Recently, I was supposed to drive to Boston to see some wonderful friends of the family. The morning we were scheduled to depart, I woke up in excruciating pain with the pain shooting down from my lower back down to my upper back thigh.
I literally could not get out of bed. My husband said, “It is your sciatica.” I shrieked, “My what?”
The word “sciatica” sounded like my husband wanted me to try new recipe for dinner.
I proceeded to call my friends in Boston and tell them there was no way I could sit in a car for 5.5 hours with my new sciatica issue. My girlfriend was very sympathetic and mentioned she had issues with her sciatica during both of her pregnancies.
I have never experienced back pain in my life and my husband proceeded to reveal a story about how he sneezed and aggravated his sciatica. I was absolutely stunned that a sneeze could result in so much pain.
Unfortunately, there isn’t an instant fix if you have tweaked your sciatic nerve. According to the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons (AAOS) approximately 80 to 90 percent of patients with sciatica get better over time without surgery.
In my case, the best way to remedy a sciatica issue is prevention. However, if you are bent over in pain, another key issue is to get out of bed within 24 hours.
It may sound counter-intuitive, but exercise may be the best thing for the sciatica nerve. But, do not overdo it. In my case, a slow 10 to 15 minute walk made my situation better.
I popped a couple of Tylenol and applied ice and I was on my way to healing nicely. A chiropractor in Chicago told me to apply the ice 20 minutes on and 20 minutes off and to do this four to six times per day.
In regards to preventative measures, the Disabled-World.com website recommends the following in no particular order:
• Set your workstation up correctly - screen at eye level. Sit upright at your desk with your lower back slightly curved. Don't slump in your chair or hunch over your keyboard.
• Stand upright and pay attention to posture - don't slouch.
• Change your position frequently. Get up and walk around every 20-30 minutes even if it's only for 30 seconds.
• Exercise to strengthen your stomach and core muscles which help support your back.
• Do specific back strengthening exercises. (Try some piriformis exercises and stretches).
• Push rather than pull heavy objects. If you're lifting something heavy, use your leg muscles and hold it close to your body. Don't bend over and strain your back.
• Eat healthily and manage your weight. Extra weight, especially around your waist, strains your back. A simple diet with a good selection of fresh foods is one of the keys to overall health.
Know that over time and a small break from activity, you sciatica pain may heal itself and the inflammation will decrease.
If your pain persists, you may have another issue. Contact your primary care physician if the pain does not lessen within 24-48 hours.
References:
Sciatica Back Pain and Exercises for Sciatica. Disabled World. Retrieved April 24, 2012, from
http://www.disabled-world.com/artman/publish/sciatica.shtml
Piriformis Stretches. Runner's World. Retrieved April 24, 2012, from http://www.runnersworld.com/article/0,7120,s6-241-286-289-12630-0,00.html
Sciatica - OrthoInfo - AAOS. AAOS - OrthoInfo. Retrieved April 24, 2012, from http://orthoinfo.aaos.org/topic.cfm?topic=A00351#Treatment
Sciatica Stretches. Fit Day. Retrieved April 24, 2012, from www.fitday.com/fitness-articles/fitness/stretching/5-sciatica-exercises-for-pain-relief.html
Sciatica Stretching Exercises | LIVESTRONG.COM. LIVESTRONG.COM - Lose Weight & Get Fit with Diet, Nutrition & Fitness Tools | LIVESTRONG.COM. Retrieved April 24, 2012, from
http://www.livestrong.com/article/114712-sciatica-stretching-exercises
Reviewed April 24, 2012
by Michele Blacksberg RN
Edited by Jody Smith