Sciatica Nerve Pain

I had it. I looked up physical therapy exercises for sciatica pain and did them several times per day. The pain was debilitating for about 1 week but then got better with the exercises.

I also took 600 milligrams of Motrin (Ibuprofen) 2xs per day for the first week.

Feel better.

I had it when I was pregnant with my second. I couldn't take any medication, so I did a lot of exercises. It lasted until I had the baby, but I still get occasional twinges and it's been 8 years.

I found this source for you. It might have some useful suggestions. Hope you feel better!
http://www.ehow.com/way_###-###-####_sciatic-nerve-pain-r...

Medication to relieve inflammation. Not pain meds, anti-inflammatory.

Use ice and not heat. Stretches to help disks move back into place.

My mom had this and for her massages and painkiller helped, but this was many decades ago. It depends on what is causing the pressure on the sciatic nerve but I would suggest seeing a chiropractor. If it is due to spinal pressure then a chiropractor can relieve that pressure. But if it is due to some injury in the lower back area, or some kind of growth pressing against your spine, then you would need other doctors. A good chiropractor will take x-rays before he starts so he can see if there are any hairline cracks in vertebrae. But I have also heard of medical doctors recommending physical therapy that when described to me sounded exactly like an adjustment that a chiropractor gives. So it just depends on whether you like your medical doctor or have a good chiropractor you know and trust (I have a fabulously caring and conservative chiropractor but there are many stories of ones that push for you to come back many times for no good reason - although after an injury or accident it does make sense to be seen a few times per week in the first 2 weeks until the muscles remember to keep the spine in the correct place.)
I would also google sciatica pain relief. Here is one:

http://www.spine-health.com/conditions/sciatica/myths-abo...

Good luck with your pain and recovery.

Well, my sciatica pain was symptomatic of another condition called piriformis syndrome. I am apparently part of the small percentage of the human population where the sciatic nerve goes through the piriformis muscle (in the butt) instead of around it. If this muscle gets tight or inflamed, I can feel the telltale tingling and pain start. My doctor gave me some great PT exercises and that has really helped. I find laying on my side and bringing my knee up to my chest helps alleviate the tension and pain. As long as I keep this muscle in check, the pain is usually not an issue.
Hope this helps!

Mine lasted for years - it's so frustrating, isn't it? Mine was shooting pain that occurred for (seemingly) no reason, and I would often lose my footing when the leg gave out. The pain started in the buttock and then shot down the leg to about the knee. For me, it was only on the right side but a lot of people have it bilaterally. Pain relievers do very little especially because no pain reliever addresses the cause, only the symptom. They are okay for a temporary problem but not something chronic.

Several things can help. Some people find that chiropractic care and good massage therapy (by someone trained, not just someone rubbing your back) can provide relief. Usually a massage will not "hold" if the alignment is off, which is where chiropractic comes in. I did this for years and spent a lot of money, with some relief but not complete.

Yes, lying on your back with your knees up is a good exercise. Do it frequently especially when you are NOT in pain. But while you're there, press the small of your back into the floor so it's flat and not arched at all. To do that, you have to contract your abdominal muscles. Try any exercises you can to strengthen your abs - do controlled and slow crunches (not full sit ups!) just supporting your head/neck with your hands but not pulling on the neck. Let the abs do the work. Slow, gentle, just to get your shoulders off the floor. Don't tuck your chin - keep your eyes looking at the ceiling and just see if you can get the shoulders up (but the back, from the bra strap down to the waist) stays flat and pressed into the floor. Do a set of 8, rest 5 minutes, do another set of 8, rest 5, do a third set of 8, stop. After a week (sooner if you can), make the sets 10 repetitions. Another week, 12 reps per set. But still stop after 3 sets for at least a few hours. If you belong to a gym, you can get some help from a trainer to work on other ab exercises but for now do NOT do anything where you raise your legs from floor to waist.

You can also bring your legs up while lying on the floor so that your thighs are close to your chest. Gently hold your legs but don't push down on them - put your hands behind your bent knees so they are on the backs of your thighs and your calves are just gently lying on your hands. Does that make sense? Fetal position but you are on your back. Now GENTLY roll a little from side to side, massaging your back.

These things can help but will not likely get rid of the problem.

I finally got rid of things entirely when I started a good supplementation program with a comprehensive formula that provides cellular health - not just all the regular multi-vitamins I had taken for years or all the stuff from the health food store. Spent a fortune, got no absorption and no real results. There is great new research on a natural anti-inflammatory that also helps with cell repair - there are many many published papers on this and it's all food, no drugs. If you'd like some links on that, let me know. You can buy it on line but you need to get some education from a consultant (free). That has made all the difference for me, for this sciatica and also other conditions. I'm pain free and haven't been to a doctor in years except for regular check-ups. My physician is thrilled with my lab work as well as the fact that I'm never there!

I strongly suggest you go visit Master Zhou(pronounced 'JOE') in WLA on Barringrton and La Grange. I have been going to him for over 20 years and he is the ONLY one that help me back Well worth the money!!!! You can google him worth it!!!!! He is the only person I would let touch me totally non-invasive go in sweats you will feel better when you leave with NO down time. If you need more info please feel free to email me back..........can't say enough about this guy truly the best

I had it. When it was first "diagnosed" the doc in the ER told me I pulled a muscle. The nurse told me about sciatica and my regular doc sent me to physical therapy. For me, stretching out my hamstring is a total save. I have not had a problem in years but occasionally it starts and getting a good stretch helps get rid of it. Try to determine where the nerve is caught and stretch out that part.

My husband had this a couple of weeks ago. Very painful. went to the chiropractor after 5 days of pain. It helped and he was "down" for about 8 days. Anti-inflammatory and ice for 10 minutes every two hours. Stretching and adjustments by the chiro every 3 days helped him. He had to sleep on the couch with a pillow under his knees for a few nights.

Glad you're seeing your doctor about this. PLEASE don't ignore it if it doesn't go away. I lived with sciatica pain on and off for 20 years. I would have flare ups and have some physical therapy until the pain subsided. Paid meds only mask the pain and don't fix the problem.

For me, it was a herniated disc that finally gave out when I hit 40 years old, after I had a fall down some stairs. It got really bad really quickly and I thought it would just go away again. I ended up needing surgery but I ignored the paid for so long, I almost caused permanent nerve damage. Thank God I had a great surgeon who fixed the problem. Try to get an MRI so they can SEE what's going on in there. Best of luck to you.

Massage really helps me. I get therapudic massage for this once a week when it crops up.
It also helps to get on all fours and rock back and forth.
I took a prescription NSAID for this before developing another condition that is not NSAID compatible.
Honestly, I've had less recurrences since losing 50 lbs. Not suprised because the worst issues I had with it were mid to late pregnancy.

Sitting aggravates it. So - try not to sit for long periods of time. If you work at a desk, set a timer and make yourself get up and walk around every hour or so. Stretching also helps - you can google stretches for Sciatica.
As for how long it will last - If you ignore it, and keep doing whatever you are doing that is causing the inflammation (long car rides to visit people during the holidays? long periods at a desk at work? Long commute?) it will keep acting up. If you change what you are doing plus do the stretches a few times a day, then it will calm down in a week or two.

If, of course, the sciatica is caused by pregnancy, then it will probably flare up occasionally until the baby is born.

Good luck!

I had it really Really REALLY bad when I pregnant with my first. I would shed tears some days because the pain was so bad I couldn't even walk to the bathroom at work. It did go away on its own after I had her but it came back with baby number 2 yet not as severe. Then it went away after I had her. Now here I am almost 2 years later and its back sporadically here and there. Its extremely painful but I never done anything for it. After reading some of the responses that you have received I just may take it up with my Dr. to see if I can get some relief

Good Luck

Yes. Dealt with it for about 2 years before having emergency back surgery.

You can go to the Urgent Care and they will give you some muscle relaxers.

Also, if you notice that you are going to the bathroom more frequently, mention that to your doctor tomorrow. (Classic symptom). If it gets to the point where you can't make it to the bathroom, go to the Urgent Care or ER. That is a classic symptom that needs to be attended to immediately.

When you see the doctor, ask about getting an xray or MRI done.

I developed sciatica with my first pregnancy and it's gotten worse ever since. I highly recommend going to a chiropractor and/or physical therapist, they can help you repair it and relieve the pain.

Here are 2 stretches that help me. First, stand up and cross one foot over the other, with your legs together. Bend forward at the hips slowly and reach for your toes. You should feel a good pull but don't force it. Slowly straighten up and cross your feet the other way and repeat. Keep your movements slow and steady, and make sure you are bending from your hips, not your waist.

Second, sit on your couch or bed with your feet on the floor. Pull one knee up like you were going to sit indian style. Lean towards your bent knee bending at the hips. You should feel the tendon in your upper thigh pulling. Repeat on the other side.

Hope those help, hang in there!