Sciatica | Ask an Expert

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Submitted on: 21-05-2014; Answers: 17; Tagged under: Sciatica       ✘ Report abuse
Q Hi there, I am 19 years old and about 3 months ago I hurt my lower back which I believed occurred while at the gym. The pain began to be felt in my right side and really bad down into my glute. I would quite often get shooting pains down into my right calf also. Almost 3 weeks ago, i twitched my back again and began to get pins and needles into my right foot. Since then the whole back of my right leg has been numb and in constant pain. I have been going to physio since the initial injury in Mid-February but they have been unable to help me. My doctor has booked me in for an appointment with the orthopedics which is semi urgent and will not be for another 12-20 weeks. The numbness and not eased whatsoever and i cant get rid of the pins and needs sensation into my foot. I am a very active person and am getting very irritated with the constant pain which i have be unable to resolve. If i were to receive any advise at all on how to approach this from now it would be greatly appreciated. Thanks.

A Hi there 19 year old. Constant pain is certainly a challenge. For me, the question to ask your self is: What was I doing/thinking/feeling in the gym, and 3 weeks later, when I hurt my lower back? Also, how was I running my life at the time? I.e. what choices was I making that could have led to this injury? e.g. Was I completely over-doing things so I was constantly exhausted? Until you get to the deep underlying cause of the lower back issue, things like physiotherapy, osteopathy and massage will only alleviate the symptoms. Trust that you have the answers within you. With love, Anne
Answered by: GloriousBody;
Answered on: 12-06-2014;
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A Hi, you may like to experience a pranic healing which helps with aches, pains, pins and needles and more. I have helped others with this modality. You may like to look at my website: www.rainbowmountaintherapies.co.nz and pursue a healing for yourself. Practitioners are available throughout NZ. All the best and hope you are soon free of pain. Faye
Answered by: Faye Taylor - Rainbow Mountain Therapies;
Answered on: 24-05-2014;
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A Hi, I do sympathise with you, this type of injury, especially when you are fit and active, can be very frustrating. You have received a lot of advice from a range of practitioners and you must be guided by your doctor and orthopaedic specialist. I would recommend that you consult with a sports medicine doctor, such as Dr Lucy Holtzhausen at Marua Medical centre. I personally suffered from sciatica through sports injury and this is when I first started practicing Pilates as it was the only thing that gave me relief, (and allowed me to move). If you want to try this route do find a Pilates expert who understands the nature of your injury and how to manage it. Good luck with your treatment.
Answered by: Bodywise Pilates;
Answered on: 22-05-2014;
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A By the description of your symptoms you have pressure on a nerve root in your lower back, most commonly at L2. Assessment from an experienced chiropractor will give you an idea of your chance of recovery without surgery, otherwise you are headed for the surgeons knife.Massage is a waste of time and I can guarantee it is not a sacroiliac problem.
Answered by: Mt Albert Chiropractic Centre;
Answered on: 21-05-2014;
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A To add to the advice already received it can also be very helpful to investigate emotional issues which may underlie the whole issue. Have a read of The Journey by Brandon Bays to find out how you could discover a deeper cause to this physical condition. I wish you well for a very speedy recovery.
Answered by: Harmony hours Retreat;
Answered on: 21-05-2014;
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A It certainly sounds as though your sciatic nerve is being compressed. This compression can occur anywhere from your lumber discs down to your piriformis muscle in your buttock. An experienced body worker such as an osteopath or a good massage therapist who works with muscle release techniques would be my 1st port of call if I were in your situation. Good luck with that. Sciatic pain is truly one of life's miseries. Catherine McCarthy.
Answered by: Catherine McCarthy | Natural Therapist Hamilton;
Answered on: 21-05-2014;
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A Where are you based? Sounds like Sacro-iliac joint. It would be worth getting an experienced deep-tissue massage therapist to have a look at it while you're waiting. If you're in the Manawatu I can take a quick look and advise.
Answered by: Your Essential Wellbeing;
Answered on: 21-05-2014;
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A There are a lot of ways to help, but yes I would suggest an xray /MRI first then you will have a working diagnosis. We do neuromuscular therapy to help with soft tissue dysfunctions and if the sciatic nerve is causing the nerve pain, a combination of massage and maybe osteopathy would be beneficial. Hope all goes well.
MAINTAIN MASSAGE THERAPY
2/137 Wellesley Street
Auckland
WWW.maintainmasaage.co.nz
0212748890
Answered by: Maintain Massage Therapy - Auckland;
Answered on: 21-05-2014;
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A As a Bowtech Bowen Therapist and someone who has had similar issues in the past I can also recommend the help Bowen can give. Your symptoms sound like the injury has involved the nerves (sciatic) that go down your leg. Bowen around the lower back /buttock area primarily -where the sciatic nerve comes out from the spinal cord and down through the buttocks will help to rebalance the body. Possibly a disc may be involved.
When the symptoms are improving an excellent course of action to assess how you move etc is to have an individual assessment with a Pilates specialist who can identify movement patterns and postures and advise on corrections and an individualised programme. Marcia - in reply below has given you the Bowtech website and Pilates are also on a website.
Good Health , Judy 021 118 7281
A Hi, I am sorry to hear of what you are experiencing. I have no suggestions but just wanted to mention if this occurred as a result of an 'accident' such as from the gym, you may be applicable for ACC and therefore supports, especially if there are activities that you are not able to do at present, you may be able to get support at home, work with therapies to support you as you heal. Good luck.
Answered by: Liz Gow LIfe Coach;
Answered on: 21-05-2014;
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A I sympathize with you. Being in pain is no fun.
Having an Xray or MRI is important as it will determine if there is damage to the spine/disks...
Definitely Bowen Therapy,Orthobionomy or massage help no end.
Your choice. If you are in Hamilton you can contact me at 021 502095. I practice these techniques among others.
All the best
Answered by: Holistic Health Therapies Ltd - Hamilton;
Answered on: 21-05-2014;
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A Hello, the responses you have received so far are very good and I'm sure will be helpful. I've had sciatica myself so have real empathy for your situation. For me I found the Bowen Technique helped tremendously.It's a very gentle modality that works on specific muscles and connective tissue which addresses every system in the body. Internal organ systems as well as musculo-skeletal structure. It helps the body to realign and restore it's self back to it's own original blue print. For more info go to the Bowtech.org.nz
Take care x Marcia 0272469883.
Answered by: Marcia Pollock;
Answered on: 21-05-2014;
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A Hello it's very frustrating I understand to not be able to be active in the way you are used to. I do I really effective treatment of Reflexology (working with the acupressure points on the foot with massage too) which would help the numbness in the foot to go away and the sciatic nerve and I also do a cranial sacral therapy release technique on the sacrum which will help shift the pelvic girdle into the right place and works with calming the fascia tissue so that it will be released and the numbness in the legs will start to die down will take a couple of sessions but I find my cranial work is most effective on a fresh injury like yours it clears up much quicker compared to when the body has been in the condition for years. Please check out my blog for more info on me - www.purityhealing.wordpress.com
Answered by: Purity Healing;
Answered on: 21-05-2014;
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A Ortho-Bionomy would be a great modality for you to enquire into, as it heals through positions of comfort with the least amount of movement (if any)through compression or traction which will stimulate the internal healing capacity of the body. Vicki Atlas Health Clinic Wellington.
Answered by: Atlas Health Ortho-Bionomy;
Answered on: 21-05-2014;
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A This is a good indication for Homeopathic Hypericum, but I would feel better having a consultation to be sure of the remedy, the dosage and the potency as it has lasted for three months now. Mary 09 4279 279
Answered by: Mary Tonner Consulting;
Answered on: 21-05-2014;
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A HI there
It is worth trying different modalities. I recommend ConTact C.A.R.E or Feldenkrais Method.
The first will unhook the locked bones from your injury - that almost certainly are not where your pain is.
Feldenkrais can help you understand the subtle movement patterns that probably contributed to your injury in the first place, and train you in a better way. This is a much more integrated and subtle approach than just "sit up straight" and more personalised than ideas from common group exercise class situations.

These modalities are working with your physical body. If you cant get traction with them, then at some point you may have to consider the involvment of mental/emotional patterns and "stress" in your sore back. Lower backs especially often seem to be made worse by stress. If that seemed like it might be a fruitful avenue then I would add in some NLP or mBit coaching.

And no-one ever wants to hear this of course, but resting and doing some gentler, more body-soothing, rather than pushing the limit at every opportunity may be part of the healong process for you. It is an artful process knowing when to stop and when to push on, and one that ultimately requires some sensitivity to your body and trial and error.
I would of course be happy to help, but if you are not in Auckland then please google the modalites and find a practitioner near you
best of luck
Answered by: Release Body Therapy and NLP Coaching;
Answered on: 21-05-2014;
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A Has anyone xrayed your back to make sure you've not "slipped" a disc? If your spine is Ok and is a muscle-nerve issue then madsage would be my first recommendation. Lisa Wade works from my clinic in High St .. where are you?
Kind regards, Sharon
Answered by: House of Health Ltd;
Answered on: 21-05-2014;
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