I have a bad sciatic nerve problem. What can be done?

Question

I have had this for 9 or 10 years and I'm in my mid 30s . I have tried pain pills but I'm very active and building a business and don't want to be "Doped up " all the time. How can I best deal with this pain?

Answer 1

As a Physical Therapy Teacher/Kinesiotherapist I have helped many clients/patients with therapeutic exercises that specifically target the sciatic nerve region. Some of the exercises that have been most helpful are: the Low-Back Stretch(lying flat on the back with knees bent and pulling one to the chest for 5-10sec holds/ 2-3x’s, Gluteal Stretch(lying flat on the back, crossing opposite ankle over the opposite knee and pulling the knee to chest for 5-10sec holds repeat 2-3x's), and the Calf Stretch(lying flat on the back bending one knee, while pulling the opposite (extended) leg toward the chest with the toes pointed toward the nose for 5-10sec holds/ 2-3x's) . The exercises can be repeated 1-3x's depending on the severity of one's pain. A hot-pack to the low-back can also be helpful; to warm up the muscles before doing the exercises. It is also very important to do the exercises slowly and carefully depending on one’s flexibility. There are also many variations and modified ways of performing the exercises. You should however, consult with your doctor first and see a Physical Therapist for further evaluation before attempting any exercises. Take Care!

Answer 2

I also suffer from sciatic nerve pain, both sides, due to a lifting accident many years ago. The best advice I can offer you is to find a good D.O., as opposed to an M.D. They do spinal manipulations much like a chiropracter, and there is one to relieve pressure on the sciatic nerve. It works for me like a charm, and although I still have the soreness afterwards, it usually immediately relieves that burning back pocket sensation and the pains down the legs. A D.O. can also help you id the activities which are likely to set it off again, and will work with you to find solutions other than just the pain medications. If there isn't a D.O. in your area, a chiropracter can sometimes do the manipulations as well- but they can't give you any medications to help with the inflammation left. A D.O. can give you things if needed, at least. That's the best thing I've found, and it really works for me. I think it would also do well for you. Good luck, I hope you get some relief.

Answer 3

Hurts doesn't it? I have it across the top of my bum and it runs down the back of my legs but only to the knee. Seems that it is the sciatic nerve, confirmed by a consultant. I have been looking into nerves lately as my partner has numbness on one side of her face, after an MRI scan it was proved to be two acoustic neuroma's or a meningioma's, fortunately benign but is causing pressure as they grow albeit slowly, between the scull and the brain, She has in the past 4 years lost the sight in one eye from the same problem. Now it looks like her hearing on one side. Back to the sciatic nerve, mine is quite bad at the moment, but in a month or two it may just go without you even realising it. I think it has happened five or six times with me, and lasted perhaps 3/4 months. But you certainly know when it comes. Not being in the position to pay out to be poked around, I look forward to my hot under blanket every night.

Answer 4

I had similar problems for some years including a couple of incidents in which I couldn't get out of bed. I started very similar daily exercise in the morning and haven't had the problem return in many years. The minimal exercise I've done is to lie on my back on a hard floor and get my back feelings comfortable by wiggling a bit and pulling my knees, one at a time, up toward my chest. Nothing extreme. Then I'd stretch my leg back out and wiggle a bit so my back feels comfortable. This was enough to stave off problems for years. I've added crunches (half-sit-ups). It's important to avoid doing anything that makes the back feel uncomfortable or that causes even the slightest pain. Good luck!

Answer 5

Get an MRI done, and have a neurologist interpret them. A spinal fusion may be in order. I had it done at 48, after a 33 year career as a cabinet installer. I too took increasing amounts of Percodan until I simply could not perform the work anymore. There are times when we just have to surrender and get help.

Answer 6

As a chiropractor I deal with sciatica all the time. I suggest you visit a chiropractor and find out the cause of the problem. If it is true sciatica it may be a pinched nerve in the spine or the buttock.
Chiropractors don't use drugs or surgery so you won't be doped up

Answer 7

you could try a chiropractor , but that is usualy short term unless you continue the visits. or you could try some reflexology massages.