Hi Everyone,

I was out of work the latter part of last week and the doctor says it's sciatica.

The traditional doc gave me prednisone and narcotic painkillers. The acupuncture doc, who treats me for ongoing pain with rheumatoid arthritis has a treatment for sciatica and she did the first session last Thursday night.

Here's the problem: I felt MUCH worse after the session and I'm not sure if I should continue the treatments or try to stick with the conventional chemical alternative.

Have any of you ever had this? How did you treat it? Is it possible to heal it or do you just have to live with it and treat it with meds?

Thanks in advance,

Kathy

Kathy, if you are talking about a back ache with the pain that runs down your butt into your leg, Mark gets it once or twice a year. He deals with it by using Advil and physical therepy. Sometimes, maybe every other year or so, he gets a bout so bad that he is in bed for 2 days.

Kathy, most back pain will eventually go away on it's own. PT is the conservative way to treat it. I haven't done the acupuncture thing. You should have an idea if the Prednisone is going to work in about a week. Use the Painkillers to stay on top of it all. Tell your acupuncturist about the pain and see what she says. It's such a PITB - no pun intended.

Yes, I currently have sciatica, and have had it about six months. Mine luckily is the chronic kind. I have begun treating it with shiatsu, and am going to try acupuncture soon. The shiatsu is great, I love it, and it relieves the symptoms really well. But it does not seem to get at the root cause.

If on the other hand, this is a really severe debilitating type, then a different approach is probably necessary. My husband had a debilitating episode about 10 years ago. He went on a very long program of physio and then took up Tai Chi. He was also on heavy-duty painkillers for several months.

Kathy,

I have a herniated disc in my lower back and suffer, at times, from sciatica.

I find bed rest, lying on my side, knees tucked with a pillow in between my knees helps, as well as taking Advil or Extra Strength Tylenol. I also have a very good shower massage and when my back flares, I stand in the shower and let the massage concentrate on that area. I try to make the water as hot as I can stand it.

I have had two epidural steriods injected into the bulging disc some time ago. This seemed to ease the pain, somewhat, but the problem persists and I just learn to deal with it as best I can.

I hope you're doing better very soon! Please take care and let us know how you're doing.

kathy,
When I was hit with Sciatica I tried many different treatments, and eventually went for Acupuncture. Like you, IT MADE IT WORSE! MUCH MUCH WORSE! After years of having that problem on & off, I learned that the best thing for it was, believe it or not, Valium. There is no better muscle relaxant. When I would feel it coming on, a valium before bed & again in the Am usually kept it from flaring up. Denise's suggestions are also terrific - that pillow between the knees while on your side. Also try some pelvic tilt exercises - and stretching. Relax those back muscles.

I have been free of that pain for several years now - AHHHHHHH!!!!!!

Good Luck - Feel better soon

I forgot to mention that when sitting, it's best to elevate your feet and/or legs as much as possible, in an effort to bring your knees as level to your shoulders as possible.

I sit at a desk quite a bit during the day at work and try to elevate my feet up off the floor.

I also take numerous "7th inning stretches" while at work. It's good to move and stretch frequently.

I also get sciatica occasionally, although not recently...thankfully.

you've been given some excellent advice. if lying on your back, make sure you have a pillow under your thighs. when sitting don't cross your legs.

also once you have healed exercise does help. make sure to ask the pt about stomach strengthening exercises too

Good advice in this thread. :) I don't really have anything to add but wanted to add my condolences about the sciatica. I've had it before myself with a herniated disc and mine got better though it bugs me every now and then if I'm not careful with what I do with my back.

Masaki

Thanks for all the great suggestions and support everyone.

I'm at work now. Had to try to give it a shot, anyway.

I called the acupuncture doc and cancelled the appointments for tonight and Thursday. Gil's experience made me even more leery of continuing. I can't afford to have it flare up even worse - I really need to be in the office this week.

Thanks again, everyone.

Kathy

Good luck, Kathy, and hope you are feeling better.

The talk about the acupuncture has cooled me on the idea of trying it. I'm going to stick with shiatsu for now I think!