singing goddess?

S

stephanied

Cathlete
Hello,

I have been searching back posts about sciatica, back injury, which unfortunately i have just been diagnosed with. You mentioned a book, Healing Back Pain. I grabbed it today. Do you mind telling me how it helped you recover? and how you're doing now?
about me:
1 week ago, while squatting 50 lbs on my back, i managed to slip L6/S1, and was told piroformis syndrome and sciatica.
Thanks so much
Steph
 
You might want to talk to Emily (materialsgirl) as she has been dealing with piriformis syndrome for a while.
 
Stephanie,
So sorry to hear about your injury. I know how frustrating it is and how painful it can be. Let me say first that I was really stupid about how I reacted to my initial injury. I was increasing my mileage running too quickly and started getting pain in the glutes and lower back and ignored it. My sciatica problem probably would have gone away within a couple of weeks, if I had listened to my body more. My injury ended up lasting for 6 months. I bought the book by Jay Sarno just out of curiosity and really loved it. I had been totally obsessing over the injury and was reading everything about it I could find. The book created a more positve attitude about recovering from it and it introduced the idea of the mind body connection and how sometimes letting go of fear and negative thought can have a healing effect. It was very motivating to me and I had been dealing with it for about 4 months at this point.

I had physical therapy and massage therapy several times a week and it helped a bit, but I think just letting the body heal on it own, and not torturing it like I had, is really what finally fixed the problem. I also strengthened the abs a lot and that also helped. My doctors though did say that it is important to keep doing some form of cardio so the back does not get stiff. I did the elliptical daily and had no problems with that. I would definitley stay away from squats and deadlifts for awhile. I also started seeing a chiropractor and I should have mentioned this first, but I would highly recommend it. Again, I waited so long to do anything that it took awhile to heal, but chiropractors have a very high success rate with sciatica problems. Some people love them and some hate them. I am one that loves them. You just have to make sure to find a reputable one with plenty of experience.

Most people recover from sciatica ontheir own within 6-8 weeks, if not soon. Be patient and stay away from the impact.

I also used the foam roller for the glutes and that really helped as well. A tennis ball also gets in their good.

Sorry to be so long winded;-) Good luck and I hope your injury goes away much faster than mine did.

Susan
 
What Susan said! ;)

Seriously, though... I have also been diagnosed with sciatica, which was brought on by doing too much speed and hillwork too frequently. (*ahem* thanks Coach Sean - you were so addictive that I hurt myself! :p) Anyway, I've been sidelined for almost a month now. I haven't run in a month, and just recently started doing very light workouts (yoga and walking). I also just started seeing a chiropractor earlier this week, after several weeks of massage therapy didn't help. I've only had one adjustment so far, so I can't say yet if it helps (I feel better today than I did on Monday, and my first adjustment was yesterday - but I think it's still too early to say). Even with 3 solid weeks of rest, I didn't get a whole lot of relief. Starting up with yoga a couple times a week has helped, though. I think it was Yoga that got me through my marathon training last year, and made my sciatic pain almost nonexistant (this problem has plagued me off and an on for about a year now and was never really bad until just recently).

I also second the recommendation for the foam roller and tennis ball. Tennis ball especially - hurts so good! }(

Sometimes I wonder if I'll ever be able to run again - I think, for me, it's going to be a long time before I do try to run again. I let it get too far out of control, and now I'm paying the price. If it's taken care of early, it's a very manageable condition. Good luck to you - I hope you get rid of the pain more quickly than Susan and I did!
 
Susan and Emily

I really appreciate your responses. I think a lot of us suffer with knowing an injury is brewing and letting it go, pushing and pushing until somethings breaks!! I felt something brewing for about 2 weeks before the actually disc's popped! Did i stop, no!!
I had a treatment last night called Bowen, its similar to Chiropractic, but is muscular and ligament focussed. The sciatic pain is still there, but the disc pain seems a bit better. I am exactly 7 days post ER/hospital admission, your words have really encouraged me to try to stay off of it!! I know the minute i have some relief i'll try to do Drillmax!! I need to hold off. I was told Step and kickboxing are the worst for this injury, they happen to be my favourite activities.
We need a check in for Sciatica!!!
Again, Susan and Emily, THANK YOU!
I wish you both all the best in your recovery too, and you will run again Emily :)
Steph
 
Emily! I didn't know you were hurt! I hope both you and Steph have a speedy recovery.

I have had both sciatica and piriformis. Sciatica was a few years back and for me Chiropractic and Physical Therapy helped speed my recovery. I had it for about 8 weeks like Susan had said. The pain didn't go fast but gradually with treatment it went away. I only could not run for the 1st 2 weeks, after I really took it easy as you have no choice. I got piriformis a few months ago and what a pain! I agree with the tennis ball and the foam roller, I also iced the area a few times a day. What really helped me there is when I went to my Massage therapist and told her about the piriformis, I said "Okay, please rub it out"...OMG! I have had regular deep muscle massages for a few years but I was in no way prepared for the pain of rubbing (deep massaging) out the piriformis! But after that massage and my further home treatment it finally went away.

I know as a runner you often choose to just try and run thru these injuries, but resting is really the best way even though it is tough.

I know Susan is back to running very well and I bet Emily, you and Steph should be healed up soon...sending strong healing vibes to both of you...:)
 
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