Sciatica from below
Posted By: Patti on 2006-03-07
In Reply to:
They thought that I has sciatica, they thought it was my ileo psoas, but it turned out to be my hamstring. I could hardly walk, had trouble sleeping, one part of the thigh just hurt/burned/ached terrible. I went to PT and then to the gym and worked on my hamstring stretches and especially just doing step exercises. When my hip and thigh begin to really ache while typing, I take 5 minutes and do 50 steps on my step and it really helps. I also bought one of those foam pads for my bed even though I have a brand new pillow top mattress and that also helps. But the stepping and hamstring stretching worked the best. I could not bear the thought of walking up and down stairs but now now problem. 
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Sciatica
They thought that mine was sciatica and went to PT and so on. It was my quadriceps and if I do steps and stretches for the quads my hip pain goes away. I also use either a rolling pin or a tennis ball to roll around on the very sore spots. I am serious, spent a lot of money when they thought it was the sciatica and went through a lot but once I get the quads stretched out it really helps. Last night I could barely get out of a chair, did my steps for about 10 to 15 minutes and some stretches on the using one of the PT balls, and today I literally have no pain. Last month I was convincend I needed a hip replacement as could barely walk or sit but since dong this, it really helps. I do the core workouts and that has also helped. But this is just what I found out.
Ever had sciatica?
This is the worst pain I have ever had - had a shot of Toradol, have used muscle relaxant, Flexall, heating pad, hot baths, still hurts.
Urgent Care today said it is most consistent with sciatica and gave me rx for anti-inflammatories and then said to go see my family doctor and possibly set up an MRI. Has anyone had this and were you able to get well without surgery??
sciatica
Was in bed for a month with this two years ago. Had two epidural steroid injections almost 16 months ago and have not had a problem since. It was like a miracle......
sciatica
Had it for years, since I was a teen, then one day nothing worked and had to have emergency surgery or risk losing motor below the waist. Had L3/4 discectomy, and ZERO PAIN from either the surgery, or the disc level after that.
sciatica
Yes to both questions. Try to keep pressure off your hip/leg/thigh when sitting, stretch leg out under desk, walking kills doesn't it? But, with time, it will get better and numbness/spasms/pins and needles will abate. I do hope you feel better, it is not a very pleasant thing when you have to sit and type for a living.
sciatica
I don't know that I would abide by the comment of the massage therapist regarding chiropractic, but I do know that I will look at the information for Rolfing. I have suffered with sciatica intermittently over the past 30-plus years, but last year it got really bad. A back x-ray after a car accident showed LOTS (in the words of the ER doc) of arthritis, so I figured some day the problems would start. I was determined I would not undergo surgery and had to find something else. I have been seeing a chiropractor regularly for over a year, and he has helped me immensely. I decided I didn't need to go so often, and managed to get myself in trouble again, so am back to twice a week at this point. Today he told me I'm the only patient he has who flips back and forth between which leg is shorter than the other. I would hate to give him up. But he doesn't do short-term work. He expects a lifestyle change and a commitment to health and wellness, including chiropractic. My whole family goes, and my hubby for the first time in years has a normal blood pressure. From November on, however, he didn't go to the chiropractor, and recently his BP was back up again. The only difference is stopping chiropractic. So he's back in there again twice a week. I'm not saying it's a cure-all, but it certainly has its place. I think I would be a cripple in extreme pain now if I hadn't gotten treatment when I did.
Sciatica pain help
Any hints on pain relief for sciatica while working? 
Rolfing for sciatica
Drugs have their place, so do chiropractors. I once had a massage therapist tell me that if you get chiropractic done without soft tissue work, run the other way. So my search took me down the path toward a reputable, qualified Rolfer. I had problems in my 20s with sciatica and have been on a long road to find good care sans surgery. I founding rolfing to be an excellent form of treatment. Much different than massage and deals with the origin of the problem. I feel better now than I did when I was a teenager. And I have learned, from my Rolfer, how to attend to my own hot spots. Also, check out the Sacro-Wedgy; this little thing works great to help the sacrum/S.I. joints (a problem source for sciatica).
Thanks for sciatica answers!
Thanks to all of you for your advice about sciatica. It gives me hope to know that others had it and have gotten better - and I am really happy to know what all the options are for being treated.
To the person who said this is a result of being a Transcriptionist and sitting so much - is that true??? I never thought about that being a factor. I normally walk about 4 miles a day (not right now of course) but I guess that doesn't outweigh the loooongg sitting that we do, does it?
Also another sciatica question
For those of you who have had this, did you have numbness of your leg and/or muscle spasms in the thigh area? I am having both of these, and walking is the hardest thing of all!
Perhaps sciatica paresthesia? nm
nm
Ischial bursitis --> sciatica
Do you know the cause of the sciatica? In my case I get pain in my ischial tuberosities from sitting pressure, especially the right side. There is a bursa at each tuberosity, and they can develop inflammation. Since the sciatic nerve runs close to the bursa, swelling annoys the nerve - ta-da - sciatic pain. That's why it's important for me to walk or do bum-firming exercises. Keeping the muscles in shape keeps it from getting started. The other thing I always mention is the right chair. I need support at my sacrum and along my thighs to distribute the weight around and away from my sitters.
Just Finished Treatment for Sciatica
I was diagnosed with sciatica/piriformis syndrome about a month ago. My physiatrist sent me to physical therapy for Graston therapy and iontophoresis. I was to the point where I had to sleep in my recliner with a heating pad on my hip. Of course, this is the result of sitting for too long......a battle wound common to the medical transcriptionist.
The Graston therapy is pretty painful and you really wonder how it could possibly help. The iontophoresis consisted of a patch with two large circular pads connected by an electrode. The pads are soaked with dexamethasone. The patch is then stuck to the butt for 24 hours. It's painless, except I pulled off a couple of layers of skin when I removed them. I had this done about 5-6 different times over a three-week period. I was also taught some gentle stretches to stretch these muscles, which I haven't been too diligent about doing.
Bottom line is that I completed my PT about two weeks ago and I haven't had any pain since then. I hope you get some relief for your condition. I know how very painful it can be.
Sciatica - small knots in calf muscles?
Sorry to keep asking sciatica questions but I am in terrible pain! Did anyone have small knots in their calf muscles, probably from the spasms pulling so hard on them? They are about the size of a fingertip. I felt a snap in that area when I was stretching last night, but it didn't hurt all that much, probably because my calf is relatively numb.
Does this sound like it could be a little snapped peice of muscle or do I have a tumor? (Always reminds me of Arnold in Kindergarten Cop "It's not a tumah"
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