Sciatica

Cheers kansas.

Sleeping on the sofa, cant walk up the stairs, thx mm.

Might be an idea to see someone who knows what they are doing.

Physio’s and even massage therapists are pretty good at diagnosis. I trust them more than Doctors tbh. Also they are good at giving you exercises to relieve the pain and make the muscles around your back stronger

One bit of non medical advice I would give is you are an office type worker or on your feet all day ge5 a pair of Church shoes!

Thanks for all your help.

The human body hasn't developed, yet, to sit down.

Stand up or lie down whenever possible.

Get off your computer.

Lower back pain is horrible.  Had a nasty bout a few years ago and apart from being very painful it can be tough mentally if you're not making any progress

GP would prescribe strong anti-inflammatory like Naproxen.  Not a cure but does reduce pain and will allow you to do more of the things that will cure in the long term.  Ibuprofen (not as strong) is an alternative if you can't get to a GP or don't want to pay much.  Anti-inflammatories have issues with stomach ulcers so you'll need GP advice if you're prone to stomach problems

Physio would give you exercises to do and maybe do some massage.  This is what is most likely to cure long term.  One exercise that worked particularly well for me is knee rolls.  I used to do this when waking up, before going to sleep and one other time in between. I still go back to it sometimes now.  Like all exercises, go easy to start with
.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=39gL6fOqKWI

Stay active. Avoid sitting for long periods, sit in a decent chair, avoid sitting on the sofa.
Cycling was surprisingly good for me, found it easier than walking and it improves your core strength which is usually where these problems stem from

There is a 10-second exercise that worked for me. Of course, my problem might have been different from everyone else's. This is the video I got it from.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2qZ517Rw7ME


One thing I used to do before discovering the above, in order to stop back spasms, was take a couple of ibuprofen then go to sleep with the electric blanket on (make sure yours is safe to leave on overnight). The idea is that the heat encourages the muscle to relax and the ibuprofen kills any pain that would immediately retension them. Something like that anyway but it would do the trick for a day or so. I guess this is similar to @sixtwosix's microwaved wheat bag heat pad.

Alak

Church Shoes

You can never spend too much money on a good bed / mattress or a good pair of shoes. You are likely to be in one or the other for 16 hours a day.

I am not an expert on the back and have no experience of bad back problems like some on here but I do know my body.

I would often get an ache in the legs / hamstring/ lower back. These minor discomforts can be fixed with a good sturdy pair of shoes like Church’s

I drive a lot know and get occasional lower back discomfort and pain in the side of the thigh. I think but don’t know if this has something to do with the femoral nerve. This can easily be alleviated by stretching.

For all of you guys with lower back problems stretching and movement is very important. Just walking will help if you are not too far gone but wear decent supporting footwear.

Dare I say some of you guys might need to dust off your Lycra leotards and get into the studio for yoga or Pilates. I know I am going to have to start yoga soon. I hate stretching so am not looking forward to yoga but have done some t’ai chi and chi kung / qigong in the past and that is something more enjoyable.

JJ - I had a horrible bout of it about 6 years ago which took me months to 'recover' from...though I suspect a full recovery doesn't happen as I've not been the same since.
I was bent over looking like I was going through the cro-magnon evolutionary scale and the thought of it returning terrifies me.

I had the usual shít treatments and nothing was of benefit - I was even persuaded to pay for acupuncture and for someone who tried to turn me into an amateur contortionist - uselesss!

I'm always on the lookout for anything helpful as a precaution and from what I've been told, CBD oil is the way to go but there are so many dodgy fcuks out there, I wouldn't know who to trust or what supplier is reputable - I bought some stuff on eBay which was totally useless and was a waste of money, so I'd be reluctant to get bilked again, though I'd listen to someone's recommendation.

I've never been into weed...I've tried it twice and it's not for me but I wouldn't give a toss about the legal ramifications...I'd smoke a spliff.
Looking back on that episode years ago...I can't believe I was that dumb not to even consider it.
The old saying 'I wouldn't wish it on my worst enemy' - that's exactly what I would wish for them!

I can't help but see an article like the one below as propaganda but if anyone out there took the bait I'm sure we'd like to know if it really was beneficial.

https://www.independent.co.uk/life-style/woman-sciatica-back-pain-cannbis-oil-54-cured-brenda-davidson-orkney-a8022766.html

Good luck with it buddy...a bottle of rum didn't even help that much, so you have my sympathies.

Knew a couple of Lads in the Building Trade , Big Strong fit men , Reduced to wrecks by back pain

One fella had to Lay on a hard wood floor for weeks ..

Final Exit, Derek Humphry ( self deliverance ) may end up a best seller shortly.

i had same back pain for years.was told to lift heavy weights.started dead lifting and shrugs as heavy as i could but mainly just holding the weight in that position on the shrugs.within 4 weeks i was pain free

Darren dude

There are so many exercises in line. I might suggest your situation can b3 corrected. If like me you don’t know what L 4  L5 C8 D8 or whatever you do not have a serious problem but you have the start of a serious problem.

The simple stretch I’s slightly bend left leg place outer side of right ankle over left knee. Hold the pose and try not to fall over!

That simple stretch will sort out slight femoral Nerve “ inconvenience “

i had it bad in leg had acupunture booked 5 visits at £45 a time after 3 visits it was gone had the 5 visits never had pain since money well spent

Funnily enough my first episode of Sciatica was around 30 years ago, lasted best part of three years, main problem was sitting down, awful shooting pains I  basically ate standing up, hard bed ever since & I think sleeping on my stomach rather than my back helped, last time I had it was when I was in hospital having chemo in 2017, I was coping ok to a point but was in agony asking for paracetamol which had to be approved by a doctor who never turned up that was probably the worst for or five hours of my life, been ok since but anyone who's had it knows it could return at some stage.

Great thread indeed. Lots of very good advice from nice people.

For what it's worth,here is my experience with back pain :

First noticed it in lower back in 2012. Went for MRI. Diagnosed as Degenerative Disk Disease. Visited physio a number of times and got some temporary relief in wake of each treatment.

Then I met a friend who told me to try brisk walking. I'd always considered walking for the sake of it boring but decided to give it a  go. After less than a month of daily 1 hour brisk walking, I noticed a huge improvement. Have continued the walking ever since and I've come to enjoy it. I still have the disease but hardly ever feel it now.

How did I get the disease ?  Between 1999 and 2010 I became a very sedentary person - the internet and in particular, Betfair occupied my life. I'm still doing the walking and still spending lots of time sitting down (in a good posture position) but every 20 minutes I walk up and down 16 stair steps.

Good Luck with the Sciatica, JJmbe.

posture very important. exercise and getting the blood flowing

For all the shiny a*rses out there and I am one when on Betfair watching a Test Match anywhere in the World

They have these desks somewhere probably California that go up and down a couple of foot so you can stand at your desk or pc to take the pressure off your lower back. Some of you guys are Flat Earthers, I promise I am not sheitting you!