What Are The Exercises To Combat Sciatica?
June 8th, 2009 | 
Author: My friend (male 37) has been in pain for a few months now with sciatica. His doctor doesn’t seem to be able to help. Please help us!!!
My friend (male 37) has been in pain for a few months now with sciatica. His doctor doesn’t seem to be able to help. Please help us!!!
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Depending on the cause of the sciatica and the severity it varies.
Sciatica is an umbrella term.
If the cause of it is from a disc bulge the treatment program is longer and gentle core exercises may be indicated along with suitable treatment. Some manual therpists recommend Mckenzie exercises. From my observations of patients that try them they have largely been ineffective and i’ve found prescribing core exercises helps create stability around the spine and the disc bulge which seems to help take the pressure off the nerve root in cases where surgery isn’t indicated.
if the cause is from a facet lock pinching the nerve root then exercises to open up the facets and decompress the foramina in the spine may be indicated.
If it is from piriformis syndrome stretches into the buttock will probably help.
Another cause of shooting pain into the posterior thigh is sacro-illiac dysfunction which often gets confused with sciatica and is frequently missed (even by healthcare professionals who specialise in it).
all of these possibilities give very similar symptoms.
If the pain increases when bending backwards it is unlikely to be a disc bulge.
it it in creses when bending forwards it could be a disc bulge, sacro-illiac irritation or priformis syndrome.
If proding into your buttock is painful it could be SI irritation of piriformis syndrome.
Disc bulges tend to have clearer clinical signs such as increased pain on coughing, sneezing and defecation and dural stretch.
SI irritation almost never goes below the knee but can affect the back, side or front of the thigh.
Piriformis syndrome can shoot down all the way into the toes.
best to see a suitably trained professional who has good experience in diagnosing and treating this condition. I like the Non US steopthic model (but i am biased) but you could also see a chiro or physio.
If you are going to see a doctor see an Orthopaedic specialist first.
I wouldn’t bother as as Physio Chiro or Osteo will be able to assess you and refer you to one if you need to see one.
It will depend on the cause of the sciatica. (And that it is really sciatica in the first place…a lot of people with garden variety muscular low back pain CALL it sciatica)
If it is true sciatica…then something is pressing on the nerve roots near the base of the spine, most commonly a ruptured disc. This is usually identified on clinical exam, but a CT or MRI may be needed to confirm. The treatment is stretching, modified activity, painkillers. Some people may get relief from injection of cortisone into the spinal canal, and a very few will need surgery to take the pressure off the nerves
If it is pseudosciatica, (aka pyriformis syndrome) this is caused by a muscle in the buttock pressing/irritating the sciatic nerve itself. Again, a physical exam usually will be diagnostic. Stretching, deep massage/physio, anti-inflammatory painkillers again are helpful. It tends to be a self limiting condition, but it may go on for a few months.
As always in medicine, the proper treatment depends on a correct diagnosis in the first place.
chiropractor they are trained on the sciatica.
also when mine acts up it gets to the point I can’t even walk any how have him lay down on his stomach and have someone push on his buttocks and press move around till you find the spot he can handle the pain this is where you need to push the pain will be a lot so start out easy but you will need to push as hard as he can take it. it can leave a bruise but that is normal just work on it a few times a day also on your heal is a pressure point get a pen or pencil use the flat end and push in the middle where it hurts this will also help. good luck I know how bad this can hurt.
I am very sorry to hear that your friend has been suffering with sciatica for a few months. It’s difficult to make any definitive suggestions on any specific exercises to address sciatica. In general, sciatica typically prevents a person from exercising because it just hurts too much to do any. It can hurt just sitting too long. The first thing your friend must do is get out of pain and the best way that I am aware of to do that is through chiropractic or acupuncture care.
Once your friend is out of pain, s/he can then do some simple stretching exercises to improve the flexibility of the low back. There’s a great book called “3 Minutes to a Pain Free Life”. I focus on the exercises from this book (pages 132 to 141) as they are simple to do and only take about 3 1/2 minutes to complete. They are the Bow, Arch, Lizard, Squat, Modified Split, and Sky Reach. If your friend has any experience with yoga, many of these exercises will be familiar (just different terminology).
So please encourage your friend to seek treatment as soon as possible. Life is too short and precious to spend it in pain. Once your friend is out of pain, s/he can use the stretching exercises twice a day to keep her/him out of pain.
Yours in Better Health,
Hiroyuki Nakamura
Licensed Acupuncturist
http://www.healthyonpurpose.com
I find that a nice butt rub helps relieve the pseudo effects. Your “Friend” could even get a homeless person to rub his rear daily for a jug of cheap wine and a couple of smokes!
I dont know if this will help you. I understand how sciatica can be really uncomfortable for our everyday lives. I was an IT working with computer 8-10 hours aday. I found out i go sciatica and i was going to have surgery. before i did that i tried every exercise and every way of treatment online thru google. Nothing works but injured more and it hurts more to the point that it hurts to stand up for more than 30 seconds.
I personally found a way to treat sciatica thru personal experiences. I’m not here to make money off from you so dont worry.
Here’s how i get well and sciatica free in 2 months.
1. i changed my bed. from a nice comfortable sprin 2 layer bed to a cheap $100 korean made hardboard bed. It is very uncomfortable when i first slept on. what it does is keep your whole body straight when you sleep at night. important when you sleep try to sleep facing upward with your legs straight even it hurts alot. this will cause your body to stretch and adjust it to be straight. do that for the next 2 months. that’s how i did it and now the pain is gone. i dont know how but it just disappeared. the korean hardboard bed sold in any asian owned furniture in California. it shouldn’t cost you more than $200. If you need help you can always contact me. i’m moe than happy to help someone out.