Sciatica, I hate it, I fear it, I'm in pain!!!

[Oldgirl]

It always seems to happen when my running is on a high, pain started yesterday in my right hip. Today the knot is spreading and more painful No running for me tonight, its so annoying. I just pray it doesn't flare into full blown, it scares me and left me crippled for over 6 weeks the last time.

[Dovercourt]

Thinking of you Oldgirl and sending you get well vibes. Be careful with yourself. I can't run without you!

[Oldgirl Graduate in reply to Dovercourt]

Thank you Dovercourt its the one pain that scares me as I know how very vicious it can be, hopefully it will settle down. Keep on running you don't need others you just need faith in yourself and to know that others care and you know that we do already.

[suzybenj Graduate]

Yes - not much fun - full sympathy. My calf is niggling at the moment and I am dreading an injury.

Get well soon and be pain free soon.xx

[sofaqueen Graduate]

Really feel for you, I've had this since my first pregnancy 17 years ago and it can be really debilitating. I hope your roller helps to ease it for you, fingers crossed.

[Oldgirl Graduate in reply to sofaqueen]

Thanks SQ, it was painful to use but has eased it off along with popping a tablet. Have got a 200 mile drive tomorrow, not looking forward to that if its not easier. Will take my roller with me I think

[sofaqueen Graduate in reply to Oldgirl]

Poor you, that's a long drive and I don't know about you but even when my sciatica isn't bad, it flares up after a long journey. Hope you can stop a few times and maybe manage to find a place for some rollering en route. PS I like SQ!

[Beek Graduate]

Dear Oldgirl, I am so sorry to hear of your problem coming back. I once had an injured neck which caused pain all down my leg too so I know how debilitating it can be. And pain is so wearing. I have no idea what to suggest, although I did go to a sports physio who helped a lot with mine. Could that be an option for you? I hope you very soon get some relief and that you can pop your running shoes on soon. Thinking about you and be kind to yourself. You are important to us here!

[NineChooks Graduate]

I think they may need to rename this the C25K injury forum the way it is going at the mo!

I too am nursing my back and trying to be patient, but it's very annoying

I really hope we're all back to happy running posts soon- I want to do my first Parkrun!

[Oldgirl Graduate in reply to NineChooks]

Nah NineChooks we are athletes and they are always having to nurse injuries, we can rise above them She says with fingers crossed.

[ju-ju- Graduate]

I so hope it feels better soon...and make sure you have plenty of breaks on your long drive and a good back support. Take Care Oldgirl, you keep us all going xx

[OldNed Graduate]

Sorry to hear this Oldgirl; hope it doesn't get worse, indeed gets better quickly. Do you know what causes it? If there is a skeletal/alignment cause you might want to try a chiropractor. Worked wonders for my chronic lower back pain, which was referring down my leg too. At it's worst I was walking with a stick and now....!

[Mazzero Graduate]

Thinking of you old girl. I really do hope you start feeling better soon. Best wishes for a speedy recovery x

[Aftabs Graduate]

Get well soon!

[runningwild Graduate]

Fingers crossed for you, so sorry to hear.

[Oldgirl Graduate]

Thanks very much all of you for your good wishes. I have packed my pain relief tablets, my roller and my running gear, positive thinking eh! I'm heading north tomorrow to look after our grandchildren while son goes into hospital, DIL going with him as it's over 100 miles away. More positive thinking called for! Will have collie dog for company during the day until little people get home from school though.

[ancientrunner Graduate in reply to Oldgirl]

Hope they're not too little - no lifting remember. Hope you are on the mend soon. Linda

[NaughtyNanna Graduate in reply to Oldgirl]

Hope you feel better soon and have a safe journeyxx

[Fentaz42 Graduate]

Oh dear, I hope you're feeling better soon look after yourself Oldgirl x

[fabbyfifty]

Hope you're soon on the mend and take care driving tomorrow.

[nomoresloth Graduate]

Get well soon, Oldgirl!

[Hidden]

Best wishes on the long drive -- and then a rapid and uneventful recovery while you are granny. So sorry this sort of thing puts a wrench in the works. Get well soon!

[fits735]

I have it also. Need to stretch every morning and do some core exercises to keep it at bay. Foam rolling really helps also.

[Honorsmum]

Sounds like you're the one who needs looking after :-Hope the long drive doesn't prove too painful and you feel MUCH better with some rest from running. Xx

[Carolecal]

Get well soon , Oldgirl. Hope the long drive is not too arduous .

Take care of yourself as well as the grandkids and the collie...we need you here as well !

[BettyJane Graduate]

Sorry to hear your sciatica is bothering you again, hope it's short lived. At my last physio session (nearly 2 weeks ago) I had acupuncture, which almost immediately sorted out the muscle spasm, and dulled the sciatica pain, after a couple of days my leg felt great again although my back is still sore. I'm seeing the physio again tomorrow, so hopefully more of the same.

Do you know this stretch? lay on back, legs down, bring affected leg/knee up to your chest and holding near knee pulling towards opposite shoulder, hold for 30 secs.

Good luck on your long drive.

[danzargo Graduate]

Ohhhhh noooooooo! Poor OG. I feel your pain, and hope relief visits your body soon so you can get back out there and kick aaassssssss!

[Hidden]

Hope you managed your journey alright! I had a sciatica problem years ago and I saw an osteopath which did the trick for me. I had 6 sessions with him (the first was hell!) but I can honestly say I have had no problems since Can't promise it'd work for you but might be worth looking into. Whatever you decide to do hope you're up and running again v soon

[Mini13 Graduate]

Dear Oldgirl, Just want to let you know that I am thinking of you and wishing you speedy recovery!! Lots of love, hugs and kisses!!!

[greenlegs Graduate]

Sorry to hear about the sciatica returning, OG. I had it years ago when I was pregnant (and had bad posture) - it's so horrible not knowing when it's going to shoot pain at you. Hope you get it sorted very soon, and that you grandchild-sitting goes off smoothly.

[waletta Graduate]

Hope this gets better soon. As has already been said you are important to us. Obviously vital to your family at the moment. Love your positive attitude. Take care.

[OldNed Graduate]

The stretch BettyJane describes above is EXACTLY what my chiropractor told me to do. He told me my hamstrings were too tight and were pulling my pelvis out of alignment, which in turn was straining my lower back and causing the pain. He actually stood behind me, looked at the alignment of my spine and laughed. Oh dear; that bad, eh? But I do the stretches every morning before getting out of bed and I'm convinced they help. May be worth a try?

[notbad Graduate]

Hope you feel better soon oldgirl! I know you're clued up on stretching, but here are a few that helped me when I had my piriformis trouble:

Sit back straight, cross the bad leg over the good at 90°, gentle downward pressure to the 'bad' knee.

Lie flat on back, bend both knees, cross the bad leg over the good as above and gently draw as close to the chest as you can.

The stretch Betty J described is also good. Hope you can get some relief - it's a beggar!

[SarahP0003 Graduate]

Hope you're on the mend soon Oldgirl. Take care.

[Hidden]

Just the word 'Sciatica' makes me shudder, hope it doesn't flare up and you can get it to settle quickly. Take care