Hi All,
I took up running after my CABG to help keep fit 2 years ago but I had a really bad bout of sciatica in Sept that completely stopped me in my tracks. I'm just getting to the point where I can walk 5K and am hoping I can start running again, leg and back permitting.
Has anyone else been in a similar position and can give and advice on starting running again after sciatica? Am keen not to have a relapse if at all possible.
Thanks for any advice anyone can give.
I think Hidden has sciatica too.
Indeed I have. My first bout of it was in March 2020 and I was lucky we had to work from home then as I could not walk without crutches. It took a while to fully go. Ever since I have had a couple of light flare ups which lasted no longer than 2 days. About 2 weeks ago, I felt another light flare up, but went running after all. Big mistake... it worsened until I nearly cried with every movement I did. I don't think it was as bad as in March 2020, but still, it hurt like hell.
I must admit I have not yet spoken to a doctor about it, nor have I had any scans or whatever. So I don't know if it is an inflammation of the sciatic nerve or a pinched sciatic nerve. I do am 99% sure it is the sciatic nerve though after much looking around on Google. And one of the possible causes is a bad posture and I know I have a VERY bad posture...
So 2 weeks ago... so many movements hurt like hell and I had no idea what to do. Luckily I just had a week of holiday, so didn't have to limp around like a cripple at work. At one point I was so sick and tired of resting and doing nothing, that I decided to go outside for a walk. VERY slow as it was so painful to move my leg. But by the end of the VERY slow walk, it actually felt better!
Starting from that moment, it improved and worsened in waves. Maybe also because after a couple of days I did go running again and I did some heavy walks. So I did not exactly help myself with all those heavy-on-the-body-exercises. Nevertheless I can say now - after nearly 2 weeks, that I feel almost nothing of it anymore. I do feel in my lower back near the hip a bit of pain when I twist my body, so I know it's not fully over yet.
Long story short: I fear that I can't help a lot besides advising VERY slow (shuffling) walks, maybe taking NSAID medication (but talk to your doc about it first). If you keep hurting or it happens regularly, don't be a dumbass like me and let it be checked out. I try to convince myself to let myself be checked with a scan or so when I have another heavy flare up. Maybe then they can give advise or meds or I don't know.
Thank you for getting back to me. I feel your pain, literally! It really does hurt like hell, my heart bypass wasn't nearly as bad as this has been.
I got sciatica in my back and down my left leg in September and I ended up in hospital for the pain it was that bad. Thet gave me morphine and diazapam and it was still agony. Spent the next two weeks on a variety of strong nerve pain supressents and muscle relaxants and it was still agony. I have only now got to the stage where I can walk/hobble about 5K without it really starting to hurt which, according to the physio, is a good recovery! They have said its 3 months on avarage to recover from a bad bout of sciatica. They advised doing light stretches and to try and keep mobile if possible as, even if it hurts, its better to move than being immobile so going for your slow walk would have helped. They also said that their is not really anything you can do to speed up recovery, you can do things to relieve the symptoms but it will recover in its own time.
Am very encouraged to hear you have been able to run after your first bout in 2020. Will just have to be careful of flare-ups and, as you advise, take it careful when it does flare up. One more thing to live with as I get older!
Thanks again, your post has really helped! Hope your latest flare-up fully clears up soon.
It does sound as if you had a much worse case of it than me. I know how hard it hurts with me, I cringe to think how painful it is for you!
Indeed, verrrry slow walks can help. But with slow I do mean slow, almost shuffling. You can speed up to a more normal pace of walking and a more normal manner of walking as it starts to feel better.
Good luck and whenever you feel a slight niggle there, NO RUNNING. Do some easy walking and only run when there is no niggle to be felt. The same if you feel something during a run.
Please consult a Dr and insist on an MRI scan, I have suffered for years and still do, but after the scan I know it is caused by a partially prolapsed disc, and now can get physio and advise on how to not damage it further.
I tried that several times but just hit a roadblock. The GP, physio and hospital all said its likely to be a back issue but none felt a scan was necessary.
Sorry to hear this. Hope you get back to running soon.
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