sciatic nerve pain

[superfly]

Does anyone else on here suffer from it and how do you deal with it. I have not been diagnosed with it but I have all the classic symptoms such as, lower back, hip pain that radiates down the back of the leg to my knee. So basically it hurts from my lower back to my knee. It is starting to effect my life in negative ways. Its a lot harder to get out in the cold and go fishing. I used to fish hard all year round now it just hurts to bad to sit in the boat all day. Any nonsurgical suggestions? I'm all ears. Thanks superfly.

[jimp]

I've had it for years and its certainly no fun. I don't have it on a constant/daily basis but it's easy to injure or aggravate it in every day life for me. My pain is usually in left hip/lower back area, and if I did a good one on it, the pain will creep down the front/side of my thigh over time, anywhere from a week to 3 weeks for the pain to ease off and end up at my knee. I use a heating pad or ice pack depending on circumstances to ease the pain. I also do daily back stretching exercises and leg lifts to strengthen my stomach and back muscles which helps avoid more events than I have. I visit the chiropractor for adjustments as well. I've learned to live with but as I said, I don't have pain on a constant basis.

Fishing all day is not easy as my back gets stiff from limited space but moving around and standing up/changing positions helps me. Finding some good seats may help as well.

[blackhawk961]

I had it hit me about 2yrs ago. I had never been to a chiropractor before and was talked into going. It was going to be 3 weeks before they had an opening so I started looking into things that might help. I also had it on my left side, witch is the side I carry my wallet on. I read that carrying a wallet could cause sciatic nerve problems. It kinda made sense that a sitting on my wallet could cause issues. I bought a small wallet I could carry in my front pocket and by the time I went to the chiropractor I wasn't having any more problems. I still go to the chiropractor ever month or so, he fixed problems I didn't even know I had.
Good luck, that is a hurting thing!

[skeetbum]

I've had lower back surgery and have dealt with discomfort of some degree for about 20 yrs. I'll spare you all the details and cut to the chase of what works for me. I find a step, table, workbench or whatever that is the same height as my hip. Prop the foot on the bench and keep the back straight, and wait for the discomfort to ease. Then reach down and do your best to get your fingertips to your toe and pull it back toward you. Leg and back straight is important and hold that, leaning forward as much as possible while keeping the back straight, hold that for a count of 100. Stretching ligaments takes time and doing it for short periods doesn't accomplish anything but causing you pain. This stretches everything from the back of the knee to just below the ribs, and is where the majority of my pain begins. 13 months with the first injury and 27 with the second I have been through more physical therapy than anyone should have to endure. Once I figured out how to do this and keep it up regularly I don't have to go to the chiro but now and then, 3 times in the last 5 yrs, and my painkillers are gone but for the ibuprofen when I overdo things. Realizing what you can't do on your own and when to say I can't do that was the hardest thing for me. Do the stretch once in the morning and again in the evening for 2 or 3 days and you will feel a small twinge as things drift back into place and the discomfort will ease. Depending how long mine has been out or how much I overdid things it might take a few days to finally go away. The wallet and feeling better and getting overconfident is usually my undoing. I generally feel OK but have my limits with many days and sometimes weeks going by in relative comfort. I hope this works for you as well as it does for me, and please let us know how you're doing with it. I'm interested if no one else is. And have a good new year.

[CatFan]

Cranking up the lumbar support in vehicle seats and adding lumbar supports to any fair you sit in much will help. NSAIDs like ibuprofen or naproxen can help. Anytime you notice it bothering you more than usual, pay attention to what you are doing and see if you can do anything to make it better. You aren't going to fix it right away, but you can make it better pretty fast.

[Rmoore]

Several years ago I had the same problem but the chiropractor said I had bulging disks. I would cry like a baby driving 20 miles to work. He put me on a machine that tried to pull me apart, called it a decompression machine. He did that to me for 30 minutes a day for 10 days. After I was done with that he told me to get an inversion table. You hang upside down. I have not been back to him and have not seen my regular chiropractor since that time. He also said to cut out all sugar, none in coffee or any kind of candy, cut out white flour, eat wheat bread, buns and such and cut
way back on beef. I really liked my steaks. I did as I was told, to the best I could. I lost 10 pounds feel better than I have in a long time. If you have any questions PM me and I will be happy to answer any questions that I can.

[prefers shiners]

growing old certainly ain't for wimps......plenty guys have this problem from doing a lot of heavy lifting....that stuff will eventually catch up with you......I also have had it in my left leg waist to toe......mostly in the lower back now.....I will not lift anything over 5# or I will pay for it......I am in some sort of pain constantly.....I use 2 Tylonol extra strength to relieve it.....sometimes I can go a week without pain reliever.....best position to help the pain go away is on my back, on the floor with both legs up on an ottman...had to sleep that way once for 5 nights.....

I have noticed that whenever I am out fishing, I never have any pain until I head home......when that adrenalin kicks in I feel good all over.....my doc says go fishing more.....

Hope you find some relief.....

[Cane Pole]

Nerve block.

["D"]

Seriously, my problems was the wallet. I either don't carry one or carry it in the front. I know that will not fix bad problems, but it helps me. Praying for you, cause I know that hurts.

[Cane Pole]

I agree about the wallet. I now put mine in the front pocket. I also drive with seat with no recline. I ride my go nowhere bike too. Pain dr told me these tips and it helps.