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Sciatica, chiropractic, general treatment and exercise bike

Posted , 4 users are following.

fiona51388
fiona51388

Hi there, I developed my sciatica about 9 weeks ago, it was more profoundly painful, persistent and with frequent attacks than at any time before, and after seven weeks I could bear it no longer, my GP just threw pills at it, which didn't work, at it, I was told yet more time would have to elapse before I could have any physiotherapy and I felt after some thought about it that physio mainly treats "soft tissue" and I needed something more efficient and effective, so I paid for a course of chiropractic treatment which I am now half way through.

The type of  manipulation involved would seem to be addressing things well, I am in a lot less pain, some days completely pain free already, I have three more sessions to go, but I do find that going on my exercise bike, in the hopes of losing some weight and that in turn helping the sciatica etc, and being a very overweight older lady, I weigh in at 18 1/2 stone currently, but on strict diet, but using the exercise bike to enhance the diet seems to set off the sciatica and I find I am in pain once again, so will speak to the chiropractor on Weds of next week when I am due to see him again, to see what he thinks, as I feel a more gentler form of exercise such as walking, would be more appropriate although he did advise me at first to continue with the bike for the time being.  He is not aware as yet as to the degree the pain is coming back and undoing effectively his good work as we haven't yet spoken about it.

As for more routine ways of treating the pain, I find a good dousing with some lavender oil, and I am so affected in my lower back, buttock, length of leg including sharp pains in back of knee and thigh and calf and also foot, followed by a good dousing of deep freeze gel, as the heat treatments bring me out in a rash, and then I spray all over the offending area with deep freeze spray, the cms supercool one, as its very soothing.

I intend going on a mini break in the Lake District in June which will involve a lot of walking and don't want my holiday spoilt so am hoping the chiropractic treatment continues to address the problem as it has been so far and even effects a cure so I don't have the recurrance of nagging pain that has been stopping me in my tracks, but my verdict is a visit to a chiropractor is well worth it, as they really know what they are doing these guys and its been a great comfort so far.

With best wishes, Fiona

1 like, 7 replies

7 Replies

  • Greebo64
    Greebo64 fiona51388

    Posted

    Just be aware that being on your feet for long periods & doing a lot of walking & especially if you are over weight will definitely aggravate your sciatica...I just don't want you to spoil your holiday

    • fiona51388
      fiona51388 Greebo64

      Posted

      I agree but its a catch 22, if i dont exercise i dont lose the weight so i'll keep on being very prone.

  • fiona51388
    fiona51388

    Posted

    Brief update, its interesting to note that since leaving off the bike for a few days I have been pain free and free to move about but since going on the bike about four days ago I did some walking, on Friday, through the park, a 25 min walk split into three parts, and found I was in such agony again, from this that I had to place my leg up the length of the bench in the bus depot, which looked rather ungainly but I had no choice, and the pain stayed with me the rest of the day and into the next, so it seems any exercise is not working out for me, without considerable pain so maybe despite what the experts tell us, complete rest, rather than lots of activity is more advisable, I think this is true at least until my chiropractic treatment is complete as whats the point of putting yourself under stress and in pain,and undoing the good work of the chiro?  Any thoughts?
  • SciaticaWill
    SciaticaWill fiona51388

    Posted

    Hi Fiona,

    Sorry to hear you are going through such a tough time with your sciatica at the moment. It can be such a frustrating, mysterious condition and often there is no rhyme or reason as to why it flares up or calms down when it does. 

    Currently, the UK National Institute of Clinical Excellence guidelines recommend walking as a very effective treatment for sciatica, which looks like it could be as effective as chiro/physio over a long period in the studies that have been done. 

    Sometimes, I find that with my patients (I am a physio) cycling can actually make sciatica worse if there is a slight disc bulge in their back, due to the "forward lean" that occurs as you ride a bike.  This causes the disc to press on the nerve root and leads to more pain. 

    Also, although we always recommend activity when you feel that you can, it's important to remember to take it easy when the pain does strike and not try too hard to push through it! It sounds like easing off it a bit worked well for you the other day, everyone is different so if you've found something that works, stick to it. You can always pick up the activity again when the pain settles. 

    I hope this helps a bit, and that you start to feel better soon! 

    Will

    • fiona51388
      fiona51388 SciaticaWill

      Posted

      Thank you Will, that was indeed helpful and many thanks for sharing with me your expertise

      Best wishes, Fiona

  • Greebo64
    Greebo64 fiona51388

    Posted

    Hi Fiona

    It all depend on what the underlying cause is that is triggering the sciatica.

    for example if its stenosis that the underlying cause [ narrowing of the nerve canals in the lower back] then being on your feet too much & walking will only eventually aggravate it more, when your are on your feet the weight on your lower back will eventually cause the leg / buttock pain, so you need to take your time & not do too much. from  what you have said your GP obviously does not think its yet bad enough to investigate further. An indication of severe Stenosis is pain in both legs & buttocks.. if it continues & gets worse over time insist on a MRI scan to determine the cause.

    i have had sciatica in both buttocks & legs now for 8 months the only proper fix for me is surgery but the Neuro surgeon is not keen to do it so I am not keen to undergo it.... as yet .

    • fiona51388
      fiona51388 Greebo64

      Posted

      Hi, thanks for your input, my late mother had spinal stenosis but I don't believe that to be a hereditary complaint, besides the pain is only down one leg.  Meanwhile I am finding the chiropractic treatment I am undergoing very helpful, particularly the last session, well, in fact I have two more to go, six in all, so if an actual "cure" is affected and it doesn't return during my August trip to the Lakes, there is probably no need for an MRI but if I do sense a further "proneness" after the chiro then I will explain all this to my GP and ask for one, thanks for your advice.  A lot of my problem incidentally is obesity brought on by anti psychotic medication for my schizophrenia which was dramatically and for a prolonged period, increased after my nervous breakdown last year, which obviously was bound to compound the problem, and they were being extremely cautious as albeit not for seven years now, apart from this last occasion, been again, very prone to them, however I am addresssing the problem with a strict diet, keeping a diet diary, and have lost over a stone in just two months, but naturally I am upset that any exercise until my last session with the chiro has been bringing my sciatic pain on strongly so I felt at one point I just couldn't win.

      I do hope for your sake you can find a sollution for your sciatic pain, as worse obviously to have the condition in both legs etc.  I understand the modern day reluctance on the part of surgeons to perform surgery, I waited three years for my prolapse colon surgery and suffered immense and truly horrendous symptoms, but in the end they had no choice but to perform the surgery, having said that, because of the dreadful delays, it took five further years of hell after surgery for the condition to settle down on any level, it was a nightmare so I do feel for you and wish you all the best.  Kind regards, Fiona

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