Anyone have sciatica or sciatic nerve problems?

[caseysmom]

Last February we rented a house at the beach, casey ran in with dirty feet so I picked her up and carried all 45 pounds of her about 20 feet. I had sciatic agony for 3 to 4 months, there were times when I just had to sit down, I couldn't even stand. It finally went away, I just babied it and took motrin.

[Samantha Puppy]

I have a lipoma tumor that presses on my sciatic nerve, so I'm in constant pain. The back of my right leg and my right foot (top and bottom) are 100% numb 100% of the time. After 15+ years of dealing with it, I've become accustomed to it. I usually just wince whenever I get a really bad pain and ignore the rest.

I hope yours isn't chronic and that your doctor can help you get rid of it soon!! It's one of the most painful things I've ever had to deal with so I definitely sympathize.

[sirrahbed]

OUCH! Yes I do have bouts with sciatica and it really is a terrible pain - I think because you can't massage it or soothe it. Mine lasts several days and I start stretching right away - with two stretches that I learned at Physical Therapy. It really does help me so I hope I can describe them for you...

Lay on back (bed or floor) and bend knees. Bring the ankle of the side with sciatica up and put that ankle on the other knee....knee on sore side pointing away from your body.

(1) with your hands - press down on the knee of the painful side to stretch that hip. It probably will hurt a bit.

(2) now take that same bent knee of the afflicted side and while pushing the ankle against the good knee, bring the bent knee to the side opposite the pain and stretch it towards the floor. You use your hands for this one, too. This will cause your waist to twist...try to bring that knee as close to the floor as you need to get a good stretch.

The first stretch loosens up the hip area and helps you do the second stretch. That second stretch will pull at the butt muscle and this one really feels good - as if it releases that nerve a little.

I will do several of these stretches many time throughout the day. Sometimes the sciatica never really builds up to that painful stage - if I get to the stretches at the first twinge.

Hope this helps!! Probably best to ask the doc if it is OK to do these

Oh yes and I also have a medication - Neurontin - and this helps both the Sciatica and a bulging cervical disc. I take it every night.