(Medical Q)?

[thetinymagic2]

Posted: 11/7/08 at 12:06am

Anyone here ever had "Sciatica"? And if so, were you cured or did it go away eventually, etc? Yes, I googled, but I'm looking for real person answers. Thank you.
Updated On: 11/7/08 at 12:06 AM

[brdlwyr]

Posted: 11/7/08 at 12:10am

I assume you mean pain running down from your butt to the leg?

[thetinymagic2]

Posted: 11/7/08 at 12:12am

yes.

[brdlwyr]

Posted: 11/7/08 at 12:17am

Generally caused by some disruption in the lower spine at the junction of the lumbar and sacral region. (L5-S1) Disc material might be exuding and pushing on a nerve root. There are many modalities including rest, medicine, physical therapy, steroid injections and possibly surgery.

Go to your qualified primary care physician and see if he/she can help you and then move on from there.


Updated On: 11/7/08 at 12:17 AM

[thetinymagic2]

Posted: 11/7/08 at 12:24am

thanks, BRD, I am going to my MD, I just wanted to know if anyone actually has had it, and their experience getting better. It's mind boggling painful!

[brdlwyr]

Posted: 11/7/08 at 12:30am

I have had it on and off for about ten years, recently just horrible! It took about two weeks and it subsided. I used advil and no lifting over a few pounds.

And there was no incident that I can recall that caused the flare up!

And, the pain is also phantom - it moves up and down the leg from the butt to the heel and sometimes the big toe!

[Mamie]

Posted: 11/7/08 at 12:37am

I had it pretty bad about 10 years ago. I've had occasions when it's reoccurred, but it never got as bad as that first time.

The sciatic nerve has probably been pinched or stressed in some way. I remember the doc telling me that it was a common problem in men who carried their wallets in their back pockets. When they sat down those fat wallets would press against that nerve and 'bruise' it.

I found that the one thing that helped mine more than anything else was STRETCHING it. My sciatica was in my left leg so I would sit on the floor with both legs stretched out in front of me. Then I would bend my RIGHT leg at the knee and bring my foot as far up against my left leg as possible. At the same time I would keep that right knee flat on the floor. So now the stretching really starts: My left leg is still straight out, my right leg is bent at the knee, knee is on the floor, right foot is against my left leg, as far up the leg as possible. Now I stretch down and wrap my hands around my left foot, while keeping the leg flat on the floor. I would then bend my head down and touch my left knee with my forehead. (I had to do this because I'm double jointed and I couldn't get enough stretch without putting my head and shoulders all the way down) Do it slowly and you'll feel this major, slow stretching of that nerve going all the way down your left leg. Immediately the pain goes away! Sit back up and relax for a few minutes and then do it again. As uncomfortable as it sounds, it actually feels FANTASTIC after you've been going through all that sciatic pain. Repeat it as often as is comfortable for you. Gradually that nerve will stretch out and relax and feel 100 times better.

Updated On: 11/7/08 at 12:37 AM

[SNAFU]

Posted: 11/7/08 at 12:38am

I had it severely for a year and a half. Had to wear a brace, take pain meds, went to a chiropractor and did prescribed exercises. It finally passed and I have been 12 years without a flare up (knock wood).

Was told it could be caused by something as simple as getting out of bed wrong or stumbling. Exercising and keeping the muscles strong in that lower lumbar region is key. Your Doc should show you the very specific spine curls and flexing ( a lot like lying on your back and slo mo humping the air) that help in correcting it.