Dammit dammit, sciatica pain from Crossfit.

[fuzzybabybunny]

Last week we did some WODs that included clean and jerks and deadlifts - high volume, timed, and I must not have had proper form. After a weekend of rest, I feel nerve pain down my left buttock and leg.

About 2 years ago I think I got a partially herniated disk from lifting improperly. I never got is scanned or diagnosed, but I can't think of anything else that would make my lower back hurt that much for 2 solid weeks.

And now I've got nerve pain. I'm going to see a doctor as soon as my health insurance gets approved, but in the meantime should I keep on doing Crossfit? I can do exercises that don't involve the back, but can't things like running and push presses still irritate it and make it worse?

 

[SociallyChallenged]

Well, you don't know if you have sciatica (possible impingement of spinal nerve roots or sciatic nerve) or piriformis syndrome (compression of the sciatic nerve as it passes under/over/through piriformis). If you have piriformis syndrome, you can't do anything that will stretch or really contract your piriformis to any significant degree. Don't do anything that brings on the pain or exacerbates it. In the meantime, go visit a doctor. You'll likely get some NSAIDs and a PT referral.

 

[gramboh]

I herniated a disc (L5/S1) dead lifting in Jan 2010, same symptoms (sciatica radiating down left leg), took about 9 months to fully rehab. Went back into CrossFit (at a good affiliate with a legit coach, not an L1 moron) and actually just reinjured it 3 weeks ago, on front squats of all things (my fault, went soft at the bottom trying to get deeper on a 2RM, idiotic move). I knew right away it was the same injury (similar symptoms although nowhere near as bad as last year).

I would recommend stopping CF immediately, icing your back and taking ibuprofin (Advil) to reduce the inflamation (I had lots). See a doctor/PT and follow the same routine as last time, at least that is my plan.

High rep weightlifting (other than light power cleans/snatches) are stupid and not worth the risk in my opinion. High rep deads in isolation are not that bad, it's when they are thrown in with tons of other shit at weights >60% that shit gets stupid.

 

[Deeko]

I had sciattica in the fall of 2009 from powerlifting. I was training for a competition so I didn't really have the option to stop. I went to a chiropractor that did A.R.T., it did the trick.