Went to the doctor today for my painful my hip.  He said I have sciatica :-[  Anyone ever had this before?  I'm a little scared as the doctor said I might need tracton to easy the disks in my back.  The meds he gave me for my shoulder are the same for my hip. I hate them they make me stoned and naueas.  He gave me some pills to counter that effect.  I have to get an x-ray as well. http://smilies.sofrayt.com/aiw/sorry.gif

((((Lisabelle)))))  I've never had sciatica but I"ve been around plenty of people who have.  It's not fun.   :P  Do you have bulging or ruptured discs in your back?  Is that why he wants to do the traction?  

I'm sorry you're hurting.   :-[  Keep us updated.  

L-sorry you're in pain.  I personally have not had sciatica, it is a common ailment.
As a yoga instructor I teach a stretch for the hip flexors and a counter stretch for the hamstrings.  Seeing you're in a crisis situation you must not over stretch!  It is possible to aggrevate the condition by stretching too much.
Maybe consult a yoga teacher in your area?

Good luck, I hope you feel better soon.  BTW, the mineral magnesium is a natural muscle relaxant.  You'd need to take a fair amount-ask a naturo or homeopath.

:-*  :-*  :-*

13 bodies Thanks for the hugs I really need them.  He wants to an x-ray to see if the discs are messed up, then if the meds don't work tracton, of which scares the crap out of me!

Sakina  Thank you!  Funny thing was I was going to start Yoga this summer and the doctor said no, not yet.  Yes, I would rather take a natural muscuel relaxant then the Anaprox 275mg 3x a day.  I took one with my supper, yuck!

ok,as a yoga teacher too I have to "put my 2 cents" in too! :)  I teach a pose to people specifically with sciatica.  It is called in english Legs Up the Wall"  in Sanscrit Vipakarani(speeling is probably wrong)  Anyway it is extremely effective for your specific problem.  Here is the know how:  Sit very close to a wall with your hip close to the wall,legs stretched out,shoulder and arm touching the wall too.  When you go to lay on your back,swing your legs up the wall and have your tailbone as close to the wall as possible,preferably touching the wall.  Scoot as close as you can.  You can put a blanket under your hips if you're more comfie that way or under your head alittle.  If you need to bend your knees and place your feet flat on the wall go ahead.  Stay there with your arms stretched out palms up and relax.  This will cause many positive de-stessing things happen in your body and release inflamation on the sciatic nerve.  
If I were near you I'd have you fixed up in a jiffy :)  Let me know how this works for you.  If you need another to try another asana (pose) let me know and I'll be glad to help!

wrote on Apr 25^th, 2006 at 9:47pm:

ok,as a yoga teacher too I have to "put my 2 cents" in too! :)  I teach a pose to people specifically with sciatica.  It is called in english Legs Up the Wall"  in Sanscrit Vipakarani(speeling is probably wrong)  Anyway it is extremely effective for your specific problem.  Here is the know how:  Sit very close to a wall with your hip close to the wall,legs stretched out,shoulder and arm touching the wall too.  When you go to lay on your back,swing your legs up the wall and have your tailbone as close to the wall as possible,preferably touching the wall.  Scoot as close as you can.  You can put a blanket under your hips if you're more comfie that way or under your head alittle.  If you need to bend your knees and place your feet flat on the wall go ahead.  Stay there with your arms stretched out palms up and relax.  This will cause many positive de-stessing things happen in your body and release inflamation on the sciatic nerve.   If I were near you I'd have you fixed up in a jiffy :)  Let me know how this works for you.  If you need another to try another asana (pose) let me know and I'll be glad to help!

Thank you so much!  I will give this a try tomorrow and let you know how it felt.  I just came back from my x-ray and will find out what it says in two weeks when I see my doctor again.

((((((((((((((((lisabelle))))))))))))))))))) i'm so sorry that your hurting :'( :'(  hip and back pain is no fun >:(

I hope everything goes well :-/ sending good well wishes your way :) :-* :-*

(((Lisabelle)))  

I'll put my 2 cents in here too.  As a PT I recommend you get a referral to one and ask around to find one who is certified in "MacKenzie".  

Hope you feel better soon.  

Beesan16 Thank you so much!

PreciousLocks wrote:
"I'll put my 2 cents in here too.  As a PT I recommend you get a referral to one and ask around to find one who is certified in "MacKenzie".    
Hope you feel better soon."

Thank you! I will look into this!:)

wrote on Apr 25^th, 2006 at 11:24pm:

Thank you so much!  I will give this a try tomorrow and let you know how it felt.  I just came back from my x-ray and will find out what it says in two weeks when I see my doctor again.

I tryed the pose late lastnight.  Hubby helped me get against the wall and I had a pillow under my bum.  It felt okay, no real pain, just a streching feeling in my leg.  I lied there and relaxed and my bunny came over and licked my hands! ;D  How long should I hold the pose and how many times a day should I do it? Thanks again! :D

Poor Lisabelle!  Hope you feel better soon   :(

Lisabelle;
I'm so sorry you are suffering with sciatica.  As a person with chronic back pain, I know what you are dealing with.  I've used the inverted sitting on the wall position many times to help relieve the pain and stretch the back and legs.  Just be careful to not overstretch.  I've also found just lying on the floor with the knees bent helpful if I am just watching TV or reading.

I too, hated the meds they gave me.  I usually did not bother with them.  A pain pill or muscle relaxer before bed would be the most I would ever take.  Hot showers or baths do a lot for relaxing the muscles.  I would then alternate cold pacs and the heating pad on my back to reduce any swelling around the discs and improve mobility.

Good luck and I hope you are feeling better soon.

Glad hubby helped you and you had no pain with the pose.  You're not supposed to have pain in doing the pose either.  You can do this as many times as you want and I'd say if you can stay in it 10-15 minutes(bunny licks are positively good while in this pose ;D)  if you feel fatigued or your legs bother you while there,like I said before,just bend your knees and place your feet flat on the wall.  Let me know how the results of the ex-ray go and I hope you feel better soon! :) Oh before I forget breathe in through your nose and out through your mouth.  This engages your para-sympathetic system in the body(like releasing dopamine and endorphins in the brain)  makes you relax and feel good!

Lisabelle, you have my sympathy.  I have had sciatica and I know how painful it can be.  I find going to my chiropractor is helpful to me.  He practices Atlas Orthogonal therapy, and even though it took a while, I went from agony to just an occasional twinge now and then.  I hope you find relief soon!

Trisha,Bikerbraid, Curlygirl64, SilvermaineThank you all so much!  You guys are the greatest!  Knowing your all here makes me fell so much better. ;D  I have been taking hot baths and using a heating pad as well.  Sometimes a cold pack feels good too. Lastnight I did the yoga pose and found I could only hold it for about 5 minutes this time.  Still, with the breathing it was very relaxing!  And, of course bunny was licking my hand again!  I will only take the pain meds if I'm in dire pain as they make my nerves very jittery and I cannot sleep.

You'd be surprised how much breath work helps.  I do hope you're on the road to recovery!!  Damn that sciatic nerve.   :( >:(  Hopefully it is not both of them.

wrote on Apr 27^th, 2006 at 11:03pm:

You'd be surprised how much breath work helps.  I do hope you're on the road to recovery!!  Damn that sciatic nerve.   :( >:(  Hopefully it is not both of them.

Holy crow, I hope its not both hips too!

Well, if ya feel it only on one side,then hopefully restassured that it is only one of the nerves.   :)

Get better *hugs* and that yoga position sounds interesting.

Curlygirl64, I hope so! ;D

Sara thank you! :)

Update time:  Well I've been feeling better! :)  I've been doing the yoga pose from Curlgirl and sitting up straight.  Extra curricular activities have helped as well. ::)  Next week I see the doctor and find out what he says.  Wish me luck!  :D

Glad to hear it is getting better.  Hopefully it is just a short term annoyance.

;D yay!  Feel better!!!

Bikerbraid, Curlgirl, Thanks! It's is a relief not to be in pain all the time. Now I can do things, like clean the house and look after the garden :)

Good luck Lisabelle :) *hugs*

wrote on May 3^rd, 2006 at 11:25am:

Good luck Lisabelle :) *hugs*

Thank you! :)

:) ;D

Update:  Today is my second doctors appointment.  He will tell me what going to happen next. :P  For the most part it has not been too painful, hadn't need the yucky pain killers just Tylenol.  Hope it goes okay, wish me luck! http://smilies.sofrayt.com/1/950/sumo.gif

Only the best of luck to you! ;D

Thanks everyone for your support :)  I saw the doctor and he said I had a degenerated disk in my back.  He said it is doing at lot better!  Horray!!  I also showed him the rash on my neck and he gave me a handful of cortisone samples.  I so happy my hip is not as bad as I thought it was! ;D

I'm glad to hear you are doing better.  I have a degenerative back.  I hope you don't have to go thru half of what I've been thru.  The best advice I can give is - BE CAREFUL and don't overdo it.  When it is acting up, you need to take care of it.  Rest, use heat and cold packs, and when feeling better, do exercises to strengthen your back and abdomen.

Hope the cortisone helps with the rash!

Lisabelle, I'm so glad to hear that you are feeling better.  I hope your recovery will continue :D!

Bikerbraid, Silvermane Thanks so much! I'll make sure I take care of it!  My Dr was worried that the rash on my neck was on my scalp as well.  Thankfully it was not.  I 've never been a rashy person before but once I hit 38 it just started.  I gather my skin is getting dryer.

Best wishes with your back trouble; I am another veteran of this nasty stuff.  I had to have a L5 S1 discectomy and fusion when I was only 24 years old....because the disc had herniated and the contents of the disc were spilling out on my low back nerves.

I was fine six weeks after the surgery, but I'd wish, of course, that I never would have to have needed it in the first place......

I hope that your discs stay intact.  Make sure you have a good doctor that you trust; also, if needed, an MRI can give a real good picture of what is going on.

I have heard that it is better to try to maintain a regular routine if you can. (I couldn't, I was really bedridden with pain, unfortunately).

Again, best wishes!!

Oh Lisabelle I feel your pain. I have sciatica too and a herniated disc. Like a lot of people said, I find yoga helps a lot. I also go the the chiropractor and that helps too. As a massage therapist, I would also recommend getting massages  :). I dont know if you heard of this, but there is something called the DRX 9000. Its a spinal decompression machine. Here is more info on it: http://www.axiomworldwide.com/. I had this procedure done in January of this year. It has helped the pain a lot! Before that, the pain was about a 7-8 most days. The only thing is that it is pricey. The only way I could have it done was because my parents sold their house and they were very generous. I will always be grateful for that. I couldnt tolerate the painkillers they gave me either. There was only one thing that helped but I wont say what it is on here.  I hope you start to feel better soon ((((HUGGGS)))).