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Are hammocks good or bad for Sciatica and slipped discs?

Posted , 3 users are following.

adamski2
adamski2

Hi. I slipped a disc in L4/L5 area in May 2017. Since July, I've had Sciatica on right side from hip all the way down to foot. Taking Gabapentin for the nerve pain which helps to a degree. I have seen conflicting reports as to whether sleeping or even taking short naps in a hammock is a good or bad thing. A friend said try it to see if it feels okay in the hammock. My concern is it may well feel good but what damage, if any, could it be doing longer term.

Thanks!

0 likes, 3 replies

3 Replies

  • CHICO_MARX
    CHICO_MARX adamski2

    Posted

    I had really bad sciatica a number of years ago.  Shots, pills, PT...nothing worked.  Neurosurgeon did an MRI that was inconclusive.  When he went in, he found a bone spur at L4 literally "crushing" (his term) my sciatic nerve root.  Simple laminectomy plus the spur removal.  Same day surgery...all the residual inflammatory pain was gone in less than a week.  Poifect!!!!

    • adamski2
      adamski2 CHICO_MARX

      Posted

      Thanks Chico, happy to know your surgery worked! However, my question is about hammocks and your reply has not addressed this.
    • CHICO_MARX
      CHICO_MARX adamski2

      Posted

      Sorry...  Never tried a hammock for relief.  I do have a sleep number bed which I use to adjust the firmness when I need to like after surgeries or a sciatica flare-up.  My suggestion is that your focus be on getting a definitive diagnosis about the cause of the sciatica...it may not be the slipped disk.  I have had the problem many, many times over the years.  Except for that bone spur at L4, all have been fixed by a chiropractor...I'd see one...least invasive path.  The nerve meds (gabapentin (neurontin), Lyrica, etc.) are not a cure and have considerable side effects.  I'd look for the root cause and fix it.  The longer you delay, the more likely is the possibility that you could change your gait and throw out something else like hips, pelvis or SI joints.  That will just compound your misery.

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