Sciatica..OUCH! Options

[Jan LK]

This is literally a pain in the butt (left cheek in my case) that radiates all the way down my left leg and even into my foot.  I've had it several times during perimeno and meno.  It usually goes away by itself.  Now it's going into its fifth day and I'm still gimping around.  Anyone else have this problem?  

[Liz51]

I've had sciatica for years, but it got really bad at the same time my other perimenopause symptoms started.  I have it in both cheeks, but it usually is the worst on the left side.  I've been to physical therapy for it and have learned stretches to do to help it, and ice packs help when it gets really bad.  On really bad days it feels like my legs are going to give out on me.  It sure can hurt, that's for sure.

[Julie]

Dear Jan, I've had bouts of sciatica for the past 4 or 5 years, in peri and post meno.  So far, only on the right side. It's the pits when it strikes.  I'm doing lots of glute stretches in the hope of avoiding flare ups. I think no pain is quite as aggravating as that one. Reminds me of a toothache in the but and leg. I sure hope your pain clears up fast! Try to avoid sitting down for a long time, that seems to make mine worse.        Hugs.

[dawn]

Well, I've joined the ranks of the sciatica sufferers.  Mine also usually cleared up in a few days, but I'm into my second week now.  

I finally forced myself to go to the Dr. when my foot quit working.  He told me get off your feet for a week.

What drives me crazy is that sometimes I'll get a zing in the place where my leg meets my butt and it zaps me in the labia.  My Doc says a branch of it goes that way.  Bummer.

I've had it off and on for years, but definitely worse now that I'm in the peri mode.

[carole]

I had a real bad bout with it about 5 years ago .Woke up one morning and there it was. The next 6 weeks were hell, the worst pain I've ever been in, used to lay in bed and cry, it never let up. The pain would shot down in my knee and foot, felt like someone was twisting my nerves.  I had swelling around the L5 disc that was pressing on the siatic nerve. Only thing taht gave me relief finally, was an epideral of steriods.  It still bothers me off and on but nothing like then.

[Dearest]

I've been dealing with this since Saturday. Today is the first day I can sit up in a chair for a while. Walking is impossible - the pain down my left leg is excruciating. I'm on heating pads and can't even get into the tub to soak in hot water because the pain makes it almost impossible to bend. Only had Sciatica 2-3x during my life. Only lasted a day or two. This has to be the worst. Would appreciate any suggestions.

Dearest

[wildflowers]

my husband sometimes gets sciatica pains...for his he lays flat on the floor (on carpet) to align the body..says helps him..i'm one that gets neck pain much better this past yr. because of 2 car accidents..rearended..minding my own business at stop lights..and bam..well for me (after going thru chiro before at times) for home help stuff i prefer ICE, i know some people cringe at that but works for me..have you tried (if you prefer heat)..those things like a gel in a plastic bag..you freeze them in the freezer or heat them in microwave..they sell them at drugstores or even the dollar stores..also a heating pad that has the foam that you dampen and put back by the pad?  I would think if hot tub helps..then moist not dry heat could offer some relieve..don't know if you should check with dr. or not tho..a dr. once told me you should never put just dry heat on..but then again..yrs. ago we only had the dry heating pads....i've also had to use flexaril yrs. ago..for spasms..i don't rec. that unless so bad ya can't even move..cuz with that you can move while on the drug..but once it wears off, you're worse off cuz you moved too much and should not have while taking the pill.. i bet the microwavable gel in a bag will help tho..

[Kalanie]

Hi Dearest...  

Can you stand in the shower?  When I had the sciatica so badly for so long, I would just stand in the very hot shower for a veryyyyy long time to get relief, and it worked pretty well.  I am thinking you might be able to stand in the shower, wheras you cannot bend enough to sit in the tub.  I couldn't sit in the tub, either.  Other things that also helped me alot were: moist heat (heating pad-dry heat did little), and Ben Gay type ointments.  Doing stretches right after the warmth of the shower worked well also. Sitting for long periods of time, especially on soft surfaces or couches or in a chair at the computer aggrivated my condition, and I was also advised not to do it by the PT. Lots of times the best relief was lying down in bed, but I was told that is also not good to do for extended periods of time (like for days, as I did).  I think muscle relaxers were suggested by someone here, but I think they are not designed for the sciatic thing and won't help... it's not a muscle thing, it's a nerve thing.

[Irene Crites]

{{{{{{Dearest}}}}}}   I think moist heat will offer you better relief than a heating  pad.  Also rest, rest, rest!!!!Laying down, slow walking around the house, gentle stretching.  Accupuncture also is excellent for sciatica with relief usually felt with the first session.  Hope this finds you somewhat improved my dear friend.Blessings and be well.

[Dearest]

I wanted to thank you all for your wonderful suggestions. I followed your advice, used a lot of heat, sometimes dry, sometimes moist, a lot of bed rest (walking was a nightmare anyway and couldn't do the exercise, it was too painful) and the Sciatica seems, after a week, to be easing up. Boy, I sure hope that doesn't come back too soon!

Thanks!!!

Dearest

[SylvryMoon]

((((Dearest))))) -- I am so glad to hear you are feeling better.  Very grateful for your healing.  I hope you continue to be pain free. . .Hugs,(gentle hugs!!!),

[Kalanie]

I am also glad to hear you are feeling better, Dearest.  I hope you continue to improve and can get rid of ALL of the  *(&^%  pain!  

[Dearest]

Thanks so much. It's getting there. Slow but sure wins the race.

There's nothing worse than **%&%()*%^ pain :biggrin:

Dearest

[EileenG]

Dearest,Think about you everyday -- hoping the pain will be just a memory soon.  Love and gentle hugs to you.

[athenea]

Dearest:

Just found where to say that I'm pleased you are over (almost over) this awful bout of sciatica and I hope it'll be the last time!!

Silly ridiculous suggestion of course - but ...... I was just wondering, could this have anything to do with posture, I mean the way we sit at the compu - it's hard to concentrate on a keeping a straight back, specially if it hurts and shoulders back. I always find myself hunching over -  and then I check myself, it's so important, because we spend so much time glued to the PC :wink:

To happy painfree days to all.

Barbiexxxxxxxxx

[Dearest]

Thanks for your good wishes. I think you may be right about the way we sit. I sit the worst possible way at the computer --Indian style (course, I can't sit that way right now). I have a very comfortable chair at my computer and have for years sat with my legs crossed and tucked under me, which I should never do with my history of problems with my left leg. Now that the sciatica is easing a bit (but still there), my left leg is once again giving me problems. Went to the doctor yesterday. Have an appointment with the surgeon this afternoon to see if I may have to finally give in to having the surgery to remove the bad veins. Can't stand the thought of it. But it may be the only answer.

Dearest

[MaryO]

Now that the sciatica is easing a bit (but still there), my left leg is once again giving me problems. Went to the doctor yesterday. Have an appointment with the surgeon this afternoon to see if I may have to finally give in to having the surgery to remove the bad veins. Can't stand the thought of it. But it may be the only answer.

Boy, it's always something, isn't it?  :(

I hope that the surgeon has some good answers this afternoon and you feel better than ever!

[plumeria]

OMG, I am experiencing the sciatic pain right now. I had this same pain when I was pregnant 14 years ago but this episode seem so much worse. Advil and tylenol is not helping but I will be seeing a doctor on Thursday and see what she says.

Any suggestions, the warm shower is good. I really don't want to take pain killers but this is so painful. It is so hard to walk.

Really, if it is not one thing, its another.

Sorry, I am venting.

Plumeria

[NewCrone]

Dearest, I had a flareup like that once, and it was awful. I went to the chiropractor about a dozen times before it eased up.

As counterintuitive as it seems, heat is the WORST thing you can do for sciatica. You want ICE, not heat.

I'm prone to sciatica flareups; here's what I do to keep them at bay: stretch, stretch, stretch.

Before I get out of bed in the AM, I do a knee-to-chest stretch while lying on my back for 10 full breaths.

Then, bend the leg and take a yoga strap or towel and wrap it around your foot. Elevate your leg to a 90=degree angle. You should feel this is your hamstring and glute. Hold for 10 full, slow breaths.

Do these on the other side.

Then I twist: Lie on your back, pull your knees to chest again, and lower them to the opposite side. Twist your upper body the other way. Don't force. Do this on the other side too.

Then lie with both knees bent, feet on the bed. Cross one leg over the other with bent knee, resting the ankle on the other thigh. Life the leg that's on the bed and hold onto your foot or calf of the bottom leg if you can. You will REALLY feel this in your glute.

These are all yoga stretches and they really do help. Try to stay away from things like standing forward bends (uttanasana) when you have sciatica. They may feel good but they are not good for this problem.

I wanted to thank you all for your wonderful suggestions. I followed your advice, used a lot of heat, sometimes dry, sometimes moist, a lot of bed rest (walking was a nightmare anyway and couldn't do the exercise, it was too painful) and the Sciatica seems, after a week, to be easing up. Boy, I sure hope that doesn't come back too soon!

Thanks!!!

Dearest

[tinkybug]

Hi Girls, the heat that is mentioned I think is the best for these inflamations. Another thing I would recommend is Capzasin Cream you can find it at rite aid or walmart.
It is a cream made from red hot chile peppers and it has taken care of many of my aches and pains and even my hubbys achilles tendon.
It seems to not only take away the pain but keeps it away.
You just have to be careful not to put on to much. Also put it on with a rag or paper towels you dont want to get some in your eyes.
You dont want to shower right after putting it on it does reactivate.
Now the good new is that it works. I had very painful chest pain in the breast bone and rib area called Costrochonritis and after applying heat and then using this cream I havent had it for a very long time.
They also sell patches from Therma-care and capzasin that you can apply and the warmth is heavenly.
Hope this helps someone, Tinkybug

Thanks for your good wishes. I think you may be right about the way we sit. I sit the worst possible way at the computer --Indian style (course, I can't sit that way right now). I have a very comfortable chair at my computer and have for years sat with my legs crossed and tucked under me, which I should never do with my history of problems with my left leg. Now that the sciatica is easing a bit (but still there), my left leg is once again giving me problems. Went to the doctor yesterday. Have an appointment with the surgeon this afternoon to see if I may have to finally give in to having the surgery to remove the bad veins. Can't stand the thought of it. But it may be the only answer.

Dearest

Dearest so glad that the pain is getting better, I would keep up the heat regime to keep the inflamation down.
Have you heard of these new shots that they give in the veins for varicose veins that seems to help and maybe surgery could be a last option?
God keep you well, Tinkybug