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Debilitating Sciatica from Herniated Disc
#26

Debilitating Sciatica from Herniated Disc

This is how you beat it.

Do yin yoga, hold positions for 5-15 minutes each time.

Do lots of yoga sure, but pilates is your friend.

No One does pilates the way it should be in these situations.

Forget reformer machines, forget advanced techniques. Just pelvic stability work in tiny tiny subtle movements.

I shit you not, get hold of the "body control pilates" books and follow all the subtle watchpoints and instructions - again and again.
The movements described in the books, those descriptions are thorough and very useful. - not the DVDs cos the movements aren't in depth enough. "Body control Pilates manual" and "body control pilates back book"

All those pictures of fat middle aged women and fluffy towels and cups of tea and yoga pants later this fiddly shit - done religiously - is going to iron out weaknesses in your back, spine and core.

The amount of people I know who ignored this stuff because it was beneath them.. and they never fixed their backs.

See also Kelly Starretts Becoming a supple leopard for mobility tips, combined with pilates will help you alot.
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#27

Debilitating Sciatica from Herniated Disc

I've never herniated a disc, but I do get rather severe sciatica, sometimes to the point where I have to brace myself against a wall as to not fall over.

I've noticed it's significantly worse when I consume any kind of refined sugar, so I'm assuming there's some sort of autoimmune response. When I go without sugar for a few weeks, the pain completely stops.
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#28

Debilitating Sciatica from Herniated Disc

I had a very good physio (British Olympic team) who was also personal physio for one of the best Gymnasts the UK has had.

That guy has a Pars defect that leaves mine in the shade but he does his homework and still goes out and wins gold and silver.

My physio was happy with my spine and the work I'd done on it to the point where he said my pars defect made no difference to my physical performance.

Spoke to a body control pilates coach who teaches aspiring ballerinas and she was saying that at the teacher seminars they will just take one simple movement and spend all day taking it apart and putting it back together. Just a knee fold or a spine curl. all day hour after hour getting exact and microscopic with it.

Thats the approach you need to beat this.

Got a mate who used to lift insane poundages until his back gave out. He was prescribed pilates rehab. Asked him if he was seeing the benefits.
"Nah mate, I don't bother with that fiddly shit, its too lightweight."

Years later. Still injured - some days he can hardly move.
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#29

Debilitating Sciatica from Herniated Disc

if you're crippled to the point of being able to walk, do this stretch:






if, and only if, you can "sort of" walk around but with pain, do the same stretch except standing up. Find a bed, countertop, table, etc just make sure it's waist level and really strong and stable so you don't fall, and lift the leg of the side that's hurting, fold it across while keeping your body straight and bend over.

Doing it standing allows you to put much more stretching pressure into it which is what you want, right now your muscles are in a tense ball and pushing on the nerve you want that stretched out as much as possible. You'll want to stretch out like this at least once a week for 2-3 minutes to avoid injury in the future.
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#30

Debilitating Sciatica from Herniated Disc

Hi guys. So it’s been almost 3 months since my initial injury. That first couple of weeks, I was in excruciating pain and I have never been so scared in my life. My symptoms improved after one month. Then on the second month I was able to travel twice. It was about 10-12 hour travel x 4. What helped me so far is the McKenzie stretch. There’s many videos of it on YouTube. I do it twice a day - when I wake up and before going to bed. If you feel like your back needs it, you can also do the same stretch while standing (at work etc.) if you don’t have an area to do the prone position.

For long flights, I bring a towel and use it as a lumbar support. Just fold it and adjust as needed. It also helped that I lost some weight. I hope in 6-12 months I should be back to my baseline health. But even as it is right now, even with some limitations as I don’t want to over exert myself, I’m very thankful that I could again do the things that I enjoy.

When I was researching about this condition. Most of what I’ve read was worrisome and I really thought that my life as I know it was over. This is why I posted this. If you have been diagnosed with this condition, don’t panic. Just be patient. Help your body heal. You will be okay.
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#31

Debilitating Sciatica from Herniated Disc

I am 34 and just recently got this.

Here is what happened:

I was relatively fit doing gym regularly over the summer as well as playing soccer weekly. I am a second year Full time MBA and have to do gym fast and in short time because of time constraints. 9 years back I had lower back pain and the doctor had told me that I had scoliosis. His advice was that I do lower back exercises. That is how I got into gym and since then till starting my MBA last year I never had any significant back problem again.

In MBA I was not stretching at all nor warming up before gym because of time.
So 4 weeks back I was squatting 300lbs on a non fixed smith machine when I felt some slight tear on my lower right back while lifting the weights up from the squat position.

I thought its a normal back muscle pull which had been happening ever since start of MBA and nothing which a weeks rest would not cure.

1 week later the pain started going to my leg. On the second weekend I went to a music festival in another city. I was limping around the city. I decided to see the University doctor following Monday.

I was informed that I most probably had a pinched nerve and would need to take over the counter ibuprofane/Advil 3 to 5 times a day and rest with light exercises at the gym.

3rd week the pain didn't get any better while I continued gym.I decided to see a specialist as one morning the pain was real bad after sleep. The specialist did an x ray and informed me that I did have a slightly compressed sciatic nerve from my right lower back to right lower leg, caused by slightly herniated lower discs. It was the L5S1 disc herniation.

The specialist prescribed me anti-anti-inflammotory steroids and asked me to see him again in 14 days. I was told by him that I could still goto gym and classes provided that I didn't feel any pain while doing any movements. I cycled or limped around and went to classes and did gym where I avoided anything which put stress on my back.

4th weekend, I had a long day then partied deep into the night while wearing boots. Next day I got up with my gf and she kept rolling me around bed for sex. By afternoon my leg was hurting.

By my midafternoon I was in unimaginable pain. I couldn't move or settle into one position. The pain was horrible on my right leg, right hip and lower back. I was shouting out loud.

My gf decided to call the ambulance. The ambulance guys had a tough time putting me on a wheel chair and then stretcher as I couldn't sit or lay down.

They took me to emergency where I was kept on the stretcher for 3 hours before the doc saw me. I kept shouting and laughing deliriously with pain. My gf was worried sick and she kept going to the emergency people and spoke angrily to them. But they had other people in wait before me.

Finally the doc and nurse saw me and they gave me a strong painkilling injection. It dindt help much but lowered the intensity of pain.

I was then given a CT scan. Kept overnight.
My pain was so bad that they gave me injections stronger than morphine, morphine and other painkillers and l didn't even fall asleep.

Next day they did an MRI (which was horrible 30 mins as I had to strengthen my leg while trying to remain quiet and still in the MRI machine.)


I didnt want surgery and after looking at my MRI, the doctor told me best route is Epidural steroid injection. I was like bring whatever the fuck it takes to get rid of the pain.

The injection procedure was again painful as I had to lie flat on my stomach.

Post injection I slept a little in the post treatment room. When I got up I felt much better as the pain in the leg seemed to have gone down. But suddenly there was a blinding pain. It was a burining 11/10 pain that made me scream and the nurses rushed to me. It lasted for 30 seconds and went down. The doctor also rushed in. He informed me that it can be the anaesthesia giving away to the feeling of nerve. After sometime they did a walking test on me and I could walk little bit.

I was transferred back to my room. Kept for one more night of pain monitoring. I was informed that post procedure I would feel much better as the anesthesia would numb the pain. The steroids would then kick in 45 hours and counter the pain.

I was released last Tuesday. I am prescribed Tramadol 3 times a day for 10 days and nerve pain meds 2 times a day for 10 days.

I walk worse than a limping old man who has got arthritis.But I can walk. I took Wednesday off and in the morning went with my gf to the driving school as she had to give a test. I needed the fresh air. Plus I mostly sat in the car or waiting lounge. Rested all the rest of the day.

On Thursday I went to school in the morning. I usually bicycle to school but used Uber. Then stayed in school till afternoon. I was limping bad. Came back but decided to goto School again as every Thursday 6 onwards the MBAs have a party. And it was the Dean's party this time which meant good food. I dressed up and wore boots. Wrong decision. I ubered again. I stayed at the party and drank couple of beers. Plus smoked a couple of ciggs. I didnt move around much as I could not stand long.

I was planning to comeback but got dragged by couple of friends to the University bar. I stayed till 1AM and by the time I got back, my legs were killing. Plus I had taken Tramadol with Alcohol which I later found out is a big no no.

Next day I got up from only 5 hours of uncomfortable sleep, with leg pain and headache. I decided to eat something. Made noodles. Took advil. Told my roommate to get me lunch. The headache went away by afternoon. I just decided to rest the whole day as my leg was not at all feeling good. The pain was not much but I could not lie down properly with it unless on my side on a baby position.

Next day on Sat, I had two classes which lasted from morning till evening. I skipped the morning class and made it to afternoon class. Somehow survived it. In the night my gf came and we stayed in bed mostly.

After she left today, I rested and then decided to cycle to University as there was a function which had free dinner. At the function I stood around for a while. Ate dinner and now am writing from my business building. I am about to cycle back home. I limp a lot and can't stand straight for now. I have slight pain on my right leg and depending on how I put it, the pain radiates from right hip, groin, upper front thigh, back hamstring and to calf to the ankle of my foot.

Another thing that has me anxious is that yesterday and today, after taking a dump, I had some anal bleeding. I understand Tramadol causes constipation which I did have during my hospital stay but does such constipation also lead to anal bleeding?

I have to see the doc for followup by the end of the week.

What should I ask the doc. Till then what should I do?

I have taken 9 courses this term. I think I should drop some. I can't risk getting B and lower grades as my GPA is scholarship dependent and is already on the redline. Should I keep taking rest or try to immerse myself in normal MBA life?

Plus longterm, obviously I want to get back to fitness and soccer. I hope to deadlift and squat one day again.

TL; DR
I have lower herniated discs and was on anti inflammatory pills treatment when I had a severe sciatic pain episode and had to be admitted. Post MRI, I was given Steroidal Epidural injection. Released from Hospital. Limping badly. Cant stand or walk too long. Will see doc by end of week. On Opioid (Tramadol) and Nerve pain Med.
What do you suggest I do next.
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#32

Debilitating Sciatica from Herniated Disc

I've got two disc protrusions in my L5/S1 area and I've had them since 2012, they press on my sciatic nerve causing incredibly tight hamstrings. They occasionally flare up and stop me walking properly for 3-5 days. I'm talking once every 2 years or so. I was very close to having surgery in 2016 after a particularly bad episode, but decided against it as I have an extreme phobia of hospitals, getting blood pressure tested, blood taken etc. Makes me seriously panic and freak out. In hindsight I'm glad I didn't, as like others have said, just waiting has the same long-term outcome. Though one day I'm sure I'll have to get over my phobia if I ever genuinely do need an operation. I've come to accept I'll never be able to touch my toes and extend my hamstrings in any kind of way that I could as an 18 year old. Oh well, there's worse things in life.

If you're into the gym, I'd be very, very wary of squatting anything other than bodyweight squats. Goblet squats are OK too as they don't cause the same kind of flexion in the lumbar area, and as such, less spinal compression. I have that 'healing back pain' book, I should read it and see if it magically releases my hamstrings.

Edit: this was to OP. To the guy above, yours sounds much worse than mine. However, be really wary of being pushed into surgery. From what I know, it can help back pain, but not the associated sciatica. I don't know why, since the part of the disc pressing on the nerve has been removed, but it seems to be the case from research. Might be because the nerve has been pressed on for so long, it's permanently scarred. You can actually get some kind of nerve procedure that dulls the pain completely without paralysing it, but I don't know what it's called.

Every normal man must be tempted, at times, to spit upon his hands, hoist the black flag, and begin slitting throats. - H L Mencken
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#33

Debilitating Sciatica from Herniated Disc

A very experienced careful chiropracter + Yoga/pilates + appropriate amounts of rest and movement can help a lot. Injections into the spine from a qualified naturopath can help regenerate some of the tissue. It's called Proline therapy and involves injecting amino acids into damaged areas to help rebuild them.

My mom gets bad sciatica and she finds yoga and walking help her a lot. She takes a long band, extends her leg out on the floor, wraps the band around the foot, and pulls the top part of the foot (toes) towards her slowly. Stretching them towards her, and stretching them away from her helps her to manage it.
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