# Looking for sciatica pain relief suggestions. **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [November 10, 2013, 3:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/looking-for-sciatica-pain-relief-suggestions/673579 "2013-11-10T15:55:55Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 15\ **Page:** 5
**Author:** ![MikeG](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mikeg/32/4329_2.png) [@MikeG](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MikeG)\ **Post date:** [April 25, 2018, 1:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/looking-for-sciatica-pain-relief-suggestions/673579/81 "2018-04-25T13:00:22Z")
Jtur88, thanks for the reply. I have done physical therapy, steroid shots, painkillers, inversion therapy, acupuncture, and a commercial strength Tens unit. The tens unit bought me 4-6 hours of relief. Painkillers allowed me to function at a minimal level. Nothing else did anything. I have a 10mm herniation pushing on the nerve and no amount of McKenzie exercises etc. did anything. This was truly my last resort and my surgeon comes highly recommended. He’s the doctors’ doctor. ---
**Author:** ![Helena330](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/helena330/32/531_2.png) [@Helena330](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Helena330)\ **Post date:** [April 25, 2018, 6:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/looking-for-sciatica-pain-relief-suggestions/673579/82 "2018-04-25T18:55:19Z")
How are you doing, **MikeG**? I hope this is the start of a much better quality of life for you. ---
**Author:** ![teela\_brown](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/d9b06d/32.png) [@teela\_brown](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/teela_brown)\ **Post date:** [April 25, 2018, 7:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/looking-for-sciatica-pain-relief-suggestions/673579/83 "2018-04-25T19:48:56Z")
I hope you get relief from your surgery, **MikeG**. I had a brush with sciatica back in the mid-90’s, and it was miserably painful. And that was just a mild case that healed up over the course of a couple of months. ---
**Author:** ![Uncommon\_Sense](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/f9ae1b/32.png) [@Uncommon\_Sense](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Uncommon_Sense)\ **Post date:** [April 25, 2018, 8:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/looking-for-sciatica-pain-relief-suggestions/673579/84 "2018-04-25T20:51:24Z")
I was in a similar state as the OP several years ago. Extreme, limiting, nasty pain. All day, all night. Cataflam helped a bit, but only temporarily. What fixed me (and still works to this day when I have a slight flare-up) is a full body stretch. What I do is hang from the rafters in my garage. I put some heavy gloves on and climb up a step ladder placed in line with the rafter that I want to hang from. I get a good grip with both palms on the rafter and gently move the ladder out from under me with my foot. I then proceed to hang while letting every muscle in my body relax, except my forearms obviously. And you can feel your body get longer as your muscles relax and your body stretches. I then slowly and gently rock my hips side to side. This causes my lower back to stretch even more and I can usually feel a pop or two and some cracking. Immediate relief!! Once I’m done (about 1 minute) I use one of my feet to drag the ladder back under my body and slowly climb back down. Very slowly. It’s amazing how much better I feel after doing this. It’s like full body traction, separating the vertebrae. Never fails, and I was a candidate for surgery until I figured this out. I have posted this in the past here on the board. I think it’s worth a try. ---
**Author:** ![Skywatcher](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/skywatcher/32/254_2.png) [@Skywatcher](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Skywatcher)\ **Post date:** [April 25, 2018, 11:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/looking-for-sciatica-pain-relief-suggestions/673579/85 "2018-04-25T23:20:38Z")
I’ve been living with sciatica, the cause for which is unknown but likely not disc-related, for nearly 30 years. What really helped me was finally ditching my old bed, a traditional mattress & box spring, for a thick memory foam pad and platform frame. Hardly have any problems now. ---
**Author:** ![MikeG](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mikeg/32/4329_2.png) [@MikeG](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MikeG)\ **Post date:** [April 26, 2018, 2:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/looking-for-sciatica-pain-relief-suggestions/673579/86 "2018-04-26T02:28:03Z")
Thanks for the replies. I got out of surgery about 5 hours ago. It went very smoothly, I’m in my hospital room going to take sleeping pill so I don’t repeat last nights 1.5 hr total sleep disaster. I can feel immediate absence of pain while lying in bed. I’m not moving st all till the morning when I meet with dr and phystherapy folks. I am super optimistic st this point. I am starting to realize how much pain I was actually suffering. I sort of blocked out the general full body ache and focused on the acute stabbing pain. My goals are to follow drs instruction to the letter to minimize chance re herniation. Time will tell. Thanks to all the posters who gave advice. I truly exhausted every other option and in hindsight wish I had gone for this minimally invasive procedure earlier. ---
**Author:** ![Beckdawrek](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/beckdawrek/32/3647_2.png) [@Beckdawrek](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Beckdawrek)\ **Post date:** [April 26, 2018, 3:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/looking-for-sciatica-pain-relief-suggestions/673579/87 "2018-04-26T03:23:04Z")
Take it slow and easy. ---
**Author:** ![nearwildheaven](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/90db22/32.png) [@nearwildheaven](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/nearwildheaven)\ **Post date:** [April 26, 2018, 4:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/looking-for-sciatica-pain-relief-suggestions/673579/88 "2018-04-26T04:50:10Z")
Sciatica is nasty. Hope this works for you! And I had a relatively mild case that quickly went away. ---
**Author:** ![elbows](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/b3f665/32.png) [@elbows](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/elbows)\ **Post date:** [April 26, 2018, 10:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/looking-for-sciatica-pain-relief-suggestions/673579/89 "2018-04-26T10:41:01Z")
Please stick with the slow and easy plan, Do Not Push Yourself! I’m so happy you’re already experiencing relief! ---
**Author:** ![Mama\_Zappa](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/71e660/32.png) [@Mama\_Zappa](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mama_Zappa)\ **Post date:** [April 26, 2018, 5:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/looking-for-sciatica-pain-relief-suggestions/673579/90 "2018-04-26T17:56:51Z")
Yay! So glad to hear you’re feeling better already. I can totally get forgetting about the low-lying constant misery stuff when you’ve got more acute agony to deal with. Here’s hoping they are both soon distant memories. ---
**Author:** ![Mama\_Zappa](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/71e660/32.png) [@Mama\_Zappa](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mama_Zappa)\ **Post date:** [May 3, 2018, 6:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/looking-for-sciatica-pain-relief-suggestions/673579/91 "2018-05-03T18:02:08Z")
Bumpdate: MikeG, how’s it going? ---
**Author:** ![MikeG](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mikeg/32/4329_2.png) [@MikeG](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MikeG)\ **Post date:** [May 4, 2018, 3:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/looking-for-sciatica-pain-relief-suggestions/673579/92 "2018-05-04T03:41:55Z")
Update. It’s been a week. My back feels great. In the morning I might get a split second thing in mybbutt but the doc says that’s normal; the nerves were so badly pinched they are still complaining. Bed rest and short walks minimal lifting max 5 pounds. It’s making me stir crazy. Hopefully I’ll get to return to work next week. Only a couple things I’m looking out for. A. One of the meds is making soda and water taste funny in a chemical sort of way. B. PROTIP: if you have been taking 4-8 norco a day for three months, stopping cold turkey is a VERY bad idea. Had a night of pure torture till I figured out what was happening. Now I’m slowly wearing myself off 10% less each day or two. Much better. C. It’s hard to not feel like I’m fine now, I have to take it slowly. Reherniating the disc would suck so so so much. ---
**Author:** ![Beckdawrek](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/beckdawrek/32/3647_2.png) [@Beckdawrek](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Beckdawrek)\ **Post date:** [May 4, 2018, 4:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/looking-for-sciatica-pain-relief-suggestions/673579/93 "2018-05-04T04:27:31Z")
I knew that Norco would be a problem. Coming off a mild addiction ( not that you didn’t need it, I know you did ) is painful. Keep lowering it some every day, it will quit being necessary. I am so glad your back is better. Good luck. ---
**Author:** ![Helena330](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/helena330/32/531_2.png) [@Helena330](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Helena330)\ **Post date:** [May 4, 2018, 4:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/looking-for-sciatica-pain-relief-suggestions/673579/94 "2018-05-04T04:45:37Z")
It’s dependence not addiction. A small price to pay considering the alternative. **MikeG** , I’m so glad you’re feeling better and that the surgery was successful! ---
**Author:** ![Mama\_Zappa](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/71e660/32.png) [@Mama\_Zappa](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mama_Zappa)\ **Post date:** [May 11, 2018, 7:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/looking-for-sciatica-pain-relief-suggestions/673579/95 "2018-05-11T07:53:46Z")
> [@MikeG](#): > > Update. It’s been a week. My back feels great. In the morning I might get a split second thing in mybbutt but the doc says that’s normal; the nerves were so badly pinched they are still complaining. > > Bed rest and short walks minimal lifting max 5 pounds. It’s making me stir crazy. Hopefully I’ll get to return to work next week. > > Only a couple things I’m looking out for. > > A. One of the meds is making soda and water taste funny in a chemical sort of way. > > B. PROTIP: if you have been taking 4-8 norco a day for three months, stopping cold turkey is a VERY bad idea. Had a night of pure torture till I figured out what was happening. Now I’m slowly wearing myself off 10% less each day or two. Much better. > > C. It’s hard to not feel like I’m fine now, I have to take it slowly. Reherniating the disc would suck so so so much. Ugh on the self-induced withdrawal!! Good luck with the weaning. Yay on the massive improvement in pain. I can definitely see how you’d worry about feeling too good and doing yourself an injury! What med do you think is messing with your sense of taste? I remember having something like that once when I was on a burst of prednisone (though other times, I have not had that happen). [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/looking-for-sciatica-pain-relief-suggestions/673579.md?page=4)