Sciatica

Thank you for your comments ladies, I appreciate it and will take heed of your advice. My dad always reckoned that retirement was to give you enough time to attend medical appointments...I'm beginning to think that he wasn't far wrong! I hope you are all able to be as pain free as possible.

This is the 12th week of hip and groin pain after jarring my leg dealing with a heavy case on a train . My GP says it is Sciatica but an X- ray has detected problems with vertebrae pushing down on a nerve. Just hope it improves as extremely painful

The yoga stretches I do don't involve getting down on the floor. I'd never get up again if I did!

I also had a course of acupuncture which helped a great deal.

My GP maintains that hip pain is in the groin. If your hip is going to need replacing then the pain in the groin is sometimes so strong that you have to stop walking.

Any any other hip and knee pains come from the lower back and it takes weeks to go away sometimes. Experts say to keep moving but with terrible sciatica pain you can't even walk about never mind doing Yoga.
I get sick of hearing about keeping moving and getting on the floor and doing exercises. I would like that kind of pain that enables you to lie on the floor and then get up again!
I am pain free at the moment as sciatica does go away with time.

The advice to keep moving is good - I found that one way to keep going was to use a stick to take some of the weight off your back; and I also have a microwave heat pack which you put in a belt that velcros round your middle and keeps the heat on the site of the pain.

Mine was sorted by traction from the physio.

I ignored it for years then went and saw a physio. I did the exercises twice a day and also took up pilates and swimming once a week. It is sooooo much better. Get to the GP and get referred as it really will help

Lynker, I had sciatica for quite a long time, I tried all the exercises recommended and physio, apparently this cures it in the majority of cases. I did have a problem with my disc's and even had injections directly into my spine to no avail. Surgery was my only option when eventually I could barely stand. I was unfortunate and had to have 3 surgeries the final one 9 years ago when they fitted rods and screws. I've been as fit as a flea since. Go to your Dr and get early diagnosis, you may just have a trapped nerve, that exercises may help but worth knowing sooner rather than later

Sciatica is really more a symptom than an actual condition. It can just be a squeezed nerve i.e. typical lower back pain but it can be many other things. If you have never had it its always best to get it checked out. I've had problems with slipped discs on and off most of my adult life so recognise the symptoms and know how to look after myself. However, I was reminded that unexplained back pain anywhere is worth getting checked out when I changed surgery. The new Dr took nothing on trust when I went about some annoying pain and general pain advise....she asked pertinent questions about bowels, weight loss and other general questions.

So the long and the short of it is that anything new should always be checked out. Certainly trapped nerve based Sciatica can radiate into buttocks and down legs causing numbness and pins and needles ....but if its new to you don't rely too much on Dr Google. All the best.

Thank you ladies, I will see what happens over the next week or two and then see my GP if it comes back again.

Mine is linked to spine and hip Osteo/Arthritis, I'm waiting on my second hip replacement at present and the Sciatica is flaring up fairly often I keep it under control with pain relief and stretches, it did die down to some extent after the first hip replacement. Flares seem to come and go for no particular reason, you should speak to your GP for a proper diagnosis and investigation if it goes on for long.

My first bout of sciatica was caused by shingles. It was the worst pain I've ever experienced. Since then I've had a few recurring bouts but they usually clear up after two or three days.

I find now that it's always on my left side so I think I may need to keep an eye on that hip.

I did wonder about hip problems merlotgran and I will keep that in mind. I took some painkillers earlier and I feel much better now. Do you find that a flare up resolves itself in time? If it is sciatica, does it keep coming back? I will check out the stretches thank you tanith.

Sciatica type pain can also be the beginning of hip problems so you really need to see your GP

It does sound like sciatica and although the pain usually travels down the back of the affected leg it often radiates to the shin bone.

tanith is right about stretches. I do basic yoga stretches whenever I have a bout of sciatica and they really help.

Alternating hot and cold packs (sitting on them) can also relieve the pain.

When I have a bout of Sciatica the pain radiates down the back of the affected leg as well as the buttock pain. I think you might be better consulting your own GP rather than google. I did find some useful stretches videos for my own pain. I've suffered for many years with intermittent bouts.
You have my sympathy as the pain can be excruciating.