piched sciatic nerve

[Stargazer]

First, make sure it is true sciatica. There is a muscle in the butt (piriformis) that mimics sciatic pain when it gets very tight. 90% of my clients who came to me with "sciatica" actually ended up having piriformis syndrome, treatable by trigger point massage.

If you have true sciatica, cortisone shots can give some immediate relief. For long term, you will want to make sure you get some deep tissue massage to release the lower back muscles and hip flexors. All of these muscles, when tight, will compress the spine. Please do this before you consider anything like surgery. Do you know if you have a protruding or ruptured disk?

I wish I lived closer; I would help you.

[louise]

Originally Posted by Stargazer

First, make sure it is true sciatica. There is a muscle in the butt (piriformis) that mimics sciatic pain when it gets very tight. 90% of my clients who came to me with "sciatica" actually ended up having piriformis syndrome, treatable by trigger point massage.
If you have true sciatica, cortisone shots can give some immediate relief. For long term, you will want to make sure you get some deep tissue massage to release the lower back muscles and hip flexors. All of these muscles, when tight, will compress the spine. Please do this before you consider anything like surgery. Do you know if you have a protruding or ruptured disk?
I wish I lived closer; I would help you.

it feels like the bone in the bottom right part of my back is swollen. since i been doing stretches the sweeling seems to have gone down. my back has even cracked a few times since the swelling went down. the time it hurts the most is after i lay down.

[mongoose5971]

Sounds like you need to see a doctor to properly diagnose what you have before it possibly gets worse...the worst thing you could do is treat yourself for the wrong ailment and make it worse! Good luck either way. And I have been taking pain pills for the past week and a half and the only side-effects I've had is maybe 20 minutes of drowsiness once a day and not being able to drink alcohol...definitely worth it.

[Stargazer]

If stretching helps, you will probably get good benefit from the right kind of massage. Find someone who is really good at deep tissue/neuromuscular massage. Along with all the classic low back muscles, make sure they know how to work the psoas muscle (pronouned SOazz). This is the most common cause of low back problems. I think it's really worth it, especially since you have such a physical job.

I can almost guarantee many of your low back muscles are extremely tight. Relaxing them will help decompress the spine.

[Icicle]

Any Updates?

[louise]

at least 90% better. i can do things again