HamiC

I have recently developed problems with my sciatic nerve. Does anyone have advice as to stretches, relaxation techniques, exercises, and/or other suggestions for how to rehab and recover from this?

Thanks in advance.

ibizen

Check with a PT or a massage therapist (good one).. about 60-75% of 'sciatica' is actually an inflamation of the piriformis muscle.. but it would be a good idea to talk with one of those professionals to try to alleviate the problems

HamiC

Thank you. I will check one out as soon as I can get a referral from my PCP (gotta love managed care).

mtbiker

i have problem with my piriforms muscle at times...what helps me is to stretch it...which at first inspection sounds difficult.

basically all you do though is sit in a chair, nad pull your knee up to about mid level of your chest. the with the opposite arm, pull your knee laterally across your body. it also helps to hook your foot on the outside of the other leg too.

sometimes a good chiropractor can help too.

vat_man

Walking is often helpful - the physcial act of walking actually acts like a massage on the lower back muscles, and if the muscles are tight it can help to loosen the lower back-up.

I would recommend visiting a physiotherapist, though. Sounds like a disc is playing up.

Cleveland

You should go see a doctor. Sciatic radiculopathy is a symptom of something else and you should find out what that something is before attepting any type of resolution for it. Xrays or maybe even an MRI and a focused examination are both warranted to get to the root of the problem. The sciatic nerve is the biggest nerve in the body so it is a really easy target for trauma or pressure and it could be a simple case of you not carrying your wallet in your back pocket to releive the discomfort. Again, let a professional tell you this.

Me So Horny

Cleveland may have gone a little overboard on the xray or MRI at this point, without any assymetry in reflexes, weakness, or sensory deficit in a dermatome. And even he/she points this out with the second to last sentence. The only question I have HamiC, is why do you think you have sciatica?

darkmagnus

If you sit all day, take that big fat wallet out of your back pocket.

HamiC

All -- Thanks again for the advice. I've started seeing a PT.

vat-man -- Walking has been very helpful. In fact, there are times when sitting is just not a comfortable option.

Cleveland -- I've decided with the help of the PT that I need to go the MRI route. It seems that there is some rotation in one of my vertabrae and either a tightenting of the space or a bulging disc.

Me So Horny -- My pain originates in the lower back and then goes shooting down my left leg. It is sharpest in my left butt cheek, somewhat less painful in the hamstring area, and then gets kinda tingly into the upper of my lower leg. From what I understand, this is fairly typical of sciatica.

Again, thanks to all for the great advice and support.

HamiC

UPDATE: I am the proud new owner of a herniated disc (L4/L5-S1....or something like that). Hoo-rah.

pocon1

L5-s1 is the most common area to be injured.

radicu

Heya, found this while looking around for posts on radiculopathy. Anyone in here have radiculopathy medical issues nowadays?

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Radiculopathy specifics and background information.

thingstodo

I use a good chiropractor, emphasis on good. I had a problem 20 years ago that the doctors all said would require surgery. That's when I decided to try a chiro and found a good one. I had to go 3xweek for 2 weeks, then 2xweek for a few and got it out to once every 2-3 months to keep things in line.

I also do excercises for my back along with regular stretching. My wife now teaches yoga so I practice that as well. I've been great ever since.

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