# Unbearable sciatic pain, help! **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [June 4, 2021, 4:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/unbearable-sciatic-pain-help/943625 "2021-06-04T16:22:47Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 5\ **Page:** 4
**Author:** ![squeegee](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/squeegee/32/14537_2.png) [@squeegee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/squeegee)\ **Post date:** [July 21, 2021, 3:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/unbearable-sciatic-pain-help/943625/61 "2021-07-21T03:59:57Z")
I herniated my L4 four times and recovered without surgery every time. Prednisone (it really does work, @mistymage, your doc gave you the “good stuff”) and PT. ---
**Author:** ![mistymage](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mistymage/32/459_2.png) [@mistymage](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mistymage)\ **Post date:** [July 22, 2021, 1:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/unbearable-sciatic-pain-help/943625/62 "2021-07-22T01:07:05Z")
PT place called and I get to go get “tortured” on Friday! The lady who called me said she thought my name was familiar. When I said “Frozen shoulder” she instantly remembered me 😃 Last night/early this morning I was awake in bed so I did a few different stretches and felt my back “pop”. The pain in my buttocks is minimal… the thigh to ankle are still screaming if I walk too much. Too much being variable and relies on if I overdid it 10 minutes ago or 30 minutes ago. Thanks for all of the encouragement! ---
**Author:** ![Franklymydear](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/a6a055/32.png) [@Franklymydear](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Franklymydear)\ **Post date:** [July 23, 2021, 4:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/unbearable-sciatic-pain-help/943625/63 "2021-07-23T04:14:33Z")
Re: TENS units. I got an over the counter one from a drug store. It did help. So i turned it up. It helped a little more. So i turned it up more. TL/DR. I got a scarred butt and left leg So be careful with those things. ---
**Author:** ![Al128](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/al128/32/16541_2.png) [@Al128](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Al128)\ **Post date:** [April 13, 2024, 12:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/unbearable-sciatic-pain-help/943625/65 "2024-04-13T00:21:53Z")
so, pinging @Lucas_Jackson for an update (this thread got washed into my feed today)… how are things for the past 2-3 years? how did it work out, need to know for “closure” 😉 ---
**Author:** ![Lucas\_Jackson](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lucas_jackson/32/303_2.png) [@Lucas\_Jackson](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lucas_Jackson)\ **Post date:** [April 13, 2024, 3:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/unbearable-sciatic-pain-help/943625/66 "2024-04-13T03:22:03Z")
I made it past. I’m pretty good now but I keep an eye on it. I was laid up for about 3 weeks. It wasn’t just uncomfortable, I had searing pain that wouldn’t allow me to get up for more than a minute or two. I did get a Tens unit. I think it helped … it’s hard to know. The dr prescribed pain meds but they didn’t work that well. In the end I think it was moving. I would get up and walk around the kitchen island. After a couple of minutes I’d do it again. I worked up to two times around and so on. It was painful but I kept it up. In a week I was able walk up and down the block. Ice packs, heating pad. Lots of stretching. It was a long road back. It hasn’t returned, knock on wood. But thanks for asking. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/unbearable-sciatic-pain-help/943625.md?page=3)