I know…I should be more careful…I was carrying some 80 lb. bags of cement last week, and I felt it…DAMN!
I made it worse by playing two sets of tennis this morning. We I did it…my sciatic nerve is screaming at my brain…sending pain signals to the brain at regular intervals. I’m careful to get up, I sleep with a pillow between my legs, but, ye gods, nobody should have to endure this pain!
Is it worth it to try a chiropractor? Does anybody ahve any positive stories about bone crackers?
Last time I had this, I went the steroid injection route-hurt like hell for 4 weeks!:wally
ice, rest, tylenol or ibuprofen and time remain the best treatments. Generally only if severe neuropathic symptoms develop (loss of reflexes, foot drop) is it necessary to do anything sooner than 6 weeks. That’s if no trauma was involved, nor any other complicating conditions.
Most back pains and sciaticas improve after 6 weeks no matter what we docs do.
YMMV, so consult your doctor
QtM, MD
Ice and rest always work for me. But some people prefer heating pads. I don’t know why hot works for some and cold for others, except to guess that either one requires the person to lay still (rest).
Research shows that rest and rehab exercises are equal or better than surgery, especially after a few years have passed.
Emphasis one = rest for 6-8 weeks, with lots of bed rest 1st two weeks.
Emphasis two = ibuprofin over aceteminophen because of ibuporfin’s anti imflammatory properties
Emphasis three: rehad through exercises designed for this problem (most of which are found by searching the web)
Chiro - actually, by the time chiro treatments end, you would be feeling better anyway, so they aren’t really doing much more than helping you do exercises that any doc would tell you to do anyway. And being part of chiro treatment makes you committed to rest and doing the exercises. Chiro doesn’t add any value other than being a coach/conscience.
Well, I disagree.
You can put up with it, take all sorts of medications or you can do the sensible thing.
Go to the chiropractor. They don’t train for the same amount of time as medical doctors for nothing. (Here in OZ it is 6yrs training to be a medical dr and 6yrs to be a chiropractor). I was married to a chiropractor for 15yrs - I would recommend a good chiro over any other treatment for most back problems.
Fairly different answers–unique, that.
ralph, I feel your pain. Last year dummy Miss moved a washing machine. By her moronic self. Suffice it to say, I had a nasty flare of sciatica.
I was told to do the pillow between legs thing, which did help. While all I wanted to do was curl up in a little ball and whine, the doctor said I needed to keep moving around. I used a hot pad, which also helped. Never did physical therapy, it just (eventually) worked itself out.
I cannot say anything about meds to take-I was given a script anti-inflammatory.
auliya, most of chiro successes are based on anecdotal evidence. At best, their treatments for such injuries are as succesful as bed rest, and at worst, they could set you back.
I went to a chiropractor and felt immediate relief, it didn’t cure anything overnight but every visit brought relief. Also, sleeping with tennis balls under the pain area is supposed to help. I couldn’t do it myself, my butt’s too big.