Please register to participate in our discussions with 2 million other members - it's free and quick! Some forums can only be seen by registered members. After you create your account, you'll be able to customize options and access all our 15,000 new posts/day with fewer ads.
A few suggestions - if you're a female with a naval piercing, TAKE IT OUT! I removed mine and I've never had a sciatica flare up again. Naval piercings block the energy flow in the meridian of our bodies.
When I was suffering, I found incredible relief practicing deep tissue massage with the use of a softball. I would sit on the softball and target the area of pain. It would hurt at first, then give me relief. Remember to ice yourself for at least 15 minutes after.
It's also important to do the exercises ...
Try and eat low inflammatory foods, take fish oil supplements, lots of leafy greens and lean protein.
My friend who's a personal trainer also said to stop using the treadmill and walking. Use a no impact cardio machine.
When I have sciatica pain, I immediately address it, rather than hoping it will go away. I lie down on the floor with my knees bent to give my back strong support while reducing stress on the lower back. I do this as much as possible between mild stretching exercises like those Ragazza recommends. I also take Valerian Root as a mild muscle relaxer. I find that along with sciatica pain, other back muscles seize up and often spasm (chicken or egg? not important, it happens). So the combination of rest, gentle exercise, muscle relaxers, and an anti-inflammatory reduces aggravation.
In addition to the Naproxin, I take fish oilsupplements (my eye doctor also recommends that) and Turmeric, which is a spice that contains curcuminoids, a natural anti-inflammatory. I've read several specialists recommending turmeric in capsule form (about 500 mgs) daily. It's inexpensive and many cultures use tons of turmeric in their foods so I don't think it's dangerous. I've never heard Ginger advocated as a major anti-inflammatory, although it is commonly recommended to address stomach upsets and I've heard of chronic stomach problems being common among people who have terrible back pain. Again, not expensive and not dangerous, so give it a shot. Ginger tea is tasty and might help with the relaxation regimen necessary to calm the sciatica.
But the most important thing is figuring out what activities you do that stress your sciatica. For me, vacuuming is a culprit. I have learned not to vacuum more than one room a day. Vacuuming the entire house at once almost guarantees an outbreak. Also I find that doing a ton of any kind of unusual-to-your-routine exercise for a long period (hysterical holiday preparations, for example), followed by a period of prolonged stillness (sitting at a desk for hours, driving in a car all day, etc.) is the worst thing for my sciatica. I have to follow the extreme motions with moderate motions, not complete inactivity.
If you are a man and carry your wallet in your back pocket...DON'T!
Get that wallet into your front pocket so you won't sit on the wallet that presses on your sciatic nerve. A doctor told me this years ago and bingo. I see men with wallets 3 inches thick in their back pockets and I know they sit on them. My body screams at them but I shake my head. Why would a wallet get to purse size and why carry it in your back pocket?
About to take my crippled beehind to a chiropractor today. After four weeks, I'm pretty sure something is off in my lower left back itself. It's just not getting any better. Stretches help temporarily. I DREAD getting up from a laying down position. My alarm went off in another room and I about cried. I didn't want to get up. lol But I find if I lay down with an ice pack it's easier.... that initial pull-up into a standing position. It's only after that I'm shuffling like a hunchback and going "ow ow ow ow ow" for a while until I'm all stretched out. Ice packs help temporarily. Aleve numbs the pain down. I notice when I put my hands on my lower back, the left side sticks out a tad more. It's not glaringly obvious, but it does. And I stand funny in the mirror sometimes, unaligned. I'm realizing this isn't one of my run-of-the-mill flare ups I've had for the past 5 years. My sciatic nerve is bothering me for sure, but something that is out of whack in my lower back is what is putting pressure on it. Last time I was at work, almost a week ago (hah) after standing all day long, the pain was no longer in my left buttcheek or any part of my leg, but smack dab on the bone between left lower back and top of the buttcheek. I shall find out the story today......
My worst nightmare is that they tell me it's all in my head or that nothing's wrong. LMAO!! (But yeah... I don't think so. )
Everyone is so smart on this thread.
The only thing I might add is to learn what the
Piriformis muscle is so you can picture it when using a softball in
your gluts.
If ur standing a lot...Walmart now carries Walkfit arch supports for $20....keep ur receipt
if you hate them after 2 weeks and return them.
Those gel heel inserts are like Heaven, also.
A few suggestions - if you're a female with a naval piercing, TAKE IT OUT! I removed mine and I've never had a sciatica flare up again. Naval piercings block the energy flow in the meridian of our bodies.
When I was suffering, I found incredible relief practicing deep tissue massage with the use of a softball. I would sit on the softball and target the area of pain. It would hurt at first, then give me relief. Remember to ice yourself for at least 15 minutes after.
Everyone is so smart on this thread.
The only thing I might add is to learn what the
Piriformis muscle is so you can picture it when using a softball in
your gluts.
If ur standing a lot...Walmart now carries Walkfit arch supports for $20....keep ur receipt
if you hate them after 2 weeks and return them.
Those gel heel inserts are like Heaven, also.
Piriformis pain is the pits. I use to see a massage therapist who could work that out easily by twisting me in pretzel shapes. I haven't had any pain there in years.
I bet most people haven't had problems with that or we would hear more about it.
Exercises worked for me, as administered by professional physiotherapist. Same exercises worked later on (at home) when it flared up again. (see videos upthread) Work on posture, shoulders back and tummy pulled to straighten the concave arch in your lower back.
I've fouind that once I start seeing significant improvement, I have to stop doing the exercises -- it seems that continuing to do them aggravates the sciatica, which from that point goes away by itself.
Please register to post and access all features of our very popular forum. It is free and quick. Over $68,000 in prizes has already been given out to active posters on our forum. Additional giveaways are planned.
Detailed information about all U.S. cities, counties, and zip codes on our site: City-data.com.
Please register to participate in our discussions with 2 million other members - it's free and quick! Some forums can only be seen by registered members. After you create your account, you'll be able to customize options and access all our 15,000 new posts/day with fewer ads.
(But yeah... I don't think so. 
)
