Anyone ever had sciatica?...

[rikki]

Physio should be able to give you an exercise to relieve the trapped nerve.

The cleaning the bath bit is no joke. On your knees, stretching out over the bath, then moving back and at an angle to your lower legs stretches your hips and buttocks in the desired fashion.

I'll ask someone who should know for a proper description or weblink.

 

[Globalti]

I have a long back and I suffered with back pain for years from my teens onwards, even though I was fit. Then at the age of 31, I started MTBing and I haven't had a moment of pain since. I do find that if I haven't cycled for a few weeks I begin to get mild sciatica down the backs of my thighs, which I put down to diminishing muscle tone in my back and bad posture developing.

 

[Pete]

I've had 'twinges' in the course of (what are for me) long rides, for some years now (I found it helped to dismount and 'take five' every ten miles or so) - but last year it hit me really badly and took me off the bike for long spells . Mostly it's severe pain in the bum and some numbness down the leg. Painkillers didn't help - ibuprofen just makes me feel sick. I wondered whether it was exacerbated by a minor injury - severely bruised shin - that I suffered in January last year, and which led to problems in the calf muscle for some weeks after.

I took myself to the osteopath several times, but that's mainly because I've been going to the same osteo for years now. He could provide short-term relief but really couldn't solve the problem. Physio might help - likewise - but I haven't tried it. Sorry I haven't got a magic bullet to offer...

 

[Kirstie]

Sports massage, physiotherapy, osteopathy have all worked for me in the past. And VOLTAROL - prescribed by the doctor - at these times I couldn't live without it.

Once your friend is pain free I suggest they take up pilates as a preventative measure.

Maz as you're in Leicester I can recommend a very good osteopath in Coventry.

 

[davidwalton]

...or knows someone that has had it?

Someone I know has it bad, and is wondering what homeopathic remedies are available to help relieve the pain. I did an internet search but that's about all, and I have no idea if the medicines on offer are any good.

Can anyone suggest some homeopathic remedies?

Thanks

I visit to the Doctor is first. Then, buy a Tens unit and place the 2 pads either side of the spine at L5 position. Electric current running through will give LOADS of relief, usually. Don't use all the time though as effect does wear off if you do (so I found).

After trying just about everything pain killer wise, Tens is the only thing I am happy to use. Never use pills as long term pain would mean long term pills which will do damage to the body.

 

[ChrisKH]

I've had 'twinges' in the course of (what are for me) long rides, for some years now (I found it helped to dismount and 'take five' every ten miles or so) - but last year it hit me really badly and took me off the bike for long spells . Mostly it's severe pain in the bum and some numbness down the leg. Painkillers didn't help - ibuprofen just makes me feel sick. I wondered whether it was exacerbated by a minor injury - severely bruised shin - that I suffered in January last year, and which led to problems in the calf muscle for some weeks after.

I took myself to the osteopath several times, but that's mainly because I've been going to the same osteo for years now. He could provide short-term relief but really couldn't solve the problem. Physio might help - likewise - but I haven't tried it. Sorry I haven't got a magic bullet to offer...

I have been off the bike three weeks now with these symptoms, just to see if rest will cure, which it hasn't. Physio told me there's a muscle in the middle/middle left of your backside which if it becomes tense/inflammed/over exercised pushes on the sciatic nerve hence the pain. Her solution is deep massage and tens like machine stimulation. Thus far I've gone along with her (who wouldn't want an attractive blonde massaging their back and buttocks?) but I'll be knocking it on the head after my session today. There's a possibility it might not be this, but the onset of arthritis in the hip ( I hope to God not) or some form of bursitis but I can't discount it. Short of seeing a specialist and having an X-ray, how can I tell? Not meaning to hijack, but it might give others further insight into their problems.

 

[bobg]

My apologies for being flippant earlier - especially when its so damned painful... just wondered if acupunture might be worth a try. I had a couple of goes at it when I was first diagnose with Menieres Disease ( deafess/dizzyness/tinnitus etc) God knows why but it really did do some good?? Or maybe once it settles down some regular gentle swimming might maintain a level of flexibility that keeps it at bay in the future??

 

[Fnaar]

Reiki was all the rage yesterday...
Actually my mum (RIP of summat else) had it for years, and a mate has it ath mo... says it's agony, so my sympathies. Effective painkillers (see the doc) but bear in mind that no medicine is completely without other effects... hope you get some relief. (I like the spliff idea, too....)

 

[Globalti]

My climbing partner suffered for years, culminating in a major op in which they removed a rib, deflated his lung and went in from inside the ribcage to sort it out. He now follows a rigorous routine of back exercises twice daily and hasn't had any trouble since.

 

[spindrift]

My mate had sciatica and he died.

 

[Maz]

My mate had sciatica and he died.

Are you sure? I find this very difficult to believe.











...You once had a mate?

 

[Arch]

My Mum's had it a couple of times, the first time the doctor eventually prescribed some painkillers the size of horse-pills, and she reckons she got better out of sheer fright about trying to swallow them...


I think she's also found physio to be beneficial - like folk have said - stretching and stuff.

 

[Arch]

To be flippant, I also had sciatica once, but it was as the answer to a question on University Challenge. And my Mum was in the audience and gave me a big smile for remembering it!

 

[TheDoctor]

To be flippant, I also had sciatica once, but it was as the answer to a question on University Challenge. And my Mum was in the audience and gave me a big smile for remembering it!

You were on University Challenge?
*deeply impressed*
Dates? I wonder if anyones put it up on YouTube...
*resolves to check at home*

 

[Arch]

You were on University Challenge?
*deeply impressed*
Dates? I wonder if anyones put it up on YouTube...
*resolves to check at home*

I doubt it. It was in 2000. We beat Hull in the first round, and went out in the second, to Balliol. They had a quiz freak on their team - that was their description! He had the knack of buzzing in instantly and knowing he could come up with the answer in the time it took to say "Smith, Balliol"...

Still, it was fun. One team who were filming the same day were quite bad and afterwards they asked Paxman to sign a photo for their Union Bar. He wrote "Dear (whatever college). You were crap. Jeremy Paxman"