Sciatica - Lewisville,TX

Sctretching is key! When it gets bad, I spend about 20 min in the morning stretching my legs and hip area. A heating pad might help too. Just know that the muscles in your lower back are causing most of the problems, so put the heating pad in the right place. I've also noticed that it flares up when I wear flip-flops or sandlas a lot, so comfortable, cushioned shoes are important. Pillow between the knees at night helps. When it seems to be bothering me consistently, I get a therapeutic massage. That fixes me up for at least 2 months, usually 3. And here's something random: I just enrolled in an adult ballet class (inspired by my 3 yr old...). I have absolutely zero dance experience, so it's not like I'm all toned and fit...but my sciatica went away after class! Maybe the movements work on the right muscle groups. I've heard it's similar to movements in yoga.

As an Exercise Physiologist, I can say that walking will make it worse for now, but once you learn a few simple exercises, walking will be a necessity. Try heat and cold, before and after exercise. Buy this book! http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0959774661/ref=cm_bg_d_4...
But most importantly, you need to see a licensed Physical Therapist. They will teach you exercises for LIFE, unlike some other medical branches. Once you have low back problems, you will always be more susceptible, so it is IMPERATIVE you learn self-help exercises. Yoga is a good stretching routine, but you need some very specific moves to help your sciatica. The book will help, but I must reiterate that a Physical Therapist really should be consulted prior to doing anything new with your back.

Good luck!!

YES! I had this bad with both of my pregnancies. It hurt to sit down and felt like hemorrhoids but my doctor diagnosed it as sciatica. I had to do physical therapy to relive the pain. I only had to do about 6-8 sessions and then did the exercises on my own at home. Try doing some lower back stretches on the floor to help. You might try to find a clinic or something where you can to be checked out. Good news is if this is what you have, it can most likely be fixed with a little physical therapy. Bad news is I had to get medical help to correct the problem.

I would recommend stretching your hamstrings really well and another muscle called the piriformis, and your calf muscles as well. The sciatic nerve goes thru or supplies those muscle, and sometimes if you just relieve muscle tension it will go away.

Well, walking will only make it worse... but it's the right thing to do in the long run. I have the same problem and I'm taking Advil before and after I exercise. I'm also using a pillow between my knees so when I sleep on my side it doesn't stress out my hip.

Also, stretch. Go to a website and find some yoga stretches that will open up your hip. I think the pose called 'pigeon' is the one that really opens it up.

GOOD LUCK!

Yes. I've just completed by last session of Physical Therapy at Tom Landy Center. I don't have insurance either but they were more than willing to work with me. I only visited a few times and they were able to give me copies of all sorts of exercises to do at home on the floor, in bed, standing up and using a therapy ball. It was a lot more affordable than I thought it would be. Go to your doctor and ask for an x-ray to rule out tumors. My x-rays showed no tumors, but it did show some arthritis and bone spurs, which he said is normal. I also had to learn the proper way to lift heavy objects like my kids.

Now, my pain is gone and only returns when I've done something the wrong way. The exercises have really helped.

I would recommend going to a chiropractor. I had bad sciatic pain while I was pregnant and got adjusted on a regular basis and it went away and I was able to finish out my pregancy pain free.

If you live in Dallas/Park Cities, you could try Dr. Kevin Smith, Trinty Family Chiropractic, ###-###-####

I used to have terrible sciatica, but it's completely cleared up since I started doing yoga -- only took a week or so before I saw a big difference, too. I use a yoga DVD I picked up at Borders (have seen it at Half Price Books, too) -- it's called Simply Yoga (the yellow cover, not teal or purple). It's a relatively easy 30 minute workout DVD that comes with a companion book -- I think I paid a whopping $7.99 for it! I do it once a day, usually in the evening right before bed.

Good luck!

L.

Chiropractic care can be really beneficial for this. I'd say it was definitely worth a try if you can find someone who knows their stuff. I've heard good things about Byroad Chiropractic in Lewisville as well as Beck Family Chiropractic in Highland Village.

I had the same prob...I started working out and it got alot worse..but I ended up having a massive hernaited disc and didnt know it. I let it go way too long and then had surgery. I was about 2wks from being disabled b/c I was already dragging my foot and now i have alot of nerve damage. I would reccommend taking 3 aleve or if you can handle 4 then do that...the doc said 4 is the same strength in an antiflammatory. Dont do heat it inflames the area more. Do ice 20 min on 3-4 times a day. Also lay on back and bend knees up hold w/ arms then let go....also criss cross sides w/ leg crossed over body....anything that is a core strenght excersie is normally a good one and any weight you can take off in the area will help. I am still having some prob b/c I have a buldging disc below the one I had surgery on and Im doing decompression therapy (not covered on my insurance and way expensive but I feel so much better!) that stretches the area back out and makes the buldge go back in. I went to Chiropractors for yrs and they just assumed it was saciatia not a bad disc until I started hurting so bad I went to the ER and found out otherwise w/ a catscan.....dont wait like I did if it is in fact a herniated disc it was the worse thing I could have done.

I had this bad during pregnancy. The only thing that helped was this one stretch.

Stand facing a wall and touch it with both hands. Press hard and put one leg back and bend the stantionary leg. (Your arms should be bent and your face should practically be touching the wall.) Your back leg that is kept straight will stretch. Hold this postion for about 30 seconds. Relax and then switch legs.

I hope I described it okay for you!