Sciatica Back Pain
 

Have you, had it?
What worked and what didn't?
I am not much of a medicine person to treat pain, only if the pain gets bad.

I had a MRI and going in for the results Monday.

The pain starts in my back, to my right hip, then down my right leg.

Cheers!

I found a chiropractor Dr. David Kuhns (Wildwood) that treated mine for 6 to 8 weeks, and that was 3 years ago, never returned.

Sciatica occurs when a bulging disc or a bone touches on the sciatic nerve. I had surgery to correct it many years ago, and it worked. They removed part of a disc. But, in older people, it can be caused by arthritis where the bone touches on the nerve. A chiropractor will take your money, but won't fix it. Medicine won't fix it. An epidural is a waste of time and money. The MRI is the way to go, but it doesn't always diagnose it properly. If the pain is not too bad, don't rush into surgery because it may correct itself over time. Good luck.

I had this and it hurt really bad. First thing my doctor did was recommend I go to physical therapy. Wrong! Then he recommended I go to a chiropractor. Double wrong!

Then he suggested, albeit gingerly, that I go a pain doctor. The pain doctor said I needed an MRI. After that we scheduled a time in the the same surgery that I used later for a colonoscopy, and they put me to sleep and he stuck a needle into the spot on my back that was indicated on the MRI. I went home and the next day it was like something magical happened. That was nineteen years ago and I’m still pain free.

The last time I had it the doctor recommended heavy doses of Tylenol. I don't know that it helped much. Tried various exercises, stretches, and heat packs but not sure that helped either. After about five weeks (hard to remember exactly) it gradually got better.

I have the same problem, though it was sciatica. As it turns out my friggin right hip is bone on bone and the pain radiates up to the back and down the leg. Looks like more hardware going into that leg, already had the knee replaced. Dam, I sure had lots of fun skiing all those moguls, but I’m paying dearly for it now.

I had it bad, and now an occasional flair up. Chiropractor did the trick and now I do Yoga stretches... seems to help.

Agree on a Chiropractor. Like anything else, choose wisely. Wait for MRI results and supply them to the DC. To me the least invasive way should always be explored first....before pain meds and surgical procedures. I don’t have a specific rec for you since I have a close friend in MA who treats me at his practice but I attached a Yelp link for May on DC in Sumter County. Best of luck!


THE Ultimate BEST 10 Chiropractors in SUMTER COUNTY, FL - Last Updated June 2024 - Yelp

Certo (fruit pectin)

I like Aleve (Naproxen) if you can take NSAIDS. I also use some kind of decompression, like hanging from a chin up bar. Inversion tables (Eg., Teeter and others) get a lot of positive comments; many preowned are available on Craigslist, etc.
Of course, my medical advice is worth what you're paying for it, and check with your healthcare providers.

If you are interested the most recent review of the value, or lack of value, of Chiropractic treatment for low back pain is online
HERE or for those of you who won't click that you can do it
Benefits and harms of spinal manipulative therapy for the treatment of chronic low back pain: systematic review and meta-analysis of randomised controlled trials | The BMJ

This study looked at published data comparing chiropractic manipulation and compared it to sham manipulation where someone does something known to be useless to the patient, or compared to simply taking a drug like motrin, or to exercise etc.

There are lots of details to read, but the outcome was that chiropractic was no better than just taking motrin at any of the times measured, one month, six months, and one year. But of course the cost in dollars and time is not insignificant. It was better than fake treatment. YMMV

Everyone is different. Chiro helped me. So did ibuprofen.

Sciatica may be from 20 different causes. Tight IT bands is one of them. A massage gun or tiger tail helps with that. Stretching is mandatory. Or do yoga.

I was diagnosed with it some 25 or so years ago, and it was most painful.
At that time, my doctor was an elderly gentleman, and "old school."
His advice was suspending from a rail so full body wight was stretching the spine, walk a lot, work through it, and take a couple of painkillers when really bad.
I just went with it, did as the man said, and after some months it just went.
Did it go because of the exercise, or on its own accord, I haven't a clue, but it went and never returned.
Think the treatments are a little more sophisticated these days, but if all else fails, it's worth a try.
Worked for me.

You might want to try a SI belt. You wear it below your waistline and it takes the pressure off. Around $10 or so on Amazon. Works for me!

I Googled WPAT. They said it was a radio station.

Yeah....that acronym can take you to some unexpected places.
I thought poster meant WatchPAT but that’s for sleep disorders

Stretching, Stretching and MORE Stretching...

Also refrain for being sedentary when the pain flares up. I usually makes things worse...

TB 12....pliability!

First, verify that it's sciatica pain and not a kidney stone.

Then - get pain relief for the immediate situation - whether that's CDB, THC, Tylenol, Alieve, prescription muscle relaxers (such as flexeril), or whatever you and your doctor agree is appropriate for your own situation.

Once the pain is reduced, get some physical therapy, including careful stretching exercises.

Also, I've personally found that Bigeloil helps. It's technically a horse liniment but people use it too. Kinda like liquid BenGay on steroids, without the grease, and the same smell but not nearly as strong-smelling.

If your pain isn't already running down your leg and is still isolated to your back/hip, try standing with your back against the kitchen counter. Then SLOWLY AND GENTLY lean back a few inches. It sounds counterintuitive but leaning back instead of forward can jiggle that nerve away from the muscles pinching it.

I feel your pain, going thought same thing. Please post results when get solution.

Study specifically left out sciatica treatment. Which is what he's asking.

Sciatica
 

Acupuncture about 6 treatments works wonders

Physical therapy with CORA PT @ Grand Traverse Trail. I imagine your MD will have to order it for you. (352) 254-3370. My sciatic discomfort melted away.

I have a herniated disc and now arthritis all stemming from an accident. I do daily stretches and exercises via what I learned from PT, go the the gym, walk 5 miles at least 3-4 times a week, keep the extra 5 pounds off and most important stay away from foods that cause my body to have any inflamation. Every one’s different but I stay clear of bread, pasta, sweets, and starches. The best thing ever, for me, was having my PT instructor do “dry needling” on my back. WOW!! It was not painful at all and sure softened up my pressure point. Now I just keep up with my daily health routine.

Totally agree with the SI belt. I’ve been afflicted with Sciatica from playing pickleball in very cold weather without warming up properly. Avoided tweaking it for a week and it got better on its own with the SI belt. Good luck OP with finding your effective treatment.

A good chiropractor! Is by far the best option. But please be sure you get a good one. Just like any other profession, there’s good and bad.

I had it for a while primarily because I was driving a lot. It went away completely after I purchased a memory foam cushion.

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0...e?ie=UTF8&th=1

Acupuncture. My neurologist in VA in Tampa referred me to one. I was reluctant but we tried everything else except surgery. OMG! Life changer. Over six years almost pain free. Whatever that Colombian doctor did to me, worked. At times, if I do something stupid repaying me come back, but now it’s just one or two days and he’s gone again.

What will relieve your pain will depend on what's causing it. I was forced by insurance to try EVERYTHING conceivably possible to relieve it for a year before I could have the L4/L5 lumbar fusion I needed to relieve it. By then the pain from surgery recovery was significantly less than the pain I had been in. What a nightmare that year before surgery was!

True Sciatica is a pinched sciatic nerve, a nerve which runs from your lower back down your buttocks and down to your feet.

I get bouts of it from time to time, and at one time the pain was so severe that I actually needed a cane to get around. I now walk, even when it is so bad you can hardly move, after a short time the pain eases. There is also an excellent Yoga stretch which helps.

You know that google is your friend, so google sciatic pain and there are some excellent stretches which will really help you.

I have a Day 6 bicycle on a trainer. As soon as I get any pain I ride the Day 6 . Pain gone.

ALSO……sciatica is often caused by the periformis. Piriformis syndrome causes pain in the buttocks and hip. It occurs when the piriformis muscle irritates the sciatic nerve. An mri I had showed impingement of the nerve at the l4/5. Scheduled surgery after epidural did not help. Insurance denied until I would first get physical therapy. I went and was diagnosed with periformis issue. Exercise and deep massage cleared it up. No pain and no surgery. Recommend first try massage or chiropractor or pt. Before any “slice and dice”.

All of the above... I hurt my disc as a teenager doing logging work. So I have been dealing with this all of my life. It bulges both sides, but more on the left.

PT to strengthen the muscles around the disc to give support. This is a must!

Strength training necessitates stretching.

Bulging means swelling, so anti-inflammatories. Whatever works for you.

Hydration.

In the beginning, I had ultrasound and laser therapy to calm the swelling. It worked for me.

Avoid sitting. Look up the pressure that puts on your spine.

Good shoes only!

Acupuncture can improve blood flow and healing. Massage from a trained professional too.

The only thing I would say no to is surgery. Look up the stats at 5 years out.

Chair yoga for back pain
 

]I highly suggest in this chair yoga on You Tube. 15-20minutes every other day is better than a chiro or ibuprofen that will kill your kidneys.

Chair Yoga for Hips & Lower Back Release - Seniors & Limited Mobility
26K views 2mo ago Chair Yoga fo
...more

Yoga by Kierstie...

I have it bad. Whenever it starts to kick in i go to the acupuncture provider. Only thing I’ve found that helps

You might try using a TENS unit. For me, it provided much needed relief. I would use the device 3-4 times daily, along with proper stretching exercises and walking when tolerable. My doctor prescribed Meloxicam and Cyclobenzaprine (muscle relaxer) as well. Fortunately, after a couple of weeks whatever had been pinching the nerve relaxed, and things were back to normal. The TENS unit gave me the temporary relief needed to be able to do the stretching exercises and walking, which no doubt helped. You can find them on Amazon for about 35 bucks.

Yes I have it. The best way for me to alleviate the pain was stretching exercises. I had shots, chiropractic, and PT. First two was temporary fixes but PT taught me what to do with the stretching exercises and I do them almost daily and they work for me.

Epat
 

Dr. Wilt will be discussing FDA-approved EPAT (Extracorporeal Pulse Activation Technology), an innovative and non-invasive treatment that could help you find relief from pain.

Jason Wilt, M.D.
REGISTER TODAY
 

When

Wednesday, June 12,
from 1:00 PM - 2:00 PM

Where

Online Webinar via Zoom

What You Will Learn

History of EPAT: Discover the origins and development of this cutting-edge technology.
How EPAT Works: Understand the science behind EPAT and how it stimulates the body’s natural healing processes.
Conditions Treated by EPAT: Learn about the various conditions that can be effectively treated with EPAT, including musculoskeletal pain and sports injuries.

Oops Typo
 

Sorry about that....it should be EPAT...

Dr. Wilt will be discussing FDA-approved EPAT (Extracorporeal Pulse Activation Technology), an innovative and non-invasive treatment that could help you find relief from pain.

Jason Wilt, M.D.
REGISTER TODAY
 

When

Wednesday, June 12,
from 1:00 PM - 2:00 PM

Where

Online Webinar via Zoom

What You Will Learn

History of EPAT: Discover the origins and development of this cutting-edge technology.
How EPAT Works: Understand the science behind EPAT and how it stimulates the body’s natural healing processes.
Conditions Treated by EPAT: Learn about the various conditions that can be effectively treated with EPAT, including musculoskeletal pain and sports injuries.