Sciatica Saga Rumbles On and On and On...

[Jana83]

FFS! Please excuse my language but I haven't run for AGES and it's doing my head in!

I've had a niggle in my back and down my left leg for a few weeks now and after yet another night of interrupted sleep, I decided to bite the bullet and see a chi-ro-prac-tor (I have to say it slowly otherwise I say chiropodist - lol!). Luckily I managed to find a local one who had an appointment that day (based at the gym we used to go to of all places). I saw Dr Mitch on Wednesday morning and he used his healing hands to confirm that I did have an inflammation of the nerves in my back. Those upset nerves were causing a bit of grief to the discs in my back - not cool.

After checking my reflexes ("Oh you've got excellent reflexes", "Do I? Like a cat? Pfffttt, a three legged cat I expect!") and complimenting me on my flexibility (really???), he got to work with pulling, poking, tugging and twisting my body in all sorts of weird ways. After just 30 minutes, I could bend easier and farther and the ache in my left leg was going - woo! I went back to work and said "Look! I can bend down!" I had a lovely afternoon and was thinking that maybe I could try a small run Thursday morning but when I got into the car after work, the pain was back.

Then, when I was asleep on Wednesday night, I was woken up by a GINORMOUS cramp in my right leg - OOOOOOWWWWWW!!!!! When I got up Thursday morning, I knew a run was out of the question - I couldn't put any weight on my right leg at all. After nearly falling down the stairs, my two crappy legs and I spent the day hobbling around in work.

When I saw Dr Mitch again today, I told him all about my cramp and he wanted to take a look / cop a feel. He said no wonder I had cramp, my calves were two angry, knotted lumps of muscle. He gave me acupuncture which was OK until the final few pins, when my legs felt like they would cramp again, so he quickly removed the needles. Then he did some deep tissue massage which was lovely. After showing me how to do a proper calf stretch, he did his voodoo on my back. So this afternoon, my back has been fine but my legs were aching like mad - I can't win! My back did hurt again getting in / out of the car but weirdly, it only hurts if I'm on the passenger side. It's very weird being chauffeured around in the back of your own car - I sat behind my BF on the drivers side on the way home!

Anyway sorry for the ramble, but fingers crossed I will be OK tomorrow to try a small run

[misswobble Graduate]

Have you been to see a doctor yet? My husband was plagued with sciatica for ages and it was only sorted when he finally ended up paying for an mri scan, seeing a consultant and having surgery to remove scar tissue caused by disc bulges etc.

[andi22 Graduate]

I have long term back issues and last year I saw a chiropractor who does micro-manipulation. When she had finished with me I was straight again and pain free. Prior to that I used to have a terrible pain when I drove. That was solved by making the seat back more vertical. I suffer from tight calves and that problem is resolved by a good sports massage therapist who gives me lots of trigger point therapy. All treatments also have to be iced for the next 24 hours to aid recovery. Good luck and don't try to do too much too soon.

[Blanket Graduate]

Sorry to hear about your back Jana83. I have a similar problem and it does impact on running. I see a chiropractor quite regularly and it really does help align my spine which in turn reduces the pain. I suffered for months waiting for an MRI scan so privately paying for a chiropractor in that time enabled me to walk again. Anyway, he suggests that I don't run (which I still do but I do try to have long rest periods in order to allow it to heal). If you are going to run his suggestion would be to run on soft ground (grass) as this causes less impact on the body therefore doesn't aggrivate the problem area so much.

I know it's frustrating but these problems can improve so I would suggest you are kind to your body and listen to what it is telling you. Maybe running right now will inflame the problem and therefore it'll take longer to heal. There are a number of stretches that can be helpful for backs, has he given you these, maybe you could ask at your next appointment?

Wishing you a speedy recovery so you can get back to running (and so you're pain free generally!).

[Hidden]

I would strongly urge you to see a doctor without delay. My husband had what he was told was sciatica but, in fact, it was something rather more serious - a blood clot that led to a stroke. A set of symptoms can indicate a range of different conditions so it is far better to get it properly checked out by a qualified medical person - i.e, a doctor. Hope things turn out okay. Best wishes.

[Maisiemoo73 Graduate]

I.would also recommend seeing a doctor asap I had similar pain about 9 years ago. After seeing chiropractor, physio and having acupuncture etc it turned out I have 2 slipped discs..i ended up unable to sleep and had 3 months off work as couldn't walk properly. Thankfully the consultant was brilliant and every 18 months I have nerve blocker injections in my back and my twitchy/ spasm leg pain is controlled by medication. Yes it's taken years to get this point of being pain free but I am now on wk 8 of c25k. I never thought I could do it.cos I was scared of being in pain again.

Anyway the point of my long post is go see a doctor don't suffer in silence x