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.
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mamie4 5/14/03
Updated On: 11/7/08 at 12:37 AM
