Hi
I'd be grateful for any advice on how to deal with sciatica.
I have a longstanding lower back problem (L5 slightly damaged, had MRI scan some time ago). Every so often it flares up and is quite painful. I then have difficulty walking, actually in putting right foot down to take a step, and pains in the right groin side of leg.
I have a job where I sit for long periods so am trying to break that up at the moment by getting up and stretching at my desk as I know this is making it worse. My whole body seems to be getting stiffer however, especially on the right side. Also still dealing with the fallout from a concussion a year ago, so neck on right side is also stiff. Just wondered if anyone had any useful advice or good stretches to do .
Thanks,
Jane
A good massage would be my first option.
HIYA AND WELCOME MOUSE!
Definately go and see a massaging type Therapist like Derek says, I see an Osteopath and he has given a whole range of excerices to help me cope, my favourite is the pelvic hip twist! Apparently it was designed for pregnant Women, but hay ho!! whats good for the goose, is good for the gander! Or is that meant to be the other way round? What the heck!! 😉
Best wishes
SPINELF
If I find anything at all that helps I will post all the details on here. I'm not sure massage will do much but it is worth a go - as long as they stay away from the really dodgy part!
Hiya Mouse!
I empathise with your frustration and sectecism mouse, but I sincerely believe that
you will find that good gentle massage 'or' soft 'all over body' reballancing manipulation sessions, will stop immediate deterioration and set the platform for future
improvements! It may be a good starting point for you and could possibly become part of your long term and 'non drug' based coping stratagies!
Don't forget, you must tell the Thearpist to stop, if you are experiencing too much pain or discomfort during the session, after all, to the Therapist, the 'revelation' of which body parts produce pain signals, is not a negative, it might well will allow them to arrive at a better understanding of your condition!!
Best of luck!:)
SPINELF
I've booked a back massage treatment, can't wait.
Someone on here mentioned the McKenzie treatment/programme? I came across a good basic book on it so thought I'd try the stretches. Anyone had experience of the McKenzie method?
Hi Mouse,
I used the McKenzie exercises, but was under a NHS physio who recommended them.
I had a L5/S1 disc herniation last year which was pressing on the S1 root nerve causing sciatica, I like to think that the McKenzie exercises helped, but without a duplicate 'me' not doing them to compare if I still got better in the same timescale - I guess you never really know! But McKenzie does quote evidence in his book that the method works and the physio believed in them ......
The exercise certainly didn't make things worse anyway and by doing them I at least felt I was doing something towards my recovery - which helped in itself and it kept me active and moving.
The exercises put you in a backward 'extension' so if you get any pain going down the leg if you bend backwards then these are not for you. The idea is to centralise the pain, so to move it out of the leg and up into the back. If the exercises worsen pain in the leg or cause pain to go further down the leg then they should be stopped.
To start just lie face down on the floor and prop yourself up on your elbows to test it and stop if pain goes further into the leg. if it doesn't then you can move on to the 'push ups".
I did find the 'push ups' hard to start but you just have to do them gently and with each repetition see if you can get a little bit higher, and when you are really confident you can sag the back as well for a few seconds.
My arms did get sore because I wasn't used to that movement and it did stiffen my back a bit too, but as you progress, McKenzie shows some flexion in lying exercises to help get rid of the stiffness.
Have you seen a Physio - Mouse?
I think it is like every profession, it can be variable, but I was lucky enough to get a very knowledgeable NHS one - albeit I had to wait far too long for the first appointment. But he was excellent in assessing my condition, giving me an exercise programme and most importantly, for me, providing reassurance about the scary things that appeared to be happening to my body.
Good luck.
All the best.
Jayne xx
My husband also used the MacKenzie method also recommended by his physio, when he had a prolapsed disc. He found it really helped so good luck.
Thanks very much both for the advice, will give these exercises a go 🙂
Well so much for the back massage. I booked it a week ago, turned up today in my lunchtime, waited 15 minutes.......decided to return to work. Tip to massage therapists - keeping people waiting for that long between 12-2pm, not a way to get clients. 🙁
Well so much for the back massage. I booked it a week ago, turned up today in my lunchtime, waited 15 minutes.......decided to return to work. Tip to massage therapists - keeping people waiting for that long between 12-2pm, not a way to get clients. 🙁
Please don't give after 1 bad experience Mouse! Change Therapists if you have to, but please don't give up!!
What have you got planned next Mouse? :confused:
SPINELF
Hi there,
Well, I plan to try the McKenzie exercises next. To be honest over the years I have seen chiropractors, osteopaths, physios, none of them have helped. I feel better doing something for myself.
McTimoney Chiropractic
Hi there, I had awful sciatica about four years ago. After a course of McTimoney Chiropractic treatments (about five sessions) I was pain free...and still am! These chiropractics don't believe in any 'bone- crunching'. My chiropractor was also a bit spiritual which always helps! Good luck, I know that sciatica can make life miserable, Nic
Hi!
Maybe you want to try a class of the Alexander Technique. It helps you to sit and move with bigger ease. Also, it works on to release tensions so it slowly removes stiffness from your body. They reported that the Alexander Technique helped with sciatica and low back pain.
Thanks. The Alexander Technique might be one for the future for me - it is difficult to find a practitoner who is close (and who I can afford) plus I need to deal with the worse bit of the pain first.
Thanks. The Alexander Technique might be one for the future for me - it is difficult to find a practitoner who is close (and who I can afford) plus I need to deal with the worse bit of the pain first.
Wishing you all the very the best on your quest Mouse!
Don't give up BUTTY!!:)
SPINELF
Wishing you all the very the best on your quest Mouse!
Don't give up BUTTY!!:)
SPINELF
Thanks, that's kind. If I find anything that helps I will post the details on here as a tip for fellow sufferers!
Permanant cure for sciatica and stiffness in body
Since many years I was also suffering from the related problems. One day I met one of my friend who was recenly cured of his sciatica pain.
I asked his advice. What he said was really astonishing for me. He stated that:-
Medicines and surgeries give only cosmetic relief to the back problems. Massage and Physiotherapy give effectice cure. But if you want total cure follow yoga nidra and yoga and change in your diet and lifestyle.
Immediately after his advice i went to swami who blessed me with complete health.
I always suggest this to my friends. I hope you will also find yourself benefitted from this.
Core exercises
I would suggest core exercises to take some pressure off your disks. You should just google "core exercise". I would focus on the ones referencing the transversus abdominus
I would suggest core exercises to take some pressure off your disks. You should just google "core exercise". I would focus on the ones referencing the transversus abdominus
Will have a look. Things got a little better but now much worse again. Tried McKenzie exercises to no effect.
Bowen Therapy? Really helped me.
Latterly, having been evaluated by a biomechanical podiatrist, I have found that bespoke orthotics have corrected dreadful pain in my ankles/hips/knees/lumbar spine and shoulders!
Bowen Therapy? Really helped me.
Latterly, having been evaluated by a biomechanical podiatrist, I have found that bespoke orthotics have corrected dreadful pain in my ankles/hips/knees/lumbar spine and shoulders!
Nope, sorry to be Ms Negative but tried Bowen as well and it didn't help. The podiatrist sounds interesting, that is something I could look into - the worst of the stiffness and pain is all down the right side - I think my body is imbalanced so that sounds promising.
Muscle balance therapy
Muscle balance therapy helped me to get rid of sciatic and back pain in just few days. Imbalance muscles are key factor in any sort of back pain condition. Get the free eBook from . You will find detail info in this book.
Hi
I'd be grateful for any advice on how to deal with sciatica.
I have a longstanding lower back problem (L5 slightly damaged, had MRI scan some time ago). Every so often it flares up and is quite painful. I then have difficulty walking, actually in putting right foot down to take a step, and pains in the right groin side of leg.
I have a job where I sit for long periods so am trying to break that up at the moment by getting up and stretching at my desk as I know this is making it worse. My whole body seems to be getting stiffer however, especially on the right side. Also still dealing with the fallout from a concussion a year ago, so neck on right side is also stiff. Just wondered if anyone had any useful advice or good stretches to do .
Thanks,
Jane
What mean damaged?