HEALTH Bulging disc/ Sciatic nerve problem home remedies?:)

[BadMedicine]

Developing such a "hitch in yer git-along" can instantaneosly transform an otherwise healthy, senior citizen from the active, bold, confident, young feeling person he was yesterday to a wiser realist, more aware of his age and the need to be cautious, lest he do it again.
Please be careful that you don't take out the other hip!

I started this as a reply to the above statement by aint, this is from the 2 year old Publius injury thread.... I can related to the injurry causing lifestyle changes... I have been hindered in my getting around this fall by a back/leg twinge.

I'm 41 and have been battling a haywire sciatic nerve about 6 months. Alternately my lower back, pelvis, hip joint, femur, hamstring, calf and foot all have either mild gnawing pain/ numbness like a funny bone, sharp searing pain in hamstring or lower back/spine and pelvis connect, or tingling pins and needles 'numbness" -but not really numb.. in my thigh calf and foot.. Like it's "asleep."

This is all on my right side. Chiropractor had me do a few stretches/ moves that isolated/confirmed a bulge/slipped disc & sciatic nerve issue. Put me on the "stretcher' a few times which milds the symptoms for a few days. Also been hanging by my arms on pullup bar a few times a day.. supposed to help if it's a bulging or slipped disc. Heating pad helps some, and anti-inflams, but am told it's a pinched nerve/ inflamed area around the nerve...and probably bulging disc.

Any sitting or laying hurts, only standing relieves in... been standing about 6 months now... Reckon I'll take this to another thread and see if anyone has some nice home remedies........back surgery down at the old corpse-factory not an option! TIA!

 

[Sacajawea]

Weighted (in the sole) shoes helped mine; but that pair also had a far-infrared copper insole. I wore copper insoles for maybe 6 months before the pain went away.... and knock on wood, hasn't returned in 10 years.

 

[ainitfunny]

I started this as a reply to the above statement by aint, this is from the 2 year old Publius injury thread.... I can related to the injurry causing lifestyle changes... I have been hindered in my getting around this fall by a back/leg twinge.

I'm 41 and have been battling a haywire sciatic nerve about 6 months. Alternately my lower back, pelvis, hip joint, femur, hamstring, calf and foot all have either mild gnawing pain/ numbness like a funny bone, sharp searing pain in hamstring or lower back/spine and pelvis connect, or tingling pins and needles 'numbness" -but not really numb.. in my thigh calf and foot.. Like it's "asleep."

This is all on my right side. Chiropractor had me do a few stretches/ moves that isolated/confirmed a bulge/slipped disc & sciatic nerve issue. Put me on the "stretcher' a few times which milds the symptoms for a few days. Also been hanging by my arms on pullup bar a few times a day.. supposed to help if it's a bulging or slipped disc. Heating pad helps some, and anti-inflams, but am told it's a pinched nerve/ inflamed area around the nerve...and probably bulging disc.

Any sitting or laying hurts, only standing relieves in... been standing about 6 months now... Reckon I'll take this to another thread and see if anyone has some nice home remedies........back surgery down at the old corpse-factory not an option! TIA!

Look into conditions that stem from a dislocated or inflamed SACRO-ILIAC joint. I think your eyes will be opened.

 

[Wildwood]

I've been suffering off and on with it for a few months. Different exercises help at different times. I got it all cleared up with exercises a sweet member of the board sent me and thought I was done until four o'clock this morning when I woke up in the most extreme agony. None of the excercises that have helped in the past even touched it.

I found a stretch a couple hours ago that has given me a little relief. I've been under a ton of stress selling my parents home and closing their estate...lots of stuff went sideways and now we have new neighbors. Here are the videos...first one from a member and second with the stretch.

Other than the videos, my best advice is to set as little as possible. I rarely set during the day or stay in bed but today has required both. I'm miserable.

View: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DWmGArQBtFI&t=541s&ab_channel=ATHLEAN-X%E2%84%A2

On this video, it was the last one that helped...starting at about 11 minutes.

View: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4yoUiz8PY2U&ab_channel=Dr.FrankAltenrath

 

[155 arty]

I started this as a reply to the above statement by aint, this is from the 2 year old Publius injury thread.... I can related to the injurry causing lifestyle changes... I have been hindered in my getting around this fall by a back/leg twinge.

I'm 41 and have been battling a haywire sciatic nerve about 6 months. Alternately my lower back, pelvis, hip joint, femur, hamstring, calf and foot all have either mild gnawing pain/ numbness like a funny bone, sharp searing pain in hamstring or lower back/spine and pelvis connect, or tingling pins and needles 'numbness" -but not really numb.. in my thigh calf and foot.. Like it's "asleep."

This is all on my right side. Chiropractor had me do a few stretches/ moves that isolated/confirmed a bulge/slipped disc & sciatic nerve issue. Put me on the "stretcher' a few times which milds the symptoms for a few days. Also been hanging by my arms on pullup bar a few times a day.. supposed to help if it's a bulging or slipped disc. Heating pad helps some, and anti-inflams, but am told it's a pinched nerve/ inflamed area around the nerve...and probably bulging disc.

Any sitting or laying hurts, only standing relieves in... been standing about 6 months now... Reckon I'll take this to another thread and see if anyone has some nice home remedies........back surgery down at the old corpse-factory not an option! TIA!

Doesn't fix the problem...I have compaction fractures in 3 vertebrae as a result of a + 10 g impact from a aircraft crash ....indica gummies help with the daily pain and not addictive lie opioid

 

[Zahra]

Have you had a CT or MRI to rule out HNP vs bulging disc? If your neurological symptoms persist, I'd recommend seeing your PCP for eval and referral if needed. It's hard to define a proper therapeutic course of action without a definitive DX. I'm sure your Chiro performed a Lasegue test, but the best DX is done by CT or MRI.

 

[summerthyme]

A good physical therapist, and then actually DOING the exercises religiously... probably for the rest of your life... is the best fix, especially at your age.

If it becomes absolutely debilitating, see a GOOD neurosurgeon who does microdiskectomy... basically "bandaid surgery", often using microscope cameras and lasers.

He should only do surgery if there is clear visual evidence on MRI of a herniated disk clearly compressing spinal nerves.

Don't even think about letting anyone do a spinal fusion! They may help temporarily, but they put stress on levels above and below the fusion, and often lead to a lifetime merry go round of pain and surgery. (There are exceptions... acute injury needing fracture stabilization is one, an older person who is already sedentary and who only needs relief from constant pain MAY be another... but most neurosurgeons I've talked with agree with me)

Good luck... back pain, and especially nerve pain, sucks!

Oh... look into a TENS machine... it can give amazing relief.

Summerthyme

 

[Zahra]

Adding to Summerthyme's thoughts --

Lose weight if you're overweight.
Do exercises that stretch and strengthen the supportive back muscles.
Swimming is excellent, a rowing machine is useful if you don't have access to a pool
Walking as tolerated (for exercise and weight management)
When you hurt badly lay down and rest

 

[packyderms_wife]

I'm in PT again, going on 12 weeks now. I was in so much pain that the simple act of going up down stairs made me cry. Now that I'm 12 weeks in, missed two weeks because I sprained my left knee three weeks ago yesterday, I can go up and down the stairs w/o crying. Some days are better than others. I now know why all of my friends are doing yoga, I'll be doing these stretches for the rest of my life.

 

[The Cub]

I have been going to a chiropractor since 1980.....off and on.

They are great! Give it a try.

 

[Texican]

Bad Medicine,

Decompression of the spine can help. When the back pain becomes sufficiently severe, I will use my arms to lift my body up to allow my body to let gravity stretch my back which helps.

There are other methods such as:

Innova Inversion Table with Adjustable Headrest, Reversible Ankle Holders, and 300 lb Weight Capacity​

https://www.amazon.com/Innova-ITX9600-Inversion-Adjustable-Protective/dp/B003QCI4GG/ref=sr_1_28?crid=3ER8BXN2L7R8Y&keywords=spine%2Bdecompressor&qid=1696540461&sprefix=spine%2B%2Caps%2C591&sr=8-28&th=1

Brother-in-law used one for his back.

What to expect from spinal decompression therapy​

Who can benefit from spinal decompression?​

All About Spinal Decompression Therapy

Can your back pain be treated with spinal decompression therapy?

www.spine-health.com

This technique is used by many chiropractors. Takes time and multiple trips to the chiropractor office and may be covered by insurance.

May be worth the time and expense to visit a chiropractor office that does spinal decompression.

I have had lower back pain for years and the intensity has gone down with exercise, two back surgeries and loss of weight of over 100 pounds.

Good Luck.

 

[colonel holman]

Dr of PT specializing in spinal issues for 50 years, so far, here. CT and MRI have a some value but not a lot, since 65% of adults with NO back pain will show disc bulge, herniation, degeneration on those image, but no pain. History and symptom behavior far more reliable. Your reported symptoms do imply disc bulge, particularly with symptoms below knee into foot. Sacroiliac problems usually accompany disc issues, but are secondary; not the root of the problem.

DPTs use the McKenzie model of disc diagnosis…. Sitting is bad; but walking is tolerated OK or even eases symptoms; bad at night (disc material swells when unloaded during sleep) making night bad and geeting oout of bed in AM terrible.

The KEY to identifying if disc is source of symptoms (and this is so simple) is what are the changes in symptoms with bending FORWARD while standing, versus stretching BACKWARD while standing. Disc herniations bulge MORE when you bend forward (places body weight onto front of disc making it bulge backward against spinal nerves). Symptoms will tend to worsen and move down leg toward foot with forward bending. Then conversely, stretching backward at low back tends to shift disc material forward away from spinal nerves… causing leg symptoms to ease. There may be some increase pain directly at lower back with backward bending, and that is OK, as long as there is reduction in leg symptoms. Additionally, if you can lie on your belly with upper body propped up on forearms… with minimal pain, that is also an indication you have bulging disc. All other spinal problems tend to hurt badly in this position, but not disc issues so much

If you, instead, have spinal stenosis rather than bulging herniated disc… this symptom behavior is completely reversed. Sitting is good; walking is back; bending forward is good, bending backward is bad.

If you fit the McKenzie model of disc problems… McKenzie exercises usually help very well and rather quickly. These includes standing backward bending stretches 10 sec twice often thru day… and lying on belly, propped up on forearms for one minute once several times per day. Avoid sitting; lots of short walks.

If you actually have spinal stenosis, then exercises would be quite different. That is why there is ni such thing as universally good “Back Exercises”. Instead back exercises MUST be customized to address what is wrong mechanically: disc versus facet joints versus sacroiliac versus muscle versus ligaments.

ebook on this:

https://hebertphysicaltherapy.files.wordpress.com/2017/03/low-back.pdf

 

[colonel holman]

ETA… link to my ebook on low back pain care…

https://hebertphysicaltherapy.files.wordpress.com/2017/03/low-back.pdf

 

[Firebird]

After falling off the roof some years ago, canting my pelvis down and to the left, therefore pushing out 2 vertebrae, I found myself mostly incapacitated and with a mostly paralyzed left leg. I was in agonizing pain, could not drive, could not sit.

The injury caused my piriformis muscle to become greatly inflamed, which pinched off my sciatic nerve. I lost most of the use of my left leg. Thankfully, God was good to me, and through chiropractic, and an amazing trainer at the gym, I have regained 90 to 95% of my leg function back! The chiropractor worked on me 4x a week for a bit, and then weaned me off. My trainer worked hard with me to rehab my leg function after the piriformis muscle relaxed.

It was painful as HAIL, but I knew there was no way I could quit, because quitting would leave me partially crippled.

 

[Wildwood]

I just found this...I used this video last year and it really worked but it didn't pop up when I was looking for it a while back. He teaches you preventive exercises as well as theraputic ones. You can tell he knows his stuff.

View: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P0JOh8DuFns&ab_channel=ElPasoManualPhysicalTherapy

 

[heelgeneral]

I just had an MRI last week. Spondylolisthesis, Stenosis, thickening of the Ligamentum Flavum, and disc bulges.

Most of my pain is sciatic type pain in the upper right buttock area/outer hamstring (sometimes shifts to left buttock). Electrical shock type of pain that improves with walking/exercise.

For two straight years I stretched religiously at least twice a day, often more. I've come to the conclusion that I was aggravating the problem worse with the stretching.

I'm very much against surgery. I've decided to lose 10 pounds (currently 5'10 180lb and in pretty good shape), and focus on my core (lots of side-planks especially) like I never have in the past. I've only been doing this for two weeks and I'm getting some improvement already.

I'm hoping the core is the key to beating this.

 

[Bud in Fla]

This won't be the answer you want but it's what happened to my back - sciatica had gotten worse over about a year. I couldn't walk/sleep/sit or anything else that didn't hurt. I've had both hips replaced twice and my back hurt every bit as bad as the hips had.
I have several herniated discs, too. Construction work will do that for you. Two different chiropractors checked me out and performed their voodoo with their little thumper that didn't do anything for me. The back massage & tens machine did feel good at the time but no lasting relief.
I got in to see a spine specialist. Had a couple of x-rays done - nobody else had tried that! My Dr said he needed a better pic so down the hall to the MRI. Two weeks later he showed me that I had a cyst pressing on the nerve accompanied by a bone spur to help pinch it.
Surgery took about 45 minutes. I had the normal surgical pain but from the time I woke up in recovery, the sciatica was gone and has not reoccurred.
Someone needs to x-ray you to get an idea of what the real problem is. It may be like what I had and no amount of chiropractors is going to help it.

 

[ShadowMan]

You certainly need to get x-rays and an MRI to truly get the inside scoop on what is going on and finding the actual cause.

Find out what the CAUSE is and TREAT THE CAUSE....not the pain. Once the cause goes away, so will the pain. Also, you can try one of those tilting inversion things. Let gravity relieve the pressure and that will help relieve the discomfort in the mean time.

 

[subnet]

I started this as a reply to the above statement by aint, this is from the 2 year old Publius injury thread.... I can related to the injurry causing lifestyle changes... I have been hindered in my getting around this fall by a back/leg twinge.

I'm 41 and have been battling a haywire sciatic nerve about 6 months. Alternately my lower back, pelvis, hip joint, femur, hamstring, calf and foot all have either mild gnawing pain/ numbness like a funny bone, sharp searing pain in hamstring or lower back/spine and pelvis connect, or tingling pins and needles 'numbness" -but not really numb.. in my thigh calf and foot.. Like it's "asleep."

This is all on my right side. Chiropractor had me do a few stretches/ moves that isolated/confirmed a bulge/slipped disc & sciatic nerve issue. Put me on the "stretcher' a few times which milds the symptoms for a few days. Also been hanging by my arms on pullup bar a few times a day.. supposed to help if it's a bulging or slipped disc. Heating pad helps some, and anti-inflams, but am told it's a pinched nerve/ inflamed area around the nerve...and probably bulging disc.

Any sitting or laying hurts, only standing relieves in... been standing about 6 months now... Reckon I'll take this to another thread and see if anyone has some nice home remedies........back surgery down at the old corpse-factory not an option! TIA!

So the witch doc wont adjust im assuming?
My coworker swears by accupuncture..might give it a shot... My herniated disk almost had me going but 4 adjustments a week for 2 weeks had me back up and somewhat functional.

 

[thorr]

And if not going to our “witch doctors “ then as with most ailments, good attitude, good diet and proper exercise will go a long way. But it is trying...lol

 

[tnhillbilly]

Summerthyme's ouch oil, ting unit and acupuncture.

 

[lisa]

I suffered two herniated discs in my lower back for almost 7 yrs (then the Lord healed me and I've been fine since). It had left me pretty disabled. I also had sciatica in my left leg from them. For the sciatica I found walking..using the longest stride possible worked to ease the pain. Standing still and sitting killed me...I had to continuously move and shift. Laying down FLAT..no pillows helped also as there was no elevation to put pressure on my lower back. A pillow between my knees when sleeping on my side helped straighten the spine and was more comfortable. I loved the pain patches for my back..the ones with lidocaine. and get yourself a TENS unit ...you can pick them up at Walmart. you put those little pads on your back and adjust the setting to whatever works for you. I had to use the highest setting and dh couldn't believe I liked that but it helped give relief. It is very important though that you don't aggravate it with heavy lifting... make sure if you are going to lift stuff get one of those lifting belts at least...but your back won't heal if you continuously aggravate it.
And a cortisone shot really help too.

 

[shane]

3MRI’s & 2 surgeons 8+ years ago urged me going under the knife for L4 & L5 disk ruptures,
the sciatic pain was non-stop crippling and sleep was very difficult, but specialized exercises
(foundationtraining.com) & DMSO, both topically & internally, cured me after couple months,
just as surely as the Tin Man in the Wizard of Oz when he finally got ahold of his oil can.

YMMV, but I'd counsel at least exploring giving the above a shot before anything more drastic.

Panic Early, Beat the Rush!
- Shane

 

[Ravekid]

I'm 41 and have been battling a haywire sciatic nerve about 6 months. Alternately my lower back, pelvis, hip joint, femur, hamstring, calf and foot all have either mild gnawing pain/ numbness like a funny bone, sharp searing pain in hamstring or lower back/spine and pelvis connect, or tingling pins and needles 'numbness" -but not really numb.. in my thigh calf and foot.. Like it's "asleep."

Any sitting or laying hurts, only standing relieves in... been standing about 6 months now... Reckon I'll take this to another thread and see if anyone has some nice home remedies........back surgery down at the old corpse-factory not an option! TIA!

I have similar issues with something going on with disc or sciatic nerve issues. I am not much older than you. First started having issues back in my mid-20s. The main back injury came around thirty when I did an improper pull-up. Should've went to a gym and just paid an actual trainer, but I got my own pull-up bar and bent/twisted my body struggling to do a third pull-up. I hit the ground and couldn't move. Within an hour I was able to hobble around, and within a few days, was "fine" until the next injury. Now improper lifts, bending in certain ways, can cause an issue. Usually last a week or so.

It isn't bad enough to warrant an MRI, which I believe is the only sure way to know what the issue is. I get tingles in my leg. In the evening when I'm usually laying down or sitting, I sometimes get this urge to shake my leg, or flex the leg. I believe it all has to do with the nerves, muscles, and disc in my lower back. For many years the handful of times I'd get some serious, short lasting back pain it was centered in my lower back. However, it seems over the last five years, these pain instances are felt more toward the back of my hips.

For me it comes and goes. I have felt great for weeks now. However, last week while brushing my teeth and again, for reasons unknown, I was bending my torso and leaning against the sink in an unnatural position, I felt that shocking pain for a millisecond. Thankfully it didn't appear to cause a lasting injury for a day or so.

Staying moving and staying up helps me. I used to get sore in the bed after sleeping, but getting moving would make it all go away. I don't get so sore anymore which is nice.

One time when I injured myself doing simple ski squats with either 15 or 20 pound (not all that heavy) dumbbells, I pulled a muscle. My doctor prescribed me diclofenac sodium and cyclobenaprine. I usually only need to take them for two to three days, and don't even always need the cyclobenaprine for spasmes three times a day. I recently threw my back out again (about four years later) and my new doc prescribed the same combo. After about four days this time I was OK. I don't have to use all the meds so I can save them for the next time.

A member on this forum with similar back issues recommended a back-stretcher similar to this:
https://www.amazon.com/Stretcher-Adjustable-Cracking-Scoliosis-Decompression/dp/B0B63DMGFK

The one they linked to has never come back in stock at Amazon. I might go ahead and get the one in the above link. The member said that at first they couldn't even go all the way back, but after constant use, they could finally bend all the way back. I believe the device helps put the spine back into a more natural position. The member said that a lot of their back issues got better after using the device.

This one appears to come with a foam pad:
https://www.amazon.com/Back-Stretcher-Cracker-Spine-Device/dp/B09C7JP4F4/

Some of the exercises on this core workout video also have helped. They are similar to exercises that my old doctor recommended to me years ago. The great thing about this core routine is that she doesn't just focus on the front abs of the torso, she incorporates back exercises, which many are likely stretching. For this exercise routine, I avoid the Russian Twists and anything with jumping around exercises. It is too hard for me to keep a straight back doing the Russian Twists and the shock of the jumping up and down aren't good for me either. The back bend type exercises I've never had an issue with.

 

[Knoxville's Joker]

First make sure you have a good bed.

Second make sure you have access to a hot tub as the soaks can help.

Third as stated pt and exercises will help once the muscle imbalance will help.

Fourth look into a supplement complex called c60 although expensive it could help longer term and is what the celebrities use to look great and young

 

[Sacajawea]

The TENS units are really good for temporary relief. They aren't terribly expensive either.

But I'll second the recommendation for getting good images to a spinal doc to find out the actual cause and find out what options are option to you. I am grateful for the Col's McKenzie info too - that's a helpful diagnosis tool, initially.

 

[wobble]

This recently came into my life:

https://www.amazon.com/Aspen-Horizon-Back-Brace-L0456/dp/B01N311BHU/ref=sr_1_4?keywords=aspen+horizon+back+brace&qid=1696543506&sr=8-4

HUGE improvement.

I wear it to sit, drive, and lift awkward and heavy equipment and objects, and sometimes wear it all day during work.

Most important for me to wear it when sitting. It keeps my back from relaxing the wrong direction, basically relieving bad posture that is exacerbates these issues.

 

[DFENZ]

I started this as a reply to the above statement by aint, this is from the 2 year old Publius injury thread.... I can related to the injurry causing lifestyle changes... I have been hindered in my getting around this fall by a back/leg twinge.

I'm 41 and have been battling a haywire sciatic nerve about 6 months. Alternately my lower back, pelvis, hip joint, femur, hamstring, calf and foot all have either mild gnawing pain/ numbness like a funny bone, sharp searing pain in hamstring or lower back/spine and pelvis connect, or tingling pins and needles 'numbness" -but not really numb.. in my thigh calf and foot.. Like it's "asleep."

This is all on my right side. Chiropractor had me do a few stretches/ moves that isolated/confirmed a bulge/slipped disc & sciatic nerve issue. Put me on the "stretcher' a few times which milds the symptoms for a few days. Also been hanging by my arms on pullup bar a few times a day.. supposed to help if it's a bulging or slipped disc. Heating pad helps some, and anti-inflams, but am told it's a pinched nerve/ inflamed area around the nerve...and probably bulging disc.

Any sitting or laying hurts, only standing relieves in... been standing about 6 months now... Reckon I'll take this to another thread and see if anyone has some nice home remedies........back surgery down at the old corpse-factory not an option! TIA!

When I was your age, I had almost exactly the same symptoms. And I was in otherwise prime shape and weight too. I went to the chiropractor and spent several thousand dollars over 6-months, trying to get relief to no avail. The pain was unbearable. I finally gave up with the chiro, and with some connections to a highly rated orthopedic surgeon, got right in to his outpatient clinic. No x-rays or other imaging, but within 15 minutes he had it figured out. It was a bulged disc, pressing against the sciatic nerve. He gave me some 15-minute exercises to do twice a day. At the time, I thought it seemed silly and was actually hoping for some drugs, though I am not a pill taker.

The exercises involved laying on the floor on my stomach, then gradually raising my shoulders into the pain and holding there (with pelvis on the floor) for as long as I could stand it-or 15 minutes. Each time I did that exercise, it became less painful, and I could elevate my shoulders further. After about 2 days I was finally able to hold that position on my elbows, eventually even further arching my lower back. After a week of those exercises, the pain and nerve pinching were completely GONE.

Of course, YMMV but it worked for me like a charm. And now, every time I get a hint of that sort of a sensation in my lower back, I do the same exercises, twice a day for a day or two. I've never had any more problems with my lower back and have never been to a chiropractor since.

Again, I don't know if it works for you or anyone else, but it worked for me.

 

[ainitfunny]

When I was your age, I had almost exactly the same symptoms. And I was in otherwise prime shape and weight too. I went to the chiropractor and spent several thousand dollars over 6-months, trying to get relief to no avail. The pain was unbearable. I finally gave up with the chiro, and with some connections to a highly rated orthopedic surgeon, got right in to his outpatient clinic. No x-rays or other imaging, but within 15 minutes he had it figured out. It was a bulged disc, pressing against the sciatic nerve. He gave me some 15-minute exercises to do twice a day. At the time, I thought it seemed silly and was actually hoping for some drugs, though I am not a pill taker.

The exercises involved laying on the floor on my stomach, then gradually raising my shoulders into the pain and holding there (with pelvis on the floor) for as long as I could stand it-or 15 minutes. Each time I did that exercise, it became less painful, and I could elevate my shoulders further. After about 2 days I was finally able to hold that position on my elbows, eventually even further arching my lower back. After a week of those exercises, the pain and nerve pinching were completely GONE.

Of course, YMMV but it worked for me like a charm. And now, every time I get a hint of that sort of a sensation in my lower back, I do the same exercises, twice a day for a day or two. I've never had any more problems with my lower back and have never been to a chiropractor since.

Again, I don't know if it works for you or anyone else, but it worked for me.

Fantastic! Even if it only works for some, those "some" will be ever gratefull you posted that! BLESS YOU!

 

[Satanta]

My advice for WIW.

Don't frell with it if you can get it taken care of Professionally.

LFl went thru that. Bone Crackers and exercises and so forth. Now she is in constan pain and had two usrgeries and lost a lot of mobility with other issues.

She says'Get a Neurologist and not an Orthopedic."

 

[BadMedicine]

Thank you EVERYONE for the amazing first hand experiences! I'm going to go get my back imaged this week so I can be sure what the problem is. Been doing the front push up with pelvis on the ground and seems to offer some relief. I am always amazed at the plethora of first hand and expert knowledge we have here. Thanks a ton, again, to everyone!!

 

[Wildwood]

I just had an MRI last week. Spondylolisthesis, Stenosis, thickening of the Ligamentum Flavum, and disc bulges.

Most of my pain is sciatic type pain in the upper right buttock area/outer hamstring (sometimes shifts to left buttock). Electrical shock type of pain that improves with walking/exercise.

For two straight years I stretched religiously at least twice a day, often more. I've come to the conclusion that I was aggravating the problem worse with the stretching.

I'm very much against surgery. I've decided to lose 10 pounds (currently 5'10 180lb and in pretty good shape), and focus on my core (lots of side-planks especially) like I never have in the past. I've only been doing this for two weeks and I'm getting some improvement already.

I'm hoping the core is the key to beating this.

Last night, I came to about the same conclusion as you. My plan going forward is also to lose some weight and work on my core. I watched another video with the same guy I posted above and that was pretty much his bottom line if you've tried everything else. No matter what I did, mine was getting worse. The quick fixes worked for a while but not this time.

Mine is on my left side. It use to be my right when I was younger. I realize now that this started when I was in my early twenties but it was easier to fix back then. A new pair of shoes with a good arch support would work back then.

This morning all I had time for was some abdominal and glute exerises and then I had to set down and do a lot of paperwork for my business that I couldn't put off and forgot about all of it. I also decided to get out a new pair of shoes I ordered a couple weeks ago with a good arch support.

I already feel better but I will add that a few days ago, I decided to take that sea mussel stuff Dennis recommends for old dogs...it's human grade. I ordered it a year or so ago for one of mine that wasn't doing well. We lost her shortly after so I have a full bottle. I do believe it may have finally kicked in...that and the sedentary day I've had...with no stretches.

 

[Wildwood]

This won't be the answer you want but it's what happened to my back - sciatica had gotten worse over about a year. I couldn't walk/sleep/sit or anything else that didn't hurt. I've had both hips replaced twice and my back hurt every bit as bad as the hips had.
I have several herniated discs, too. Construction work will do that for you. Two different chiropractors checked me out and performed their voodoo with their little thumper that didn't do anything for me. The back massage & tens machine did feel good at the time but no lasting relief.
I got in to see a spine specialist. Had a couple of x-rays done - nobody else had tried that! My Dr said he needed a better pic so down the hall to the MRI. Two weeks later he showed me that I had a cyst pressing on the nerve accompanied by a bone spur to help pinch it.
Surgery took about 45 minutes. I had the normal surgical pain but from the time I woke up in recovery, the sciatica was gone and has not reoccurred.
Someone needs to x-ray you to get an idea of what the real problem is. It may be like what I had and no amount of chiropractors is going to help it.

That may be next for me. I detest going to the doctor but I'm too active to put up with this if it doesn't get better. I'm a tad bit better today but if I backslide, I'm not fooling around. A fellow could get old real quick having to be sedentary to stay out of pain. You weren't ever going to get better no matter what with a spur and a cyst contributing to the problem. Thanks for the reminder.

 

[Bud in Fla]

That may be next for me. I detest going to the doctor but I'm too active to put up with this if it doesn't get better. I'm a tad bit better today but if I backslide, I'm not fooling around. A fellow could get old real quick having to be sedentary to stay out of pain. You weren't ever going to get better no matter what with a spur and a cyst contributing to the problem. Thanks for the reminder.

My Dr did the microdiscectomy procedure on me. The incision was about 1-1/2" long. He put a pin in to locate the actual site and slid increasingly larger tubes over it until he'd spread the muscles enough to get his scope & tools in. I was told they put something like acupuncture needles at certain places and if one of them twitched, the assistants let him know he was too close to the nerve.

It took about 45 minutes. I told the anesthetist in the prep area that I didn't want to know anything..... Probably shouldn't have said that. I had the IV in my right hand with the port right there. I was looking around the OR and a nurse 2 feet away told me I was in recovery! That's as close to time travel as I'll ever see!

They loaded me with epidural pain killers to go home with some good drugs. No problems that afternoon or night. A little sensitive the next day. like normal, the 3rd & 4th days I did need the pills but instead of the 1 pill every 4 hours they proscribed, I was using 1/4 pill as needed. A whole pill was way too much! Couldn't drive till I was off the pain pills. Took about a week. He didn't turn me loose for 6 weeks but said I wouldn't actually damage anything if I did get stupid but it'd slow the healing process down. No hardware or screws - just some staples to close the incision.
This shows what they did. It wasn't near as bad as I'd expected. It was well worth it!

View: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=i5xZrmoamsA

 

[Wildwood]

My Dr did the microdiscectomy procedure on me. The incision was about 1-1/2" long. He put a pin in to locate the actual site and slid increasingly larger tubes over it until he'd spread the muscles enough to get his scope & tools in. I was told they put something like acupuncture needles at certain places and if one of them twitched, the assistants let him know he was too close to the nerve.

It took about 45 minutes. I told the anesthetist in the prep area that I didn't want to know anything..... Probably shouldn't have said that. I had the IV in my right hand with the port right there. I was looking around the OR and a nurse 2 feet away told me I was in recovery! That's as close to time travel as I'll ever see!

They loaded me with epidural pain killers to go home with some good drugs. No problems that afternoon or night. A little sensitive the next day. like normal, the 3rd & 4th days I did need the pills but instead of the 1 pill every 4 hours they proscribed, I was using 1/4 pill as needed. A whole pill was way too much! Couldn't drive till I was off the pain pills. Took about a week. He didn't turn me loose for 6 weeks but said I wouldn't actually damage anything if I did get stupid but it'd slow the healing process down. No hardware or screws - just some staples to close the incision.
This shows what they did. It wasn't near as bad as I'd expected. It was well worth it!

View: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=i5xZrmoamsA

I'd be willing to do that. I have anxiety about surgery, specifically being put to sleep. It sounds like they could do it with just the epidural and something to take the edge off. I've had a minor abdominal surgery with a spinal to avoid anesthesia and nothing to take the edge off (my choice) and I did fine.

Thanks for sharing!

 

[Raggedyman]

a word about Chiros - BTW I see one myself from time to time - and as we see in every other profession, there are many that are absolutely FANTASTIC - akin to miraculous - and others that should be hung out to dry. my experience is that if you've been seen 9 -10 times and AREN'T showing some LASTING improvement, you need to move on - either to another chiro or another type of practioner. I've also seen acupuncture do miraculous things - and on occasion - rather instantly at that. both are worth a try PRIOR to installing a zipper in your back. its best to remember that you can ALWAYS get cut - but you can NEVER get "UN" cut.

next a word about imaging and surgery . . . there are TONS of people who show herniated discs on MRI and yet are 100% symptom free. similarly, every MRI that's read showing a "herniated disc" doesn't result in a back surgery. being a bit simplistic here . . . there are "degrees" of disc herniation; your symptoms are a function of neural compression and that compression will involve not only the disc itself, but your individual anatomy (shape and size of your neural canal for instance) combined with any degenerative disease that may exist. the suggestion of surgery is based on your physical exam - the ability to reproduce your symptoms - and how those correlate with imaging. it is NOT based soley on the images alone.