Sciatic nerve - mega pain

[BDF]

I seem to have done something to hurt my sciatic nerve. It has been 3 weeks now. Regular Chiro visits and stretching but no relief of the pain. I cannot ride at all due to the intense pain from my left buttock down the back of my left leg. This is not lekker. It seems that the only times I am relatively free of pain are when I am walking and laying on my back.

 

Any advice from the Hubbers that can help?

[Pulse]

Is the pain mainly in the buttock, and radiating down into the leg, or is there low back pain as well?

 

If only buttock it may be caused by something like the Piriformis muscle (Piriformis syndrome).  Try and get to a physio to help release the muscle.

 

Also make sure that you do not stretch the sciatic nerve too aggressively, it may cause more injury.

 

(There may obviously be lots of other causes as well)

[Tjokkits]

One thing chiros dont tend to do is xrays just to make sure they have the right end of the stick, suggest you ask and make sure you know whst the issue/injury is. Swim funny enough sorts my issues.

[BDF]

Is the pain mainly in the buttock, and radiating down into the leg, or is there low back pain as well?

 

If only buttock it may be caused by something like the Piriformis muscle (Piriformis syndrome).  Try and get to a physio to help release the muscle.

 

Also make sure that you do not stretch the sciatic nerve too aggressively, it may cause more injury.

 

(There may obviously be lots of other causes as well)

More like from the hip and buttock. Not lower back, although with all the posture compensation, part of my back is sensitive. What is the Piriformis muscle?

 

Stretching: I think I will stop. I do a "knee to chest" stretch that is agonizing! From what you have said, that may well be adding to the problem.

 

thanks for the input!

[BDF]

One thing chiros dont tend to do is xrays just to make sure they have the right end of the stick, suggest you ask and make sure you know whst the issue/injury is. Swim funny enough sorts my issues.

Seeing my regular GP today. Perhaps she will send me for XRays/MRI or the like.

[Andymann]

I had major sciatic nerve issues for ages - starting in October 2011.  It got so bad that I eventually lost all feeling down the outside of my calf.  After many visits to Physios, Chiro's, X-Rays and even the specialist at the HPC, I found a sports biokineticist here in Krugersdorp and after 3 months of intense stretching and core work she was able to solve the problem.  Unfortunately I didn't carry on with the stretching and core like she advised, and the problem re-occurred in 2013 (ironically while I was lying on my stomach reading) but this time so bad I couldn't even ride 20mins on the road.  Again back to the Bio, but this time with a bit of Gymwork - squats and deadlifts included in the program.  I'm pain free again, but I can feel if I miss a week or so in the gym, everything starts getting tight again.  Sadly, from what I understand, its a common cyclists problem, especially for buggers like me who are over 40.

[RockSpider85]

Just my two cents, I also had a sciatic nerve problem which was caused by my bike setup, my reach was to long. when I changed bike frames (giant medium to giant small) no more problems. The only person who picked it up was my then coach, none of the bike setup places could help me.

My bio also helped alot!!!

[Pulse]

BDF

 

The Piriformis is a hip stabiliser muscle. Its small, and sits deep to the main gluteal muscles. Ot usually gets over active and compresses onto the sciatic nerve when the gluteas are too weak.

 

Mine usually flaires up from non-training related things, like lots of standing/gardening etc.

 

The location of the pain you described sound about right for Piriformis.

 

Let me know what the Doc said after X rays.

I'll PM you some (mild) stretches to get you going, if it is only the Piriformis

[Escapee..]

Had the same issues for the last 3-4 years.

 

 

Very sharp shooting pain but luckily doesn't go down into my leg

 

Plenty of Chiro visits and physio visits didnt help but cycling sorted it out.

 

Core work and riding definitely sorted it out for me, still comes back though when I have been off the bike for longer than a week

[Firemeister]

I seem to have done something to hurt my sciatic nerve. It has been 3 weeks now. Regular Chiro visits and stretching but no relief of the pain. I cannot ride at all due to the intense pain from my left buttock down the back of my left leg. This is not lekker. It seems that the only times I am relatively free of pain are when I am walking and laying on my back.

 

Any advice from the Hubbers that can help?

You possibly slipped a disc in your lower back. It is the propulsion of the disc that is touching the nerve, which causes the pain down your leg. Speak to a gp or ortho. Avoid the stretches in the meantime.

[hayleyearth]

Something very helpful that I learnt this year is to tell the difference to when you streatching your muscles and when you streatching your nerve system. The latter you have to be very careful with and can not be stretched as much/fast as the muscles.

[BDF]

Thanks for the feedback guys.

 

@escapee, I wish I could ride. Sitting on the bike is ok, but as soon as I put in any effort the pain starts.

 

@Firemeister, slipped disk sounds scary! Do they slip back on their own?

 

@Pulse, thanks, will let you know what doc says!

[RaceFan]

I'd hate to recommend more quacks but acupuncture helped my SO with her sciatic nerve problems with almost immediate results.

[Pulse]

I'd hate to recommend more quacks but acupuncture helped my SO with her sciatic nerve problems with almost immediate results.

It obviously depends on the cause of the sciatica, and the area that was treated, but I would be very careful with needles in the bottock to relief sciatica. I would not advise it for Pirifirmis at all, as it sits too close to the nerve, and there is too many individual variations in their relative positioning

[Hellgate]

Hi

i had the same problem and in my case after about 3 months of pain in the right butt and down the the right leg woke up one Sunday to find my righr leg paralysed

Went to the hospital and was admitted, had x rays which showed nothing then MRI the next day which showed a cyst in my spine which squashed my spinal cord causing the paralysis and was operated on the next day.

Laminectomy, lumbar fusion with 6 screws and 2 rods and a bone graft taken from my hip and 10 months of rehab.

cyst caused by leaking spinal fluid cause unknown. Dont take chances have an MRI.

cheers

[KarlvN]

I don't mean to be an ass, but surely medical advice is best sought from medical professional practitioners? I had inflammation of my esophagus two weeks ago, and after googling the symptoms I was told by every single search result that I have cancer in my esophagus, which is untreatable. I very nearly did not go see a doctor because of that.

 

I went after all, and was given some meds to take. My issue was sorted within two days.

 

The point of my yarn is that we can so easily get carried away by what other people experienced, not taking into consideration that their situation was mostly different to our own.

 

Advice is always welcome, but I would go with the trusted medical route for an informed diagnosis and treatment plan.

 

my 2c worth anyway