Does anyone know about sciatica.

[Lori23]

How long does sciatica pain last for, I've had it 4 weeks now 😪😪

[SheffieldJane]

Mine lasted 6 weeks following a prolonged burst of new granny activity. A skilled physiotherapist may be able to give you gentle stretches to help. It is agony!

[Lori23 in reply to SheffieldJane]

Thanks Jane it has eased a bit now, but not fast enough for me. Its hard to see a doctor at the moment. So I'll just plod along doing some exercises and taking ibuprofen 😊

[SheffieldJane in reply to Lori23]

Ibuprofen and similar are contraindicated with Pred and could lead to stomach bleeds.☹️

[Lori23 in reply to SheffieldJane]

I'm not on preds, and always take ibuprofen with meals, so far so good 😊

[Thirtynine39 in reply to SheffieldJane]

I have had sciatica for years and it comes and goes. I have stopped wasting money on chiropractics, physios and acupunctures.my best cure is pilate and rolling a spiky ball on the side of my bum.

[Lori23 in reply to Thirtynine39]

Thanks I've started doing stretches I can move a bit better now than I did a few days ago 😊

[Seacat30]

My sister had it for much longer than that (perhaps 3 months) so I wouldn't be too surprised that you still have it. It went off mysteriously for no apparent reason although she had improved her seating arrangements and stopped carrying heavy bags over her shoulders.

[Lori23 in reply to Seacat30]

Oh thanks I hope mine goes sooner than that, I've never had this before 😪😆

[Seacat30 in reply to Lori23]

Neither had my sister. I think most people recover sooner than that. She found that the right type of seating really helped.

[Lori23 in reply to Seacat30]

Thank you 😊

[Seacat30 in reply to Lori23]

She used a chiropractor but wasn't sure whether it really helped.

[PMRpro Ambassador]

Depends what's causing it. If it is due to the sciatic nerve being pinched by lower back muscles then try taking 800mg ibuprofen (you need that for what is called a flooding dose for it to work best) and placing a hot water bottle (or other heat source) across your lower back. It may take hours, it isn;t a quick fix. That is my emergency go-to when I can't move with back spasms. The sciatic nerve actually passes through the piriformis muscle and it if is tight/in spasm it can cause sciatica. There are stretches that help relieve the tight muscles too.

[Lori23 in reply to PMRpro]

Thank you I've found some exercises on line to do, and I'll continue taking ibuprofen. It's just a pain in the butt lol 😆

[Hidden]

Sciatica is a symptom, not a distinct condition so, as PMRPro says, how the symptoms play out depends entirely on the cause.

[Lori23 in reply to Hidden]

Thanks 😊

[Kaaswinkel in reply to Hidden]

Exactly that! Depending on the cause. and the management sciatica, which indeed is a symptom, it can last long or short. It is all about irritation of the sciatic nerve. Exercises which help one person might make somebody else worse. Some people are even better with no exercises at all. Usually don t stretch it hard, nerves don t like that! Gentle movement is usually far better than bedrest.....BUT...get a physio or osteo to help you sort it out if it “ hangs around”. ( this is a retired physio speaking). All the best.

[Lori23 in reply to Kaaswinkel]

Thanks I'm really good this morning walking with ease pain not bad, did some stretching exercises last night, it's 4 weeks today since this came on, thanks for all your advice. 😁

[herdysheep]

My first bout lasted a long time, but I was still working, carrying heavy loads, dealing with heavy doors etc - all needed to be avoided. 2nd 2 bouts much more short lived as I recognised the signs and did the stretching exercises, walked and had remedial massage. The extreme pain tends to make you more sedentary which I found was counter productive, but like pmr it is a judgement call not to inflame the problem!!

[Lori23 in reply to herdysheep]

Thanks for you information 😊

[Gary1310]

I first experienced Sciatica April 1., After 6 days my son insisted I go to the ER., I thought it was a hair fracture in my leg. After XRays the diagnosis was Spondyillitus (sp)..where #4 disc slipped over #5 disc in Lumbar area. I was given 60 mg of Prednisone and a taper schedule to 0 over 1 month. I wonder if it was a result of my PMR wreaked muscles, I walk funny and my legs are very weak.

[Lori23 in reply to Gary1310]

Hi Gary sorry to hear that, I had a burning feeling in my buttock and down my leg it has eased off a bit now, but still hurts. Hope you feel better soon 😊

[jinasc]

I use acupuncture for Piris Formis and Sciatica - found Physio useless.

[Lori23 in reply to jinasc]

Thanks 😊

[peege]

I've had it now for several months. Recognised it from the sciatica I had during pregnancy 30 years ago. Its both sides, from bott/butt to back of knees and left lower leg. It literally stops you in your tracks. Think mine was triggered from falling hard on sit bones 11 months ago. 1st night felt sciatic pain then nothing for months. Thought I'd got away with it 🙄.

[Lori23 in reply to peege]

Thanks for your information 😊

[piglette]

I hate sciatica it is awful. I have found that painkillers are next to useless. In my case it can last three or more months. My GP said six weeks!! I find a physio does help and exercises. I also have a TENS machine.

[Lori23 in reply to piglette]

Thanks 😊

[cranberryt]

It doesn’t necessarily go away. Someone I know has it and needs regular chiropractic appointments to help. As well as chair cushions in car and at work. Still they can have pain. It’s definitely a chronic condition and is very easy to reaggravate.

[Lori23 in reply to cranberryt]

Thank you 😊

[Lori23]

Thanks for all your information 😊

[Gary1310]

Hi…..Thank you for your response. I do not have inflammatory Arthritis , at least I am not aware of it. I did fall about 10 yrs ago and broke my pelvic bone…it healed just fine but I think I may have fractured that vertebrae and it slipped..? Anyhow I am fine now….except for PMR fatigue and weak muscles….especially+I ally in my legs.. My Sciatica pain was terrible….moved from hip to ankle and every point between.

[Lori23 in reply to Gary1310]

Yes I know what you mean I had pmr for a few years, it's gone now but doctor said it could come back, I hope not, but I exercised to build my muscles up, now I've got sciatica it has eased of a bit today its not burning now. Let's hope our aches and pains disappear one day lol thanks for all you info 😊

[Flivoless]

Unfortunately it's how long is a piece of string. I've had sciatica many time over the years (courtesy of playing rugby well past my sell-by date I think), sometimes it lasted just a few days sometimes weeks. Gentle stretching certainly helps.

[Zebedee44]

Rolling a tennis ball between your bottom and the wall over the piriformis can be quite therapeutic I found. What I thought was sciatica was the onset of my PMR and travelled down both my legs front and back between May when I tweaked my back and January the following year when PMR was finally diagnosed. Maybe that was a coincidence but it was very alarming as the stiffness set in. The doctor tried acupuncture with no effect and I was on fentanyl patches for the pain. Is it definitely sciatica in your case?

[Lori23 in reply to Zebedee44]

Hi thanks for your info, this morning I can walk better and pains not to bad, will do some stretches and see how things go from there, every day its easing its been 4 weeks today. 😁

[Pixix]

Have it on and off all winter spring autumn it can last a week a month or more! I can’t take ibuprofen and find other painkillers don’t help. It really is a bind and such sharp pain but you can see how many replies you’ve received, that’s how common it is! Take care, I find a heat pad and electric blanket the best help!

[Lori23 in reply to Pixix]

Thank you 😁

[Helipad]

I used to suffer with this and tried so many different things to try and help it but nothing worked until as a last resort I got a magnetic bracelet, I’m very sceptical about things like that but I had got to the point I was willing to try anything and the amazing thing is it actually works 😱. I even stopped wearing for a little while, being the sceptic I am, and within a week it started hurting again. Even my husband has one now and it’s helped him as well.

[Lori23 in reply to Helipad]

Thanks I might try one of them bracelets 😊

[Helipad]

I really to recommend trying one, I never take mine off now and you can can some really lovely ones and even silicone band ones.

[whitefishbay]

Are you sure it's not piriformis syndrome? Similar but you can find exercises to stretch and make it better. My neighbour is a physio and she suggested sitting on a tennis ball. Piriformis syndrome is a condition in which the piriformis muscle, located in the buttock region, spasms and causes buttock pain. The piriformis muscle can also irritate the nearby sciatic nerve and cause pain, numbness and tingling along the back of the leg and into the foot (similar to sciatic pain). Also there are other stretching exercises you can do.

[Anon123ymous]

I found an internet site when I had painful sciatica in my leg which shows how to relieve it by crossing your leg over the top of your other thigh.. and it worked!

[Lori23 in reply to Anon123ymous]

Thanks but I'm trying that one feels good 😊

[xdbx]

I was told the average is 6 to 8 weeks. Mine was very severe for 8 months! For that whole time I could hardly walk, couldn't drive or even sit in a car and finding a position where I could rest or sleep was difficult. I'm very glad to say it's now just the occasional twinge.

As others have said, it depends on what is causing the irritation of the sciatic nerve.

Working with a physiotherapist and an MRI scan mine was tracked down to osteoarthritis in the lower vertebrae.

I manage it now with customised exercises from the physio which I will have to do for the rest of my life. I will do anything not to go through that agony again.You have my complete sympathy and I sincerely hope you can relieve yours very soon.

[Amkoffee]

If it is sciatica it can last a few weeks to a lifetime of pain. It can depend on what is pinching the sciatica nerve. If it's nerve pain then neurontin or pregabalin can help.

[Karendeena]

My mum used to get it and it went off like a light switch after 6 weeks, she could almost set her watch by it!

[Lori23 in reply to Karendeena]

That sounds good today my aches have eased off a bit I can walk better it should go soon 😊

[benhemp]

I'd like to share my experience of how my sciatica was cured in case it is helpful to you and others here. This method works for many people whose sciatica is caused by spinal stenosis or a worn disc that allows the vertebral bone to put pressure on the sciatic nerve.

Nine years ago, when I had very painful unrelieved sciatica for about four months, a friend of mine told me "I know how to fix that." I said "Tell me!", and he responded that I should buy a stability disk and sit on it whenever and wherever I sat (the kitchen table, the car, the living room, the office; I'd just carry it with me from place to place). For about $25, less than the cost of a chiropractic visit, I thought "I'll give it a try; can't hurt!". Two weeks later my sciatica was completely gone. Since then I have shared this with about a dozen sciatica sufferers, and all but two have found it worked for them as well.

The way it works is this: as we age, our spinal disks deteriorate and are less able to keep our vertebrae spaced apart so they do not put pressure on the sciatic nerve; when the nerve gets pinched, we get the pain sciatica is noted for. When one sits on a stability disk (also called a "wobble disc"), he or she has to use the spinal stabilizer muscles to stay upright and not wobbling. Regular use of the stability disk causes the stabilizer muscles to regain good muscle tone, and they then keep the vertebrae spaced apart, thus relieving the sciatica.

Once I was cured of my sciatica, I kept using the stability disk for awhile, but gradually I stopped using it. I'm glad to report that the pain has not returned.

You can buy various stability disks on Amazon. I've tried a few of them (I keep giving these away to new sciatica sufferers). I think some are better than others, but any should work.

I hope you are sciatica-free soon!

[Lori23 in reply to benhemp]

Hi all very interesting, I have a wobble board I will try it, I'm lots better now it's nearly gone. I've had a lot of response to this which has been great. Thanks for your info 😊

[benhemp in reply to Lori23]

I've never used a wobble board, but I suppose it might work. From the ones I see on Amazon, they don't appear to me to be as portable or as suitable for using on chairs; from what I can see, they seem to be used on a hard surface (typically the floor). The beauty of a toning exercise that you do while seated is that you can do it while working, eating, reading a book, watching TV, etc., which means you can do it for a greater amount of time per day than an exercise one does for a short amount of time a few times a day.

[PMRpro Ambassador in reply to benhemp]

Boards no - but you get cushions as well

sensorydirect.com/blog/bene...

[Lori23 in reply to PMRpro]

Hi my sciatica gone now, I have lots of information if I ever get it again, which I hope I don't fingers crossed, and thanks 😊

[benhemp in reply to PMRpro]

"Stability disc", "balance disc", and "wobble cushion" are three terms for the same thing. For example:

amazon.com/Black-Mountain-B...

So we are thinking alike.

[Lori23]

Thanks 😊