Discussion
Had really bad sciatica for 3 months (not being able to straighten my leg or walk kind of pain. I could only put my tippy-toes on the floor, no way could I put my foot flat) before it eased enough after treatment. Previous to this I'd had about 6 months of mild sciatica (but I didn't know what it was at the time).
It started (again, I didn't know this at the time) from the piriformis muscle pinching the sciatic nerve (the nerve is about the thickness of your little finger). This led to me limping a little then a bit more which eventually put my pelvis out of alignment, putting unusual pressure on my spine, eventually leading to a prolapsed disc between L4 and L5 - this was pressing on the sciatic nerve and caused excruciating pain. Never had pain before or since like it.
Anyway, the prolapsed disc was diagnosed by MRI scans via the NHS. I was offered Physio, which no doubt helped. However, I also took matters into my own hands, and visited a Mactimoney chiropractor, which seemed to improve things more rapidly. Mactimoney chiros have got bad rep, because some amongst them claim that chiro can solve all bodily ills due to 'the spine controlling the body's health', which is clearly bobbins - however when you visit them for what is clearly a spinal issue, they - or the fellow I visited at any rate - are very good (in my estimation). Previous to this, due to bad posture and sitting down all the time, I used to visit a 'normal' chiro, who simply cracked me back into shape, but never seemed to actually help with the cause, merely treat the symptoms.
Now that I recognise what the 'mild' sciatica is caused by in my own body (over-tense piriformis muscle) I can deal with it myself by stretching. The piriformis muscle sits under your gluteus muscle in your bum cheek, and the sciatic nerve sometime threads through the piriformis, sometimes above it, sometimes over it, I believe. I think that's just one of the differences in everyone's body.
So my first recommendation would be to go to the docs, so a professional person who really knows can advise you on your particular case as everyone is different. However, if it's really bothering you and you want a faster resolution it will cost: Go and see a mactimoney chiro once or twice and see if you get on with it. If you can tolerate the pain or it's pretty mild, take yourself off to a pilates class for a couple of sessions, explain to the instructor and learn how to do a piriformis stretch safely - and then you can continue to do so in your home for free. It's a pretty straightforward stretch tbh.
Don't whatever you do, let it develop. You do not want full blown sciatica. I was a numpty.
Long term, as you seem to be a healthy person - you visit the gym at any rate - echo the above poster with pilates as a long term thing. The idea behind pilates rather than yoga is to strengthen the 'core' muscles around your midrif which will help your spine naturally keep alignment as it is supposed to.
Your mileage may vary, everyone is different, yadayadayada
Hope this helps!
It started (again, I didn't know this at the time) from the piriformis muscle pinching the sciatic nerve (the nerve is about the thickness of your little finger). This led to me limping a little then a bit more which eventually put my pelvis out of alignment, putting unusual pressure on my spine, eventually leading to a prolapsed disc between L4 and L5 - this was pressing on the sciatic nerve and caused excruciating pain. Never had pain before or since like it.
Anyway, the prolapsed disc was diagnosed by MRI scans via the NHS. I was offered Physio, which no doubt helped. However, I also took matters into my own hands, and visited a Mactimoney chiropractor, which seemed to improve things more rapidly. Mactimoney chiros have got bad rep, because some amongst them claim that chiro can solve all bodily ills due to 'the spine controlling the body's health', which is clearly bobbins - however when you visit them for what is clearly a spinal issue, they - or the fellow I visited at any rate - are very good (in my estimation). Previous to this, due to bad posture and sitting down all the time, I used to visit a 'normal' chiro, who simply cracked me back into shape, but never seemed to actually help with the cause, merely treat the symptoms.
Now that I recognise what the 'mild' sciatica is caused by in my own body (over-tense piriformis muscle) I can deal with it myself by stretching. The piriformis muscle sits under your gluteus muscle in your bum cheek, and the sciatic nerve sometime threads through the piriformis, sometimes above it, sometimes over it, I believe. I think that's just one of the differences in everyone's body.
So my first recommendation would be to go to the docs, so a professional person who really knows can advise you on your particular case as everyone is different. However, if it's really bothering you and you want a faster resolution it will cost: Go and see a mactimoney chiro once or twice and see if you get on with it. If you can tolerate the pain or it's pretty mild, take yourself off to a pilates class for a couple of sessions, explain to the instructor and learn how to do a piriformis stretch safely - and then you can continue to do so in your home for free. It's a pretty straightforward stretch tbh.
Don't whatever you do, let it develop. You do not want full blown sciatica. I was a numpty.
Long term, as you seem to be a healthy person - you visit the gym at any rate - echo the above poster with pilates as a long term thing. The idea behind pilates rather than yoga is to strengthen the 'core' muscles around your midrif which will help your spine naturally keep alignment as it is supposed to.
Your mileage may vary, everyone is different, yadayadayada
Hope this helps!
Edited by Tonsko on Thursday 24th July 11:06
Tonsko said:
Had really bad sciatica for 3 months (not being able to straighten my leg or walk kind of pain. I could only put my tippy-toes on the floor, no way could I put my foot flat) before it eased enough after treatment. Previous to this I'd had about 6 months of mild sciatica (but I didn't know what it was at the time).
It started (again, I didn't know this at the time) from the piriformis muscle pinching the sciatic nerve (the nerve is about the thickness of your little finger). This led to me limping a little then a bit more which eventually put my pelvis out of alignment, putting unusual pressure on my spine, eventually leading to a prolapsed disc between L4 and L5 - this was pressing on the sciatic nerve and caused excruciating pain. Never had pain before or since like it.
Anyway, the prolapsed disc was diagnosed by MRI scans via the NHS. I was offered Physio, which no doubt helped. However, I also took matters into my own hands, and visited a Mactimoney chiropractor, which seemed to improve things more rapidly. Mactimoney chiros have got bad rep, because some amongst them claim that chiro can solve all bodily ills due to 'the spine controlling the body's health', which is clearly bobbins - however when you visit them for what is clearly a spinal issue, they - or the fellow I visited at any rate - are very good (in my estimation). Previous to this, due to bad posture and sitting down all the time, I used to visit a 'normal' chiro, who simply cracked me back into shape, but never seemed to actually help with the cause, merely treat the symptoms.
Now that I recognise what the 'mild' sciatica is caused by in my own body (over-tense piriformis muscle) I can deal with it myself by stretching. The piriformis muscle sits under your gluteus muscle in your bum cheek, and the sciatic nerve sometime threads through the piriformis, sometimes above it, sometimes over it, I believe. I think that's just one of the differences in everyone's body.
So my first recommendation would be to go to the docs, so a professional person who really knows can advise you on your particular case as everyone is different. However, if it's really bothering you and you want a faster resolution it will cost: Go and see a mactimoney chiro once or twice and see if you get on with it. If you can tolerate the pain or it's pretty mild, take yourself off to a pilates class for a couple of sessions, explain to the instructor and learn how to do a piriformis stretch safely - and then you can continue to do so in your home for free. It's a pretty straightforward stretch tbh.
Don't whatever you do, let it develop. You do not want full blown sciatica. I was a numpty.
Long term, as you seem to be a healthy person - you visit the gym at any rate - echo the above poster with pilates as a long term thing. The idea behind pilates rather than yoga is to strengthen the 'core' muscles around your midrif which will help your spine naturally keep alignment as it is supposed to.
Your mileage may vary, everyone is different, yadayadayada
Hope this helps!
Thanks. Will see what the physio says. Trying to see chiro too.It started (again, I didn't know this at the time) from the piriformis muscle pinching the sciatic nerve (the nerve is about the thickness of your little finger). This led to me limping a little then a bit more which eventually put my pelvis out of alignment, putting unusual pressure on my spine, eventually leading to a prolapsed disc between L4 and L5 - this was pressing on the sciatic nerve and caused excruciating pain. Never had pain before or since like it.
Anyway, the prolapsed disc was diagnosed by MRI scans via the NHS. I was offered Physio, which no doubt helped. However, I also took matters into my own hands, and visited a Mactimoney chiropractor, which seemed to improve things more rapidly. Mactimoney chiros have got bad rep, because some amongst them claim that chiro can solve all bodily ills due to 'the spine controlling the body's health', which is clearly bobbins - however when you visit them for what is clearly a spinal issue, they - or the fellow I visited at any rate - are very good (in my estimation). Previous to this, due to bad posture and sitting down all the time, I used to visit a 'normal' chiro, who simply cracked me back into shape, but never seemed to actually help with the cause, merely treat the symptoms.
Now that I recognise what the 'mild' sciatica is caused by in my own body (over-tense piriformis muscle) I can deal with it myself by stretching. The piriformis muscle sits under your gluteus muscle in your bum cheek, and the sciatic nerve sometime threads through the piriformis, sometimes above it, sometimes over it, I believe. I think that's just one of the differences in everyone's body.
So my first recommendation would be to go to the docs, so a professional person who really knows can advise you on your particular case as everyone is different. However, if it's really bothering you and you want a faster resolution it will cost: Go and see a mactimoney chiro once or twice and see if you get on with it. If you can tolerate the pain or it's pretty mild, take yourself off to a pilates class for a couple of sessions, explain to the instructor and learn how to do a piriformis stretch safely - and then you can continue to do so in your home for free. It's a pretty straightforward stretch tbh.
Don't whatever you do, let it develop. You do not want full blown sciatica. I was a numpty.
Long term, as you seem to be a healthy person - you visit the gym at any rate - echo the above poster with pilates as a long term thing. The idea behind pilates rather than yoga is to strengthen the 'core' muscles around your midrif which will help your spine naturally keep alignment as it is supposed to.
Your mileage may vary, everyone is different, yadayadayada
Hope this helps!
Edited by Tonsko on Thursday 24th July 11:06
I also heard acupuncture and (can't remember the other one) May help.
The pain occurs when sat behind desk too long and when getting up and standing straight to walk.
So physio thinks it could e degenerative stage 2 disc problem.
She gave me exercises to do and seeing her in a week.
Saw the chiro, he sat on the fence a bit and said either disc or sacrum issue. Did the usual bending tests, then tried the machine (can't remember name) and a tool which knocked the spine back Ito place. It curves in and left...
She gave me exercises to do and seeing her in a week.
Saw the chiro, he sat on the fence a bit and said either disc or sacrum issue. Did the usual bending tests, then tried the machine (can't remember name) and a tool which knocked the spine back Ito place. It curves in and left...
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