I think I have sciatica pain, this is a self diagnonsis, based on what I have read about it. I do go to the gym 3 times a week, have been for 30 years, never get any pain when I am active. What causes my pain, is actually when I am not active as in sitting improperly or on soft surfaces for extended period of time. . What I found is that since I have been doing stretches, especially back of the leg and lower back ones, my pain isnt as often

It's awful! I think the cause for me was standing(retail job)and favoring one hip for many years~ the high heels didn't help either! My dr said to take Tylenol on a regular basis since it's basically inflammation. I also tried Bengay, and the patches designed for muscle pain which helped if I did it regularly. I used them at bedtime. I'm now retired and haven 't had that god-awful pain and sure don't miss it! No back pain either.

thanks for the suggestions roseabbey and patty cakes!

It's been waking me up at night, and making me limp during the day.

Inflamation of the sciatic nerve can occur from all sorts of issues. I developed it as a result of plantar fasciitis causing me to favor one leg. I also got it from bowling! And wound up in the emergency room once from an acute case resulting from an over-enthusiastic bout of house cleaning. That one was a doozey, resulting in a morphine injection at the ER, bed rest for a week and muscle relaxers and anit-inflamatories.

My doctor suggested a new, firmer mattress, which helped immeasurably. Also, orthotics for the PF. OTC anti-inflamatories - aspirin, ibuprofen (NSAIDs), not analgesics like Tylenol - will help alot. Also consider a few chiropractic visits. Sometimes, it is only a temporary misalignment of the spinal column that is causing the inflamation. And a chiropractic massage is a wonderful experience!!

Ah-ha! So there is truth to the tag line on the Cleaning Forum: Housework can't kill you, but why take a chance? - Phyllis Diller.

Agree with gardengal that many different things can cause sciatica, and some are quite serious. So don't ignore if the pain persists. I never had back or sciatica problems until 7 years ago at the age of 52. Just bent down one day and it kicked in. After it didn't go away for several months I finally had an mri and was shocked to find I had congential spine issues that had been there all of my life including a mild form of spina bifida and a split and tethered spinal cord. Guess they didn't test for those things when I was an infant like they do today.

Now I am 3 spine surgeries later, and still have terrible sciatica, likely permanent due to nerve damage that went untreated for too long. I take lyrica and cymbalta for the nerve pain and also use a tens unit and a prescription cream like ben-gay, but stronger. A heating pad also helps sometimes. I definitely find that sitting or standing in one place aggravates it; walking and moderate exercise with stretching helps.

Don't panic; my case is not the norm. Yours could be caused by so many different things and is more likely a temporary condition. Just don't take it lightly either. if it doesn't go away within a month or so you should definitely follow up with a doctor. I personally wouldn't trust a chiropractor until you have confirmed with a doc that nothing more serious is wrong. In my case a chiropractor could have caused even more damage than I already had.

Good luck. I really hope you are feeling better soon.

Yes, mine was so bad at one time I had to go for a few guided steroid injections in lower spine. I had the guided kind with a machine because my tail bone was broken twice when I was a child and the bone is in a weird location. I have arthritis in my spine probably due to those injuries and when that becomes inflamed it pressed the scoliosis, scoliosis to leg nerves. At that time I could not walk for extended times. Lately it only bothers me if I sit too long or sometimes at night but I do have some mild nerve damage on my right side as a result. ItâÂÂs all been pretty calm for a while and IâÂÂm better when I keep moving. When I fly I go to the doctors for oral steroids. Mostly though I try to avoid the steroids and do over the counters at night only.

I have a degenerated disc in my lower back and suffered chronic, often debilitating back pain for years. A few years ago, after I jarred my back in a fall and being on pain relievers that barely touched the pain, I began visiting a chiropractor. What a miracle that has been! Not only did the pain from the injury go away, but the underlying chronic pain has left, too. Even though I no longer have pain, I still go in occasionally for a tune-up.

That's my primary recommendation. Two other things have helped: an articulated bed, so I can sleep with my chest and knees slightly elevated, and wearing MBT shoes if I have a lot of walking or standing to do -- they're ugly, but they help keep my back in great shape.

Best position...go to sleep on your side with your knees pulled up, on top of each other...pillow in between them if that helps you...in the fetal position. It releases the stress on the low back and keeps the hips even.

I have to second the chiropractor recommendation. Finding a good one is key. I go twice a week and my back feels better than it has in years.

A friend had it. She had a heart condition and was taking too many meds for her doctor to want to give her any more. He told her to drink a juice glass of tonic water every day. It worked for her, and when my husband started suffering from it, it worked for him too.

Tonic contains quinine which comes from the bark of a tree, It's a medicinal herb that's a known muscle relaxant and is good for nerve pain as well. Give it a try, but if you do, give it a couple of weeks to have an effect. If it works for you too, just keep drinking the tonic to keep the sciatica from coming back.

Yes, I should have said that if the pain lasts for more than just a few days or if it really incapacitates you, have it checked out properly by a doctor.

I was diagnosed with chronic sciatica early on, which is usually just a temporary inflamation and why things like the PF and bowling and yard work can bring on an episode. Chiropratics can work wonders for that. But if you have a more serious underlying condition like peacamp's, that may not be the solution and could very well make it worse. Check with your doc first!!

The acute episode that landed me in the hospital was scary. I literally could not walk from my bed to the bathroom 10 feet away. I was also at a very stressful period on my life when that happened and I have no doubt that was a contributor.

If you do have chronic sciatica with no other underlying issues, yoga is also an excellent remedy. Its emphasis on proper posture, balance and strengthening muscle groups will help a lot. Not to mention the calming effect on your psyche.

Here is a link that might be useful: yoga and sciatica relief

I do try to sleep as Annie suggested with pillow between bent knees. gardengal's suggestion to try yoga is also a good one. And if you google pilates for sciatica you can find exercises to try at home.

I had it last year as a result of a lifting and twisting injury, leading to piriformis syndrome, which causes sciatica. I went thru 3 Medrol dose packs, and it would get better as long as the steroids lasted. Finally, an Orthopedic surgeon injected "ground zero" with steroids, and it's been 95% better for over a year.

Agree with AnnieD about sleeping position. The Orthopedist told me to ice it before going to sleep, and wake it up with a heating pad. Ice periodically thru the day for 15 minutes, while lying on back with a pillow under the knees.

Also, some swear by stretching. Try 5 to 6 times per day. Bend over to try and touch your toes...not from the waist, but from the hips. Hold the position...don't bounce at all...just hold, and as you do, you will find you can reach a little lower....but no bouncing and not to the point of feeling burning. After a minute, while still bent over, reach toward the right around to the right of your feet to stretch the left side and hold for a minute. Then reach to the left to stretch the right side and hold for a minute.

Depending on how bad the pain is, some of the yoga poses may be beyond you. Also you need to be careful, especially with the twists...I find they cause me low back pain rather than help.

I too have been to chiropractors who have done wonders for my back...but it's really best to get recommendations from someone...I've been to super ones, and I've been to lousy ones.

I also find that taking magnesium helps my back aches.

I've been told that quinine can effect some people like caffeine so if that side effect is an issue for you research quinine before drinking tonic.

And hold the gin.

Thank you everyone for all the suggestions! I appreciate it so much. I have a lot more insight now than from just reading "webmd" etc.

And hold the gin.

Heck no!! That's the best part of the pain relief! LOL

Another important factor is getting or keeping weight off the stomach, and strengthening the stomach muscles. A big belly with weak muscles can put a lot of stress on the spine.

I sometimes have pain in my buttock/upper thigh. I don't know if it's sciatica per se, but getting a massage of the lower back & hips helped. I also try to stretch my piriformis and quadratus lumborum muscles. And I second the recommendation for magnesium.

O.T. But related: tonic water is an almost instant magic bulletin for muscle cramping, which can hurt like #ÃÂ¥**ã#!

Gardengal48, too funny. All good advice here. I am a chiropractor and see your complaints all day every day:). Put ice on your low back. Never heat when you are acute. We have MD's refer patients with your complaints. Try chiropractic. Ask your friends for a referral. Word of mouth is the best.

I had one sciatic episode. I woke up one day with the worst pain in one of my legs...so bad I was considering going to the emergency room. I had been working on a painting th night before, and I have a habit of sitting on my chair with one leg tucked up under my butt. I thought I might have a blood clot, but my nurse friend talked me down from that....so, I took a shower and then I noticed a baseball size dark bruise on one buttock- caused by sitting on the ball of my heel. I think I pinched the sciatic nerve which runs right through there. It sure was excruciating and I feel bad for anyone that deals with it regularly. I will certainly not sit like that again.

"And if you google pilates for sciatica you can find exercises to try at home."

"Another important factor is getting or keeping weight off the stomach, and strengthening the stomach muscles. A big belly with weak muscles can put a lot of stress on the spine."

I have had one bout of sciatica that came on suddenly and was incredibly painful-quoted the above insights because what has worked for me is Pilates. I was taking group lessons and when the trainer went out on her own I followed her. She is very good at getting me to move and stretch past what I would do on my own without straining or overdoing it; Pilates of course is also all about strengthening one's core muscles and I've not had any more sciatic problems. Thank goodness for that, it was one of the most excruciating pains I've ever experienced.

Ann

I was going to chime in on this thread re: stretching, core strength, and yes, weight loss.

I developed sciatica following a crash on my dirtbike. I attribute my recovery mainly to two things: stretching the piraformis muscle (see link to the exercise below) and regular use of a Sacro Wedgy (www.sacrowedgy.com). I strongly agree with the others about including daily stretching and core strengthening exercises in your daily routine. Sciatica pain is a very strong motivator!

Here is a link that might be useful: piraformis stretch

I had a (fortunately) mild case of sciatica after lifting some heavy flower pots last year following my ACL surgery and rehab. Yeah, I thought I was ready, but I wasn't and my back screamed a little. I ditto what jellytoast just posted about the piraformis stretch. It saved me days of pain and suffering. I Googled stretches for that specific injury and did these about 3 times/day plus some other back-strengthening exercises along with my usual core and other exercises I was doing at the time and it worked!

I will try that! Thank you again, everyone.