Sciatica- Alternative Remedies

[ConstitutionHill]

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AIBU to ask has anyone had good results using some alternative treatments for sciatica.

I have been in horrible pain and unable to walk properly for 3 months. I have been to doctor and pretty sure it's a trapped nerve under the piriformis muscle. Im sick of NSAIDs and don't really want to take amitriptyline off label.

Has anyone had any luck with acupuncture/ osteo/physio/chiropractor?

Thanks.

I was diagnosed with sciatica ,35 years ago, when I was pregnant with my first child and the pain did not go away afterwards. I was given this sheet of exercises to do and was really disappointed. However, I did the exercises several times a day for a few weeks and the pain went away!
The pain comes back from time to time, but if I go back to doing these exercises several times a day it always goes away in a few days. I have been doing Pilates class for 20 years, so I do keep fairly mobile.
Disclaimer: you might not have the same type of sciatica as me and the exercises may not help

Yoga with Adrienne on you tube, google the sciatica one, and especially the stretch at about 16mins. It’s brilliant. Has sorted mine out. I do that video , and the hamstrings /lower back one. Brilliant.

Search on you tube for stretching for piriformis syndrome. Ive found a combination of stretching, strengthening and massage useful for keeping it in check. There is some self massage you can do rocking about on a squash ball but be warned, it hurts! You need to look at not only piriformis but also your glutes and core. But as with all stretching and strengthening exercises, doing them every now and then isn't really enough. You need to make it part of your daily routine.

Do you use a lumbar roll for all your chairs? I would start with that (you can get half ones, flattish ones and fully round ones. Which you need depends on the chair type)

Then McKenzie exercises would be my recommendation.

E.g.

https://www.verywellhealth.com/mckenzie-exercises-for-your-low-back-2696222

Or see a physio.

I forgot to mention I also started to use ‘CBD muscle balm ultra’. It’s expensive at £40 a pot from Holland and Barrett but they have offers on all the time. Hubby slaps it on my buttock and lower back just before bed. It’s very soothing and relaxing and I’m convinced it helps. Anything’s worth a try.

Out of interest do anyones symptoms get worse just before and during their period? My is alot more painful but then everything is always worse then !!