Sciatica Help Please

**zazen999** · 03-09-2008, 09:56 PM

My chiro and sports massage expert always say 'ice it'. The only painkillers that worked on me were paracetamol as can't take nurofen; and ended up having a shot of resolve every morning just to get up and running.

I used to have a range of those ice packs for picnic baskets lined up and when one thawed I'd get the other out. Do they have a freezer at work?

**lynda66** · 03-09-2008, 10:03 PM

traction got rid of mine years ago, that and sleeping on the floor a lot.

**SarzWix** · 03-09-2008, 10:05 PM

It's probably sitting in front of the computer for too long which is causing it Shortie

Constant compression of the spine in the same position, repetetively (ie daily), causes the disc to bulge out between the vertebrae, trapping or pressing on the nerve. The only way to let it repair itself is to reduce the pressure - floating or lying down flat. If you can, lie down on your front with a heat pack on your lower back. If you can't lie down without pain, it may be nerve 'pins & needles' caused by releasing the pressure, in which case you need stronger painkillers from the doctor til you can. Try swimming too, or just floating on your back.
At work, you need to vary the height of your chair & maybe rearrange your desk so that your position is changed, make sure you get up and walk around for 10 mins every hour if you can get away with it, as often as possible anyway. And walking helped mine, believe it or not. It got much worse when staying in the same position for any length of time.
Hope it goes off soon, you have my sympathy for what it's worth

**Shortie** · 03-09-2008, 10:05 PM

Originally posted by zazen999 View Post

My chiro and sports massage expert always say 'ice it'

.....

Do they have a freezer at work?

Ahh, would explain why the deep freeze works then... Mr Shortie bought me some deep freeze ru to stash in my bag to work so sounds like it is a plan to take with me, but the tube says only use 3-4 time a day

A freezer at work? Have a laugh.. we have a tiny fridge between 300 of us on my floor and not a microwave in sight

Cheers Zazen... I'll have a think on the ice pack idea... I know Mr T's do a deep freeze ice pack thing but they're expensive so not really an option at the moment... I wonder if there is an 'ice cube' version of those hand warmer things where you click the button inside and they go solid and warm for a while, and can be reused (awful explanation I know... I have no idea what they're called)

**Shortie** · 03-09-2008, 10:15 PM

Thanks Sarzwix, yes I find walking helps it ALOT. I've been looking like the floor nutter at work as it hurts quite a bit then suddenly gets unbearable and I stand up really randomly, lol.

I've had a guy over from Amsterdam Monday to today learning the work I do, and he must have though he was paired up with a real weirdo

I'll try a hot water bottle on my back tomorrow night ' I'll settle donw on my bed with a film on the telly nice and early. If I do it late I'll be asleep before I know it and roll over onto the hot water bottle!

I'll set an outlook reminder to get me up every hour for a walk. Saying that, I think my body will get my up more often now I'm not training anyone tomorrow

**squashysu** · 03-09-2008, 11:08 PM

i know the pain and want to give you a virtual hug! it is hell to live with isnt it, took a good 6 months to get rid of mine and it comes back all the time, damn backs!!!!

hope you on the mend soon xx

**Pootle** · 04-09-2008, 05:50 AM

Originally posted by Shortie View Post

Cheers Zazen... I'll have a think on the ice pack idea... I know Mr T's do a deep freeze ice pack thing but they're expensive so not really an option at the moment... I wonder if there is an 'ice cube' version of those hand warmer things where you click the button inside and they go solid and warm for a while, and can be reused (awful explanation I know... I have no idea what they're called)

Lakeland do a flexible freezer thingy (pack of 3 for about �3/�4) for lunch boxes - they're thin and flexible so wrapped in a bit of fabric they'd work maybe? Other than that, there are those heat things which activate on contact with air - patches or belts - I've used those with back problems before but they are quite pricey. I had sciatica when I was pregnant and so know a bit of what you're feeling - hope it improves soon

**snuffer** · 04-09-2008, 08:16 AM

Sorry to hear you are suffering Shortie. I don't have sciatica but do suffer a lot of lower back and neck pain after breaking my spine and neck in an accident some years ago. I swear by my TENS machine, it really does help. The good thing about it is that it can be worn fairly inobtrusively whilst at work and can even be useful down on the lottie. At one time they could be borrowed from our hospital physio department but don't know if that is nationally or just in our area.

**jackie j** · 04-09-2008, 08:22 AM

Tens machines are quite cheap now

**lainey lou** · 04-09-2008, 08:30 AM

Hi Shortie, you need to keep yourself as mobile as possible. Before you get out of bed in the morning lie on your back and draw your knees up to your chest individually then both together, if you can manage it rock to each side so the side of your leg is resting on the bed (does that make sense?), this should help loosen things up before you get out of bed.
I always find heat helps me rather than cold, but it's different for everyone.
What medication are you taking (if you don't mind).
As a reflexologist, a large proportion of my clients come to me sciatica or back pain, I have something of a reputation for being able to shift it and quite often after an hours treatment my clients are pain free and able to move freely, sometimes the effect is immediate sometimes it takes 24hrs but it has never not worked, so if you can stand a little toe twiddling it might be worth trying some reflex.

**Flummery** · 04-09-2008, 08:44 AM

There's a T'ai Chi exercise called the Taoist Walk - Himself caught me doing it once and calls it the Ninja Mince!
Stand with your feet about shoulder width apart. Hold your arms into your sides but bent at the elbow with your hands extended forwards, palms facing. Then take very short steps, keeping feet apart and putting heels down first. For best effect, take an in-breath with the right step and an outbreath with the left. Breathe slowly and deeply. This slows the movements so you are transfering the weight very slowly from one hip to another. It kind of massages your back and your internal organs. I find it brilliant. Just don't let your husband see you - he'll laugh. Mine did!

**Plot17B** · 04-09-2008, 08:46 AM

Hiya,
I've slipped one disc twice now (both big time events). Irony is that when I'm digging the allotment, working in the studio or working on the house, lifting, carrying, climbing, bending, I feel fine.
Then at my other job which is IT-related, 2 days at the desk and I'm hobbling/twitching/in spasm. And that's using a �600 special orthopeadic chair!

I've put myself to bed a couple of times recently, taken difloclenac and/or diazepan and then got up and carried on as normal after a 24hr rest. (watch the difloclenac - side-efects get me bad). (only pop pills when i'm in real trouble again)

So, if it's bad, lie down for a long night/day. Then just flex out, whether working on lottie, or via a lunchtime walk, or yoga/pilates etc. Just keep moving regularly.

Def with you on this one. Unless you been through this, you got no idea!!!!

P17B

**HeyWayne** · 04-09-2008, 08:53 AM

Originally posted by lainey lou View Post

Hi Shortie, you need to keep yourself as mobile as possible. Before you get out of bed in the morning lie on your back and draw your knees up to your chest individually then both together, if you can manage it rock to each side so the side of your leg is resting on the bed (does that make sense?), this should help loosen things up before you get out of bed.

It's also great for trapped wind!

**Pumpkin Becki** · 04-09-2008, 09:04 AM

I get Sciatica (too many horseriding accidents in my youth!).

I always felt that if I could hang upside down somehow that it would straighten me out and relieve the pain which went right down the back of my right leg.

We invested in an inversion table and it does really help, even on a shallow incline I can hear my back going crack crack crack - its great!

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