lot. Whether that be at work, driving or just being lazy at home. If you can get in a gym and do exercises that are going to stretch your hamstrings and glutes. (Deadlifts, good mornings, jefferson curls). Don't need to go heavy. just doing that movement to help strengthen your posterior chain will help.

I try and stretch at least twice a day and it does definitely help but you need to keep it up even when the pain isn't there as it is more preventative than a coping mechanism. Once you feel the pain, it will take a long time to get rid of it through stretching.
 
yeah it is brutal only way I could get any relief was by walking as much as possible pain passed after 8 weeks but still have weakness in the leg 3 months later but slowly improving now there was a thread on Sciatica a few weeks ago which you might find helpful

fmttmboro.com

Sciatica

Anyone suffer from this? I had it bad back in 2008 but pretty much free of it since then but now back with avengeance, caused literally by scraping some moss of the paving in the back garden was nothing at all, but causing pain, tingling and some numbness down my left leg, coming up to 4 weeks...
fmttmboro.com fmttmboro.com
 
I thought mine was sciatica but turns out it is a bulged disc, currently have been given some exercises by the physio which I am doing several times a day but as others have said walking and keeping active is a major benefit, mine is usually worse on a morning but eases up as the day goes on, with me doing the exercises and walking, mine came on 6 weeks ago, so potentially still early days but got another visit with the physio booked this, see what that brings, mine is now more niggly than excruciating pain, hopefully it will just pass in time, if I keep to the physio instructions.
 
I have what I think is brachialgia - trapped nerve or some other damage nearer the neck causes terrible pain down one arm to hands and fingers. Sleep is almost an impossibility - I'm sleeping propped up on the settee for the time being as it reduces the pain enough to nod off for a few hours. I am totally fed up with it. Second time it has come on this year and I'd only just got over the last bout. Of course it could be just simply something much more serious.
 
the_holgate_roof said:
I thought mine was sciatica but turns out it is a bulged disc, currently have been given some exercises by the physio which I am doing several times a day but as others have said walking and keeping active is a major benefit, mine is usually worse on a morning but eases up as the day goes on, with me doing the exercises and walking, mine came on 6 weeks ago, so potentially still early days but got another visit with the physio booked this, see what that brings, mine is now more niggly than excruciating pain, hopefully it will just pass in time, if I keep to the physio instructions.
Click to expand...
Did you need to have a scan to diagnose this?
 
the_holgate_roof said:
I thought mine was sciatica but turns out it is a bulged disc, currently have been given some exercises by the physio which I am doing several times a day but as others have said walking and keeping active is a major benefit, mine is usually worse on a morning but eases up as the day goes on, with me doing the exercises and walking, mine came on 6 weeks ago, so potentially still early days but got another visit with the physio booked this, see what that brings, mine is now more niggly than excruciating pain, hopefully it will just pass in time, if I keep to the physio instructions.
Click to expand...

Bulging/Herniated discs cause sciatica.

I had the decompression op on my L5/S1 vertebrae in January 2022 and although improved I've still got it. No amount of physio will shift it. I'm going to book an appointment with an acupuncturist.

Here's a discussion on here which may be of use:

Sciatica caused by herniated disc
 
proctors_perm said:
I work in York
Click to expand...
Check this out;

Touch Tuina Clinics - Medical Therapy

Tuina is a form of Chinese therapeutic medical massage. It is a system of medicine that aims to restore & maintain health by stimulating points and channels on the body
www.touchtuina.com www.touchtuina.com

Errol, the founder, has worked with top athletes as well joe public. Cannot speak highly enough about him.
Happy to chat about it if you want to PM me. We could chat over the phone if you want.
 
B_G said:
Did you need to have a scan to diagnose this?
Click to expand...
No, the difference between sciatica and the bulged disc, is the bulged disc causes the numbness in the foot and ankle, sciatica you are looking at around 4-6 weeks for it to resolve, whereas the bulged disc you are looking around 3 months. The doctor diagnosed this initially when I described my symptoms.
 
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proctors_perm said:
It’s been creeping up on me for about 10 weeks (slightly less mobility etc) until about three weeks ago, with total agony getting out of bed, getting in and out of cars, sitting too long at my desk.

I’ve been to see an osteopath, and that’s not been hugely useful. I have just had acupuncture, and whilst I felt crap the next day, I have seen an improvement.

On top of regular exercises, have other posters got any tips to reduce pain, improve to a point of full movement/health again? I am moderately fit, cycle/run/yoga, although the guy who did my acupuncture recommended stopping yoga until I improve
Click to expand...
I suffered from sciatica for several months and the medication I was on did little to help other than to numb the pain slightly. ( Brufen)

I will never forget the morning when my wife came down to the waters edge when we were holidaying in Thailand when she asked me if I
had taken my tablet.
Whilst I was pondering her question it suddenly dawned on me that I was in no pain whatsoever.

I had been snorkelling several times a day and for about an hour each time. I wasn't just snorkelling on the surface, I was diving down to several metres
depth to swim with the fish and swim amongst and between the rocks. I would be turning sideways and doing somersaults in the water as the
fish changed direction. I would also turn face up and relaxed my entire body as my body would be coming to the surface where I would take another
breath and submerge again and again.

I can't prove that this exercising in a weightless environment was what did the trick for me but I am absolutely certain of it.
I fully understand that the thought of one snorkelling off Redcar beach doesn't sound an attractive proposition but maybe the next
time you're in the "Med "' it is worth serious consideration.

Best of luck with it mate,
UTB
 
redblood said:
I suffered from sciatica for several months and the medication I was on did little to help other than to numb the pain slightly. ( Brufen)

I will never forget the morning when my wife came down to the waters edge when we were holidaying in Thailand when she asked me if I
had taken my tablet.
Whilst I was pondering her question it suddenly dawned on me that I was in no pain whatsoever.

I had been snorkelling several times a day and for about an hour each time. I wasn't just snorkelling on the surface, I was diving down to several metres
depth to swim with the fish and swim amongst and between the rocks. I would be turning sideways and doing somersaults in the water as the
fish changed direction. I would also turn face up and relaxed my entire body as my body would be coming to the surface where I would take another
breath and submerge again and again.

I can't prove that this exercising in a weightless environment was what did the trick for me but I am absolutely certain of it.
I fully understand that the thought of one snorkelling off Redcar beach doesn't sound an attractive proposition but maybe the next
time you're in the "Med "' it is worth serious consideration.

Best of luck with it mate,
UTB
Click to expand...
Much thanks, we’re in Kos at the end of the month, so perfect timing
 
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