Any Sciatica Remedies Out There???

[jredfly]

My sciatica started killing me the other day, pain in lower back running down the back of my left leg. Sometimes the pain gets so bad it stops me right in my tracks, F'in kills. Hoping it will dissipate over the next couple of days but I just want to find out if anyone has any good stretches or therapy for treating sciatica.

Everyone knows you should always go to a fishing site first for medical advice!

[Pete F.]

Ibuprofen and hang from the porch beam by your arms, then make an appointment with a good chiropractor(one who has a good rep for helping back problems, not a come see me three times a week guy and I will solve all of life's problems)

[Guppy]

Just getting over 5 weeks of sciatica hell!
4 trips to Chiropractor helped
1 trip to ortho guy produced a good stretch treatment that really helped

Sitting, hold left leg straight out , point toe to head, now with hands under leg, try and bring your foot to your head (keep leg stiff) ,,, twenty times twice a day.

Shoveled all day yesterday,, does not help! :-)

Good luck red fly
No charge, Dr. Gup

One more thing,,, Do Not Sit

[BigFish]

My back is friggin killing me! Has been all week and this storm...well...it did not help! Gonna sit on a heating pad most of today!

[iamskippy]

Stretching helps, i love extra strength aliev gel caps, it has naproxen in it which is a great anti inflammatory which help sciatica, trust me i had it bad after my surgery on my lower back. I took 2x the recommend amount for the first 2 days per the doc.
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[Slipknot]

Best thing I found was preventative, Yoga is number one, also keep moving as in motion is lotion, Stretching every day, once minimum- morning and night better, after hot shower best, stay hydrated. Stretch before and during heavy exercise like shoveling, twisting your back is brutal on your low back, those are the muscle that will form knots at your sciatic nerve and cause the pain down the leg, getting that muscle out of spasm is key to reduce the pain. Hot bath, massage,stretching(especially the one where you lay down on your back, cross your foot over your other kneecap and stretch the other way pulling slowly- I don't know the name of it)

if that doesn't work, drink heavily maybe mix in a muscle relaxant or two
good luck, I know it sucks

[jredfly]

Really surprised it took till the 5th response to get the "drink heavily".

Thanks for the great advice - I will do all of the above, stretch and medicate sounds like the way to go

Been trying to wait it out since Tuesday but I think it might be wise to see the doctor on Monday.

BTW who ever invented the heating pad, I am forever indebted to .

Thanks again for the help guys!!!

[Swimmer]

at least it worked for me..............take off the friekin denim wear, dungarees. Both the back seam and the waistband on denims are the worst thing possible to wear when your back is bothering you. The backseam presses up against the nerve, that is your sciatica, and doesn't let up when they are on, whether standing, sitting, or laying down. The waist band has no give in it either. When you move it does nothing but press harder against your lower back just above the base of your spine where, your sciatica runs before it hits whatever that bone is. It can hurt in either leg, or both at the same time. I bought the cheapest friekin pair of sweats at Wally World and wore them everyday as soon as I got home. They were so loose I could pull them up to my chin. Those sweats and aspirins got rid of the problem. Really any pants with a thick seam in back will hurt, but denims by far are the worse one to wear.

[iamskippy]

Drinking makes it worst in the long run. Not that i dont believe drinking is a natural remedy for a lot but not this.
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[BigFish]

I just figured the drinking went without saying???

[bostonharbor]

Cross -Country skiing loosened up my back several times.warmup first.I'm a plumber not M.D.
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[Raven]

i agree with what Frank is eluding to about NOT re-pinching the nerve

but here is a very LITTLe known remedy and that is "quinine"

water.... the stuff they add to drinks.... to add efflorescence, BUBBLES

SO -> Larry is also right...

[justplugit]

Prevenitive- stretching everyday, lose the wallet in the back pocket, roll
up a towel and put it behind your lower back when driving.

[Jackbass]

I would talk to a doc make sure you haven't slipped a disc before pursuing any other remedy the pinch could be coming from a disc. Rest it light stretching
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[OLD GOAT]

With over fifty years of my wife beating the crap out of me I've found that laying flat on my back with my legs on top of a plastic tote so that it looks like I'm siting in a chair laying down.
This takes the pressure off the spine and after 1 or 2 hrs I feel so much better. Try it.

[jredfly]

Going to the doctor tomorrow, wish me luck.

I'll let everyoe know how I make out.

Thanks for all the great advice!

[Raven]

you didn't specify if it's right leg or left leg

sometimes its from holding the gas pedal just so
in bumper to bumper traffic
so you use cruise control ALLOT more....
or anytime possible

[inTHERAPY]

i have been a chronic back pain sufferer for over 20 years. I have tried most remedies, surgery is not an option. hydration (not alcohol which is dehydration), movement, inversion table, ice packs. heat actually does not reduce inflammation that may be causing your sciatica. gl

[afterhours]

was just diagnosed with sciatica by my doc yesterday- gave me celebrex and called for xrays and pt appointment. some of the worst pain i've ever had going on a month....

[Raven]

they are like sophisticated SAFE locks

and with the right combination you can unlock them
and STOP (end) the pain almost instantly...

Now finding that combination is the tricky Part...

case in point... i have been a chronic back pain sufferer too
slightly bending over at the sink at a 10 % angle was the worst
as well as STATIC standing... the pain just increases like torture...

so, i am outside walking carefully on a patch of ice and suddenly
my feet do the quick shuffle trying to keep myself from slip-falling on my butt
or landing (even worse) on my tailbone as my feet both moved real fast maybe 1-2 inches
to maintain my balance....on the ice patch

well that's all it took - PAIN is gone completely (for now)
~
DON, to find your combination you need to twist your spine like
you ring out twist a dish cloth to get it dry.

so you get on the floor preferably carpeted on your back
take your left leg and cross it over to your right side as far as it is comfortable
....then take your right arm and cross it over your left side (the opposite way)
doing the same thing with your upper body....

you do this both ways until you find the HOT spot of pain or
where your range of motion is somehow blocked by either pain
or it just won't go .....and this is the >>KEY << to the lock

CHIROPRACTORS do this same thing to you on the crunch table
and then using their weight they force you back into alignment

if your patient though you can find it yourself......and self adjust
but do it real slow and easy ..... eventually you'll feel a good pop
and then a warm fuzzy feeling where the pain USED to be....

[Adam_777]

Originally Posted by Raven

so you get on the floor preferably carpeted on your back
take your left leg and cross it over to your right side as far as it is comfortable
....then take your right arm and cross it over your left side (the opposite way)
doing the same thing with your upper body....

I do this stretch quite a bit on both sides to stretch and re-align.It feels good and is free.Good advice for back stretching.I never had sciatica so I can't be of much help.Avoid pain meds at all costs.

[Raven]

Originally Posted by Adam_777

.Avoid pain meds at all costs.

i AGREE wholeheartedly about pain med's although everyone's constitution varies

for me... taking Motrin 800's twice a day
to deal with chronic pain almost killed me... had so many ulcers it was
like halloween scary...

One reason you have to be your own DOCTOR as much as possible is because only you can "feel" whats going on painwise in your body....
and where the GOLDEN key is to unlock a pinched nerve
or re align some out of place vertebrae... (via stretching)
and your the only who can be your own drill Sargent that Barks out an order
(to yourself) like sit up straight soldier ...no slouching ! THEN DO IT..

[afterhours]

thanks shamin! i'll try that- i hate meds (but anything to relieve the pain) pain is at it's worst when sitting or driving feels best when walking.

[Raven]

Originally Posted by afterhours

thanks shamin! i'll try that- i hate meds (but anything to relieve the pain) pain is at it's worst when sitting or driving feels best when walking.

it pays to focus on a Poster on the wall to distract your mind

lol

[BMEUPSCOTTY]

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[Strider]

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[jredfly]

Thanks guys! A lot of great information. Feeling a lot better.

I think the weird exercises the therapist gave me helped move my spine around just enough to alleviate the pinched nerve.

I feel bad for you guys that have chronic back pain, I went crazy just having it for this short period. Hang in there.

[Nebe]

It's been rumored that a few puffs off of the peace pipe does wonders for the back.

I've found that frequent love making keeps my back strong as an ox.
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[Sea Dangles]

Originally Posted by Nebe

It's been rumored that a few puffs off of the peace pipe does wonders for the back.

I've found that frequent love making keeps my back strong as an ox.
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Is that why Fishbones has to buy cases of condoms?

[Raven]

I USED TO TAKE:
(years ago)
codeine ..... i had enough of it to medicate an ARMY
percs .... WAY way to many
Ibuprofen and or motrin 800's same thing (drug)
naproxen = Aleve but i had the prescription strength

now i'll take NONE of it... as Nsaids cause strokes
or heart attacks... stress on the heart... liver

One of the astronauts said something very wise
not remembering which one... sorry
he said: your heart has a finite number of beats...

and i say: Use them wisely

i am required to take a daily aspirin with my 3 blood pressure meds however ,
it is an NSAID but the mildest one of all
and does a surprisingly good job relieving pain i've noticed
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Today i will Be injected with a Nuclear Isotope
so they can take a 3D picture of my Heart...
followed by a stress test chemically induced
then another round of pictures and more isotope.
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this year:
fishing will be easier because i will glow in the dark