Sciatica pain relief??

R

Russ59

Senior member
Does anyone suffer with Sciatica pain from their bum down their leg?

I've been getting it for a while now and up to now put up with the pain, but I wondered if any of the aids that are supposed to ease the pain really work.
I have been looking at this http://www.amazon.co.uk/1/dp/B012B3TQ3K/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1443288993&sr=8-1&keywords=instalife but have been reading mixed reviews.
Today while out shopping I started with the pain and applied pressure to my calf muscle with my fist and it did seem to ease quite a bit so just wondered if the pressure pad would work.

Or is there any other way of easing the pain. I go on holiday in a weeks time and don't want to be suffering while away.
Any advice appreciated.
 
I'm 47 still hands on in the building game & get this every few months in varying degrees
You get to know the warning signs of a dull ache at the bottom of the back (& struggling to get in & out of vehicles ) before it kicks in so at that point i apply hot pack/cold pack in short bursts together with recommended floor exercises twice a day
Both above work to some degree but if the problem arises from a repetitive activity (removing windows + ladderwork the worst offenders for me ) then only a break of week or 10 days sorts me out properly
I also drive to work with a water bottle at the base of spine , not always with hot water but does help a lot
 
I used to get lower back pain alot together with sciatica and muscle spasms which was very painful. I would be left with my back twisted to one side. I used to take alot of ibroprofen which is an anti inflammatory and keeping moving as much as possible. Would last 3 to 5 days before it subsided. Never bothered with doctors.

I was then told by a friend about glucosamine sulphate which can help. Thought I would try it taking 1500mg a day high strength tablets and in 3 years I've not had any reacurring problems, in fact I rarely get any aches or pains now at 50. I don't know if it is the glucosamine but seems coincidental.

Tim.
 
i used to get it...a lot........put it down to many years of being a prop forward. used to kick off if I had done lots of bending/lifting type work too. Used to take ibuprofen but that stuffed up my stomach, loads of codeine and eventually Tramadol.......All got too much and went to see a Remedial Physiotherapist, she said it felt like someone had stuffed an ironing board under my skin.....I saw this Physio for about 6-8 months twice a month and then every other month for a "top-up" for about 2years.......Not been for about 5 years and have only had mild occurances since she sorted it. Still do the exercises and learned the warning signs....It was well worth the money..
 
Sciatica can often be as a result of a tight piriformis muscle (one of the muscles in your bum). Stretching this muscle should help to relieve sciatica pain. Spend a good 20 minutes on doing this every day, look up piriformis stretches and you should find a few to try out. A simple one is to sit on a chair, then pull your right foot up onto the top of your left leg and then push down on the inside of your right knee. You should feel a stretch in your bum when you do this. Hold the stretch at the point of maximum tension until the pain/tension eases off. Then you should be able to push slightly further into the stretch.

Also using a foam roller/hockey ball/tennis ball etc on your glutes can help. Example of how to do it here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mkS75DzL3ig

Stretching and foam rolling or deep tissue massage to the surrounding area should also help , even if it is a little painful at first!
 
Hi Russ,

I had a bout of it a couple of years ago that lasted about 5 months, for 3 months of which I couldn't sit for more than 20 mins at a time without the feeling my lower leg was going to spontaneously combust.
long story short, co-codamol and diclofenac and religiously sticking to the sciatic stretch excersices (If your GP has a physio in the practice your GP should refer you on), and if you can plenty of walking, it will eventually ease.

All the best.

Stu.
 
I've had it on and off since my teens. Lower back ache and a burning sensation down the right leg.

I saw a specialist some time ago, I had a MRI scan done which showed the cause (discs and vertebrae pinching together). He more or less told me to put up with it!

As Tim says, Ibuprofen helps, not heard of the glucosamine but will give it a shot next time I get an occurrence.
 
dr_john said:
I've had it on and off since my teens. Lower back ache and a burning sensation down the right leg.

I saw a specialist some time ago, I had a MRI scan done which showed the cause (discs and vertebrae pinching together). He more or less told me to put up with it!

As Tim says, Ibuprofen helps, not heard of the glucosamine but will give it a shot next time I get an occurrence.
Click to expand...

This is an interesting read John.

http://physioworks.com.au/FAQRetrieve.aspx?ID=30992

I take it daily whether I have pain or not and seems to help alot.

Tim.
 
A very good chiropractor sorted mine out some time ago. I have follow up sessions every three months and touch wood has never recurred.
 
Thanks for the link Tim, it is indeed interesting.

I'm going to try it out, I don't have sciatica pain severely at present but there's always a dull numb feeling down my right leg and this may help.

Getting in and out of the zed doesn't help much either! :rofl:
 
Just echoing a lot of good advice.
1 A good chiropractor had improved my posture and introduced me to some simple stretching exercises neck and back.

2 Stretching exercises, my version is to each morning and night, laying on my back clasping the thigh bring my left knee towards my right shoulder hold for 5 seconds then release. repeat four times. Then the right knee to left shoulder. Only takes less than a minute total after waking and before bed.
 
dr_john said:
Thanks for the link Tim, it is indeed interesting.

I'm going to try it out, I don't have sciatica pain severely at present but there's always a dull numb feeling down my right leg and this may help.

Getting in and out of the zed doesn't help much either! :rofl:
Click to expand...

Definitely worth a try over the long term and see if it helps. I'm unsure if it stops sciatica itself as its more on the trappoed nerve side of things but from what I understand about Glycosamine is you can't get it from everyday foods etc and the body can't produce it itself naturally, but it apparently helps to repair cartilage and wear in the joints etc which causes the aches and pains.

I have no probs getting in and out of the Z3 anymore however when I bought this motor in 2001 it was pretty hellish at the time and did my back in the first time I sat in it :lol: The salesman had a right job getting me out of it :D




Tim.
 
Most people have back problems due simply to muscle weakness
Naproxen 250mg tabs - gastro resistant type upto 3 times a day works a treat and cool the sight of the inflammation with an ice pack at regular intervals.
 
Thanks all for the tips :thumbsup:

I'll give some of the exercises a try and see how I get on before I go and buy something that doesn't work.
 
As bizarre as this may sound I had it for a number of years until I was advised to stop sitting down or driving with my wallet in my back pocket which puts pressure on the nerve. It actually worked for me!
 
Dav the wheel nut said:
As bizarre as this may sound I had it for a number of years until I was advised to stop sitting down or driving with my wallet in my back pocket which puts pressure on the nerve. It actually worked for me!
Click to expand...

Haha I have always got my wallet in my back pocket (never owt in it though) :lol:
I will give it a try :thumbsup:
 
Back problems for me go back to early twenties and I think I've tried most "solutions"......some worked but only temporarily.I got to know how to deal with it and how long the bouts would last but in reality I should've sorted it out properly as I'm sure my crooked posture caused my arthritis in left knee.....only came to this conclusion as I noticed uneven wear in a new pair of walking shoes I bought recently.Long story short.......chiropractor has finally got me on the road to recovery......knee rarely bothers me now,absolutely no crippling lower back pain and tension related headaches gone.From the very 1st visit/adjustment it's all been positive.
Tried all the painkillers including diazepam for severe muscle spasms but they're not a cure......Naprozen didn't seem to work for me,might be coincidence but had nose-bleeds after using it so gave up.
NHS doctor sent me to physio and had about 4 visits and given exercises.......2 months later I was back to square 1.......barely able to walk,having to lift my left leg up to the clutch peddle,etc,etc.Incidently the NHS physio said the only supplement he used regularly was cod liver oil or similar.....I've used this for years and tried glucosamine for about a year with no noticable change.
Decided then that much as it went against the grain,I'd have to forget the NHS and try and find a solution privately,hence the chiropractor.
Did all the intensive stuff in the run up to our driving hols and now down to 1 visit a week but I still notice the differance after the adjustments.I'm £35 a visit but it's money very well spent for the huge improvement in quality of life and highly recommended.
I would think that a good chiropractor would be able to help the OP with trapped nerves/displaced vertebrae and start on the road to recovery.
 
I had this for about 5 years, visited doctors, Chiropractors , Osteopaths, ended up getting a microdiscectomy as my disc was herniated.
At one stage my foot was numb and I couldn't lift on my left foot due to nerve damage, it gradually came back... lucky.

I feel 10 years younger after the op., recovery took years ...gradual and I can run again :)
 
Mine lasted 8 months - nothing helped ease the pain - prescribed stronger and stronger pain killers - no good ! Resorted to acupuncture and a chiropractor - again nothing . eventually had an MRI scan and saw a surgeon who diagnosed a problem with 2 lower discs that had suqeezed together - said that if it persisted for another month he would arrange an op but emphasised that this was a last resort as it may not work and a further op would not be possible . He also said that that 90% of similar back problems cure themselves !

At this time ( after nearly 9 months of not being able to walk properly and never having a decent night's sleep ) my body must have thought enough is enough it began to improve on it's own and disappeared completely after 3 weeks :)

Not much help to the OP but at least gives you hope !
 
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