Any solutions or suggestions for pain in the sciatica nerve?
By dance4life
@dance4life (252)
United States
August 19, 2009 6:07pm CST
Hi, last month I went through some excruciating lower back pain. Normally my back pain is in the upper regions of my back (I have had back problems since I was 11 years old) Putting heat on my back only made it worse. The pain only started to subside after I started icing it. I've done a lot of research and have come to the conclusion that I'm one of those few people who have their sciatica nerve running through the muscle instead of under it (my mother is a nurse, she agreed with me). This is also known as the Piriformis syndrome.
I don't have insurance so I won't spend the thousands of dollars to confirm this. But it's been a month later and I still get minor throbbing pains down my leg, in the back of my knee and sometimes at the back of my ankle. Is there anything I can do to make this pain go away completely or to help it ease itself. It gets very uncomfortable to sit down because it feels like something is pulling in my leg. I try do some stretches everyday but it doesn't seem like it helps. Please I would appreciate any help anyone can offer me.
1 person likes this
4 responses
@AmbiePam (85484)
• United States
1 Sep 09
Have you tried putting capzasin on it? I know how you are feeling. I'm in a heap of trouble with my back, and am currently going on with procedure after procedure in order NOT to have back surgery (I'm on Medicaid because I'm on disability for now). I'm going to have to have back surgery some day, but I'm trying to put it off, as are my doctors. I'm 28, and they don't want to do a surgery like that with someone so "young." Believe me, I don't feel young.
Capzasin burns like all get out if you get it on your hands and accidentally touch your eye, or go to the bathroom and, well, you know...My grandmother had the unforunate experience of having that particular problem. She puts it on her lower back, and on her knees. I put it on my neck (I'm also going to have to have neck surgery). Do you do back exercises? Like lying on your stomach in the floor, and then raising both legs in the air for five seconds? Then lower them, then raise them again. It strengthens the muscles in the lower back, which could help your sciatica. Those exercises were prescribed for me by first a chiropractor, and then a pain management doctor. My mom has sciatica and she was told to do them about twenty years ago. She said she ended up with a very flat stomach! 
I wish you the best of luck.
I wish you the best of luck.@dance4life (252)
• United States
1 Sep 09
Thank you so much I will definitely try the back exercises. I used to dance a lot as a child so I'm always up for exercise. I will let you know how it works in a few weeks. Can you find capzasin at your local pharmacy or do you have to have a prescription?
1 person likes this
@AmbiePam (85484)
• United States
1 Sep 09
It is over the counter. You should find it near the creams used for pain, I think. It's a roll on. You just roll it over the area that is painful. But like I said, really be careful not to get it on your hands and then wipe your eye or something. I hope it helps, I really do. : )
@jackee (138)
• United States
29 Nov 09
Try using ice packs right on you the area of your back where it hurts. Lay on your back, pillow under you thigh near your butt, and occasionally point you toe to your head to strtch you hammie. Being you have no health insurance work that ice pack, and once you start to heal do mo stretching of you hamstring. You can get stretch exercises of of Web MD online. good luck
@dance4life (252)
• United States
30 Nov 09
Thank you very much. It's kind of strange that you responded to this post today. My back started bothering me a lot more just yesterday. Thank you for the tip and I will definitely look up those exercises.
@skaterx (530)
• Finland
12 Sep 09
I think try to go to osteopath and podiatrist, cos i also have a problem with the nerves on the left side of my body, have lower back pain and slight numbness in my leg, and talk through the issues. The doctor also recommended some cortizone injection for muscle pain near my hip but I declined, but thers some options.
The podiatrist said trying icepacks, i havent tried yet tho.
@dance4life (252)
• United States
13 Sep 09
My father had to have a cortizone injection in his shoulder for his rotater cuff. He said he could feel it working 5 minutes after the doctor injected it. He's also much older though and I can understand why you wouldn't want to have the injection.
The icing does work though. When I was in extreme pain I tried putting a heating pad on it. This made it twice as bad. Everything in my lower back become more swollen and the pain increased. My father suggested that I ice it for twenty minutes a couple of times a day and the pain started to subside. I actually used a pack of frozen corn because I could shape it to the curve in my back better. I haven't tried icepacks when I'm not in a lot of pain though. I might try your suggestion to go to a podiatrist I have, for the most part, flat feet so that may contribute to the pain also.
@osris61 (107)
• United States
19 Aug 09
Hello, I am sorry you are in so much pain. My husband broke his back many years ago and has sciatica nerve damage. He is on a medication called Lyrica, it really helps him. Maybe you could check into some state funding insurance and get to a doctor. Living with pain has to be terrible. I can just imagine what you are going through. I remember what my husband ha to go through. Even now he can not sit for lng periods of time, he lays on the couch and gets up and moves around. Life is very difficult for him. I wish you the Best of Luck!
@dance4life (252)
• United States
19 Aug 09
After what you just told me I don't think my pain is nearly as bad as your husband. I'm sorry he has to go through so much pain. It must have been very difficult recovering to the point he is at now. I wish you and your husband the best of luck also. Thank you for your advice.
