Lots of information and explaining. Thanx for not talking to us like you want to sell us something and instead talking and explaining to us like we care
I am on holiday with family and have a bulged disk. I've experienced a massive increase in inflammation just from light walking and swimming. I'm literally stuck in a hotel room due to pain. I cannot put weight on my leg or stand straight. It made me vomit and go dizzy. I had to pee in a bottle and can't do anything. My Dad is bringing me food and water. I'm very anxious about getting home and starting a new office job which requires me to be on site daily next week. If I can't go back to work, it will be really bad for my future and I have spent all of my savings during recovery. I'm taking Naproxen and Gabapentin (max dose) but am still immobile and in constant pain. The passive pain is about 4/10 but moving is about 9/10. Daily stretching was helping when my pain was milder but now I can't do it. I got an MRI and I've been offered steroid injections or surgery today. Can anyone share advice to help me get moving and get home? I'd also appreciate any advice on the key considerations of the more invasive treatments? Thanks in advance ❤🌍 👍
I am sorry to hear about your journey. The steroid injection will most likely help decrease your symptoms enough that you can get back to doing the stretches that were helping before. Wishing you the best of luck!
@@PT4Everybody Thanks. Yes, it's quite daunting doing this in another country and I don't know how I will reach the ambulance/hospital from my bed but I have few choices. If it takes 1-3 days to work, I need to go now. Thanks for your input
I find it’s most painful going from this sleeping position to sitting at side of bed just to get up. That transition from laying to sitting is unbearable. Any tips?
That's a great question. The transition from sleeping to sitting is often a difficult one for people with sciatica. The best way to get up: 1) Start in side lying which is the position I am in in the thumbnail. 2) Gently contract your abdominals to provide support. 3) Use your arms to help push you up as your legs swing off the bed and breathe out while you do this. This should help to decrease the pain. I also recommend you make this the way you get out of bed all the time, even when your symptoms have resolved. It's safer for your back.
This is equally as excellent as your later video on sciatica. I am 3 days into an acute bout and, as I said in the comments to that vieo, I have been unable to get out of bed in the morning without excruciating pain at the back of the glutes. I shall break out the Yoga mat!
I was just diagnosed with sciatica. I've been dealing with it for about a month. I am currently sleeping in a recliner due to the excruciating pain when getting out of bed that takes a while to calm down, which is really affecting me because I still have to go to work every day. I have been given muscle relaxers and sleeping pills. I will be hoping for the best to get relief by taking the advice in your videos. However, right now, I have such anxiety of laying in bed or the floor for sleep or anything else. I am afraid I won't be able to get up due to pain, plus I am overweight. Getting out of the recliner is much less painful and easier, but I am sure I am paying for it in the evenings when the pains get really bad. Great videos.
Staying in the recliner for a little bit longer might be helpful for you. The ideal position in in bed to take pressure off the sciatic nerve but if you can't sleep due to anxiety then you can't heal. Maybe stay in the recliner until you have a day off of work the next day and try the bed then?
@PT4Everybody I have taken a lot of your advice, and it is helping. This weekend, I slept in my bed using your advice about positions after I made the bed more firm (using 3/4" plywood), and that helped. I am icing. I keep a cooler of gel ice packs by the bed for when I have to get up at night. Instead of getting back in bed, though, I transition to the recliner. I want to try your exercises, but since I have to lie down, I am still waiting on trying those until the pain transitioning gers better. Thank you for your response to my comment and great videos.
I have just been diagnosed as well and the pain is real. I have been trying everything so I am now going to a chiropractor. I’m just praying that this work because like you you’re able to go to work my pain is so severe. I can’t even work so I know what you’re going through.😢
I am going through all your videos. I was going to ask how I rest, and this has explained it. Thank you again, I have ice on now and not heat. Thank you so much for spending your time to help.
I bought a Sleep Number mattress and it's on a adjustable head base a Sleep Number I keep it completely aired up to 100 for my sciatica is killing me @@PT4Everybody
BTW, does it cost to follow you... be a subscriber? Because I just hit subscribe button! I would like to refer back to you whenever or hopefully, if ever, this menace to my body comes back again?!?; 😧
That is a great question! We usually recommend icing both - where the pain is and the low back (where the bulges are). 5 minutes to each area to make sure you are addressing both problems.
My ice gel pack is my best friend. My husband helps me change it out during the night with a fresh ice pack. Is it ok that I fall asleep with the ice pack on my back, and it stays cold for several hours?
I use that same pillow, but have always rested my head on the lower side of the pillow and not on the side that you’re resting your head on. Which one is the correct side? Thank you so much!
Great question! This pillow is designed to have your neck on the bump so it is supported and your head one the flatter portion. That way your neck and head are each properly supported.
In general, I prefer ice for sciatica symptoms. However, a bath before bed may be relaxing and help you to sleep better. This video might be helpful: ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-AaEcIjJkWTY.html
I want to use ice packs but I can't even walk 😢, I've been crawling around my apartment for the past week. That's why I'm watching your videos to see what kind of exercises I can do to alleviate the pain.
I’ve been having sciatica pain for four months😫 My physical therapist has recommended McKenzie exercises on my stomach. I’m not getting better, some days worse. Thank you for this information, I’m going to stay off my back and try your stretches. Thank you
I am a 70 year old active male have had back issues since I was 18 years old. I have had bouts of sciatica throughout this time and was encouraged to use Mac kensie exercises each day. Within the last 6 months my sciatica has started again not pain just dull aching. I am going to try your very useful advice thank you but any other advice please? Many thanks. Harry😊
I can't lay down with Sciatica nerve pain. Not on my back, stomach or any of the sides. I have to sleep sitting up with pillows on my side. I tried sleeping on my side and it was horrible trying to sit back up and get out of bed. So sitting is how I sleep. Its the only way i don't feel pain. 😢
I'm loving this info that is Sooooo new to me!!! Thank you very much! Been dealing with sciatica issues off and on for over 30 years!😢 The pain is indescribable especially when it comes on seems like, "out of the blue"... While simply walking & then you can't walk!!!
I can vouch for heat being incorrect for certain conditions. I had a flare up of gout and thought soaking in a hot tub with one of the jets aimed at the affected foot would bring relief. Big mistake! Though it felt good for a short time, the flare up soon after caused insufferable pain, I'd rate 10+ and probably the same level when dislocating my shoulder. Won't be doing that again. The experience was so traumatic, I continue avoiding the use of the hot tub to this day. That's how intense the pain was.
I like sleeping on side but my back currently is like NOPE! Here is more pain for you! My (sleeping) back is better although I have to get used to sleeping on back. However, the back is better for me.
Do you suggestions for topical creams or gels? What about OTC pain medicine? I have chronic Sciatica pretty much, with occasional excruciating flare ups. I am several days into one of the excruciating ones now. Thanks for your advice, especially about the heat treatments. I was thinking I probably needed to use heat by now, but instead I put on some ice.
Everyone has their favorite topical cream or gel. So, if you have had a good experience with one before then I say - use that! My favorite is Deep Rub from True Love Skin Care. trueloveskincare.com/
I feel little better with doing makarasana.can i do that?i feel less pain esp in bathroom when going for toilet. rest normal walk i can do n just in between i feel little.can i apply hot pack too as it relieves?i felt this nerve pinching bit as i had lower back pain n still bit as i cant bend fwd but manageable .i did physio once and then felt this but very minor .i also do little set of bridges.let me know the best way as i want to start running and feel full active
Dr. Amy, thanks for your videos. I like your approach a lot. My sciatica according to my self diagnosis which may be incorrect is new, in my left leg mostly and severe. I really don't have much trouble sleeping but have come to dread getting out of bed. Most days it goes completely away before lunch. So if it is my left leg, which side should I be sleeping on? TIA. Ken
Great question! The truth is ... it depends! :) Every body is different. But, I will say that for most of my patients laying on the right side will be more tolerable than laying on the left. Your body may be different, though, so listen to what your body is saying.
I can understand that! If you go to their website you might be able to find someone who sells them close to you. That way you can get measured and try out the pillow in their office (at least, I allow people to do that). Good luck!
Thank you so much for your kind words! It means a lot to know that the content is making a difference in your life. Wishing you all the best on your journey!
I have the same pillow for sleep too but I don't like it. I just use a regular pillow. It's very hard for me to try to avoid sleeping in my stomach. It's my most favorite position to sleep in. And when I have my back hurt , no position helps unless I sleep on my stomach for a bit, but then hours later, I wake up all stiff from sleeping so comfortably on my stomach which I know is not good for my sciatica flare ups.
Thank you I lay on my back with two pillows under my knees but I feel burning in the lower spine because of my two disc herniations this Burning has been going on for five months and it goes into my glute area I try to sleep on my side but I still feel a little bit also the physical therapist wants me to rest on my belly just for 10 minutes every few hours to get the pressure off the discs do you have any suggestions with this Burning I'm experiencing in the lower spine and glute? Would ice still be appropriate even though I had this for over 5 months?
Firm mattress with topper helped me sleep. I remember had to sleep on the floor because the bed in the hotel was so soft that it's actually killing my holiday vibe.
I’ve dealt with sciatica nerve pain since I was a teenager. I’m now 59 and dealing with a lot of flare ups. I’m glad I found this site that hopefully will help. I’ve had neck fusion c4-6 so concerned about shoulder pain recently. Orthopedic surgeon told me to use a normal pillow but that’s what I’m using and it doesn’t help. Sigh
I sleep with pillow between knees and hugging one I have to take pain pill and lay there 45 to 1 hr before letting my feet hit the ground a 8:58 nd start walking and still have unreal pain shoting through my hip and down my leg had surgery and did clean out and 1 yr later it's back in other leg may have to do surgery again having no luck doing injections in back this wk to see what happens
This is so helpful... my other issuevis, o cannot use " just one pillow " for my neck/ head , due to Adult Asthma, I need to be sleeping with a minimum of 2 pillows. ...what might you suggest for this ..? Thank you so mucb .
Try to use one pillow to support the curvature in your neck and then make sure that your neck is in a neutral position. You might need to have one pillow under your shoulder to make sure you can be in the correct position while also helping your asthma.
That’s me. The worst pain is getting out of bed. Rolling to the side is it better to get out of bed sitting up or backwards? My worst pain is getting out of bed and and straightening out. I appreciate your advice. It’s so confusing listening to different RU-vid .
I don’t sleep only one side. I need to change positions many times. Turning with the pillow between knees is difficult since the pillow snags on your quilt or blanket. How do you deal with this problem?
Great question! In this case, I use a smaller pillow that can easily stay between my legs while turning over and not snag on the covers. I hope that helps!
