• We’re currently investigating an issue related to the forum theme and styling that is impacting page layout and visual formatting. The problem has been identified, and we are actively working on a resolution. There is no impact to user data or functionality, this is strictly a front-end display issue. We’ll post an update once the fix has been deployed. Thanks for your patience while we get this sorted.

Sciatic nerve problem

kag

Golden Member
About 3 years ago, I was getting out of the shower and I bent over to dry my feet and when I got back up, I felt something in my back. It wasn't really painful but I knew it wasn't normal. The next day, I couldn't get up from bed from the pain.

Since that day, my left leg has always been a little bit stiffer than the right. For example, when I was going to the gym and I stretched, even after several minutes of stretching, I could never touch my left foot with my hands, while I could almost get my wrist past my right foot. I didn't stretch my legs everyday, only when I was working out my legs.

In everyday life, it doesn't cause me any problem. The most annoying thing is that if I sit on the floor, I cannot fully unbend my left leg. But like once or twice a year (like right now), I just wake up and my lower back hurts. And I have trouble walking because either the sciatic nerve (internal popliteal sciatic nerve, to be exact.. I think) or some kind of muscle behind my left leg feels like it's 1" too short. The pain only goes down to my knee, not lower than that. It only lasts for about 3-4 days but it's damn annoying.

I did some reading on the sciatic nerve but most of the pages were too technical. I'm trying to understand what is causing the sudden inflammations... some site mentionned men who have a thick wallet in their back pocket. I've seen thicker wallets than mine, but it's not too bad either. I can't see anything else. I'm 6 feet and I weight 200-205lbs. I was ±220 until last May when I began going to the gym (I ended up going 3-4-5 days a week for 5 months).

Now, I know I should stretch everyday to get rid of the stiffness, but I was wondering if like I would stretch everyday for 2 months, and then I'd stop, if it would come back as it is right now? I don't care to stretch that specific area for a while, but I don't see myself stretching pretty much everyday for the rest of my life...

I dunno... I know that a lot of people have problems with their sciatic nerve, anyone willing to share their solutions?
 
Strangely enough someone today was telling me about their sciatic nerve problem. Why they were telling me this I have no idea. But anyway, they said they went to a chiropractor, and ended up getting a 5-day course of steroids to fix it.
 
My brother had a sciatic nerve problem that was caused by his chronic back problems -- basically one of his vertebra became inflamed and was pinching the sciatic nerve. EXTREME pain and immobilization for over two months; he finally had surgery and after a month or two of rehab he's fine.

But he's had back problems his whole life so I doubt yours is this serious, but it's definitely worth going to a chriopractor or something.
 
The pain only goes down to my knee

You dont have Sciatica. If you did the pain would follow the sciatic nerve all the way down to your foot.

You might have false sciatica, that is caused by your Piriformis pinching your Sciatic nerve. However i need to know more about the back pain. where is it located, what kind of pain or is it just stiffness.

 
I have an occasional lower back problem that includes some pain going down my left leg. I take a muscle relaxant (Skelaxin) and some Ibuprofen when it happens. It goes away quick. Oddly, I mostly get this problem when I *sit* for too long, not from activity. It stems from a back strain I got from pulling a heavy load up into the back of a van and did it all wrong and stupid.
 
My wife got sciatica when she was pregnant with our youngest. After the baby came it only bothers like 2 days a month. Dr. just said to take tylenol. 🙁
 
Originally posted by: Citrix
The pain only goes down to my knee

You dont have Sciatica. If you did the pain would follow the sciatic nerve all the way down to your foot.

You might have false sciatica, that is caused by your Piriformis pinching your Sciatic nerve. However i need to know more about the back pain. where is it located, what kind of pain or is it just stiffness.

The pain is in the lower back, where it curves. I'm sitting right now and when I stretch my left leg, it hurts behind my knee, in my left butt cheek and in my lower back. When my legs are normal, I don't have any "pain" in my back but it still doesn't feel right. Stretching my right leg doesn't give me any pain.
 
Go to the doctor.

Why would you live 3yrs with pain? I just don't understand some of the posters here.😉
 
Hey,

I also had the same problem... it would be a shooting pain from my lower back all the way down to the ankle but no intense back pain, just major discomfort. Fully extending my left leg would result in extreme pain, but i forced myself to stretch everyday dispite the pain, and it went away eventually. Sometimes i would be in tears. If you haven't felt this kind of pain, you can't appreciate it.

It hasn't resurfaced even if i do heavy lifting, so i guess mine was one that could heal itself somehow.

Go see your doctor or chiropractor just to see whats wrong, the treatment is up to you.

I agree, it is annoying, but stretching everyday will help. I stretch in the shower with both feet planted.. and with the water very hot. Also, swimming and a jacuzzi will help.

Actually swimming is the best medicine for everything.. lol... anything that uses all ur muscles and helps your lungs get stronger is good is my book, it helped my conquer my aathsma completely.

AJ.
 
Originally posted by: kag
Originally posted by: Citrix
The pain only goes down to my knee

You dont have Sciatica. If you did the pain would follow the sciatic nerve all the way down to your foot.

You might have false sciatica, that is caused by your Piriformis pinching your Sciatic nerve. However i need to know more about the back pain. where is it located, what kind of pain or is it just stiffness.

The pain is in the lower back, where it curves. I'm sitting right now and when I stretch my left leg, it hurts behind my knee, in my left butt cheek and in my lower back. When my legs are normal, I don't have any "pain" in my back but it still doesn't feel right. Stretching my right leg doesn't give me any pain.

Yes i do believe you are having false scitiaca. here is what my med book say on how to self-treat it.

" Stretching the piriformis is easy and can be done while sitting in your desk chair. Simply cross the ankle of the affected side over the opposite knee, sit up straight, and bend forward at the waist keeping your head up/back straight. The stretch you feel in your buttocks is your piriformis muscle. This stretch, like all stretches, should be held for 20-30 seconds, and if performed while sitting throughout your workday, should reduce your discomfort. "


Caution.... graphic picture of a cadaver during dissection of the posterior pelvic region.

In the above picture you can see how the piriformis can pinch the sciatic nerve.
 
Originally posted by: Wag
Go to the doctor.

Why would you live 3yrs with pain? I just don't understand some of the posters here.😉
Uhm.....I have had a herniated disc in my lower back for 24 years. I would rather deal with the pain now and then than not be able to walk, back surgery was pretty risky back then. I have grown so accustomed to the pain I don't even notice it anymore, plus most of you kids these days are downright pussies who can't deal with anything.

 
Thanks Citrix!!!
Perhaps this will confirm what you just told me, but I just recalled that yesterday during my class, when I would look down (move my head forward), it would really hurt in that diabolic back region. It's not doing that today though, it's all going away.
 
Originally posted by: Ronstang
I don't even notice it anymore, plus most of you kids these days are downright pussies who can't deal with anything.

Damn right. I almost broke my ankle two years ago and it still hurts. Now my back. My roommate has trouble with his knee, and my best friend's neck is always cracking. My other friend has a real bad back problem and the other one also has a f0x0r3d knee. All of us are 21, the other one is 24...
 
Having suffered sever lower back pain that use to run down both legs to the
knee, I feel your pain.

I worked as a HD diesel mechanic, not good for the back. A MRI found no swelling or
bone spurs that could pinch a nerve. Pain medication that would effect coordination
was not an option. I had to drive and work.

The solution for me was a TENS unit. I used it every day for almost two years.
Rarely use it now. I always take it with me on long m/c rides.

Google TENS or electronic nerve stimulation, there is a lot there...............:sun:
 
Back
Top