Stupid pinched sciatic nerve. I thought I got rid of you ten years ago. Why are you back?

My core muscles are stronger than they ever were. I’ve lost close to 70 pounds. I built up my activity, and lost weight, slooooowly over the past year. Never had any back pain during that time. Oh, I’ve had plenty of sore mornings, muscle aches, tiredness, heel pain, stiff calves (especially starting out, the calves burned but good!).

This is like an ice pick. The good news is that it’s not constant. The bad news is that every time I get out of my chair, for the past two days, I have had trouble straightening up fully. Stretching helps. A lot. And once I’m “loose” again, I can walk, for the most part I think I can do my Jazzercise workout. But it’s getting worse instead of better, since the first twinge of pain Thanksgiving weekend, doing a diamond stretch after a workout.

I’ve been to my GP. She gave me some specific stretches to do (some help, some don’t seem to) and some anti-inflammatory pills and a muscle relaxer. I don’t like taking the latter, but I did today because I was walking around the apartment like Richard III. Lying flat on the floor, first on my back to do stretches, then on my stomach with a gentle lift of my upper torso off the floor, helps too.

Why now? Did my increased aerobic exercise, jumpin’ around, aggravate this? Or was it just that one random stretch out of hundreds, that day? I’m on a roll, baby. I don’t need to be slowed down. When this happened before, I was moderately active (ten years ago), but not working out per se, just walking and biking. I weighed more then than I do now, and in between I weighed a lot more. With physical therapy and stretching, I eventually got over it, but it slowed me down for the better part of 1997—during which I gained a lot of weight and slowed down physically and socially.

I guess I just keep on doing what I can, and seek some medical advice, and hope I can work it out.  Any advice would be welcome.

Hi,

Have you tried a chiropractor?  Or an accupunturist?  Since you have been to your GP and it has not helped, why don’t you try some alternative medical services.

I have been with my chiropractor about 4 years and it has really helped me.

Actually, a friend recommended his chiropractor, and I called the office yesterday but got voice mail and they haven’t returned my call yet. I used a chiro ten years ago, and got relatively short-term relief, but after two months saw no long-term improvement. I figure the stretching is going to help, and if the chiropractor can help too, I’ll give him a try. They also have medical-type massage there, which I think might help too. My coworker swears by this guy. We’ll see! Thanks for the thought, though.

Just a postscript: I went to Jazzercise, and since I’m always there early anyway, I just concentrated on being as stretched-out and warmed-up as possible beforehand. As it turned out I had plenty of energy and even wore my wrist weights for the first 20 minutes, which really got my heart rate up there faster. (I just got a Polar heart monitor, and my HR was in target for considerably more time last night than Tuesday.) Made it about 85% of the way through class, including the whole aerobic portion, without any pain or concern for my back. It’s the stretching and turning stuff that gets me, and I reached back to get a handweight on the floor behind me and - ow. But it does seem to be stretching out. I even hit the treadmill for 20 minutes on my way home. Slept like a stone. Today, things are much better than yesterday, though of course I did remember to stretch *before* getting out of bed.

Another postscript: later Saturday I was in a lot of pain. I still don’t know that exercise is related to the pain, and I don’t believe my body is telling me not to exercise, so I’m paying attention and modifying a little. Went to my company holiday party, in heels, and just chose to never sit down. I also waited till the buffet line thinned out, and then—lo and behold, the food was put away before I got any. I did have two glasses of Guinness, with water in between. Sunday, not nearly as much discomfort.

This morning, the car wouldn’t start so I jumped on my bike to get to work, and felt fine (though cold). Fortunately I can bike to the chiropractor if I need to. Can’t get to Jazzercise by bike on time, though, so I hope I can get my car checked out today. If not, it’s the treadmill for me tonight, if I can hack it after my adjustment.

Trying to stay positive. I’m still feeling strong. I got *whistled at* on Saturday by a passerby, in my black dress and plaid pumps, outside the party venue.  Not that I like such behavior (it was especially rude because the man had a woman with him) but it definitely isn’t something I’m used to. 

Here’s to another week of being faithful to my needs.  And to trying to better understand them.

-- A

So, last night I went back to Jazzercise class. It was after my chiro adjustment, which was after work, and I was already kind of wiped out, then starting to get a scratchy throat. So I just went over there an hour early and warmed up and read so I wouldn’t wimp out and go to bed. I don’t usually have this motivation problem, but things have seemed so ‘off’ lately.

Did mostly low-impact in class, and instead of my 8-lb dumbbells I grabbed a pair I thought were 5#, but they were 3#. They felt like nothing, but I’m supposed to be careful till I’m better. I forgot my heart rate monitor, but I bet I didn’t really get up there this time. It’s better than staying home and watching TV, but I hope I can get back in the swing of things really soon. I miss the feeling of having worked out, hard.

Today, sore throat persists, but I don’t have a full cold and hope I don’t get one.  I stepped on the scale this morning and was up five pounds. What? I hope it’s just temporary fluctuation. I’d gotten up several times thirsty during the night, so maybe that was part of it.

Sorry to read about the back pain, what a bummer. You are doing great, even with the pain! I’m very impressed. The weight gain is most likely caused by the increase water intake and the inflamation of a sore throat. I noticed that when I had a cold, I weighed about 3 pounds heavier, then it went away when I got better.

Hope your back feels better soon, how often are you going to the chiro? And are you getting that massage? I’ve heard the combination is amazing.

Bree

Bree - 19 December 2007 04:05 PM

I noticed that when I had a cold, I weighed about 3 pounds heavier, then it went away when I got better.

Good to know, Bree, thanks!

My back is doing much better, though I wonder how long it’ll be before I *trust* it again to be okay. I have been three times for chiro adjustments now, going every day this week, and then I want to see if I can stop. It just seems to be a bunch of things at once, and I’m trying not to let it get me down.  Big picture, Annie. It’s been a huge year overall, and I may just have a little holidayitis emotionally. A good long session tonight on the treadmill, with good music, sounds pretty good.

I feel for you in more ways than one. 

I have chronic back pain, mostly because of some activities in a previous life that involved falling off of horses at relatively high speeds.  I’m on good terms with my chiropractor, and just need to keep working through it.  Unfortunately, my massage therapist is in Florida and I now live in California.  I’ve had trouble finding someone local who does as good a job for me.  Lessons learned, if you find someone who does a good job on your particular problem, stay with them, if not keep looking.  It’s highly individual so nothing against your therapist, it’s just a general comment. 

I love the outdoors, and I’m still active.  I’ve settled for low(er) impact sports.  Just be careful, and you will learn to live with it.  I find that stretching really helps, yoga is good, but be aware that some poses should be approached with care.  In yoga, if it feels good - do it, if not move on to the next pose. 

Sounds like you are doing all the right things, so I would think that you will be seeing lots of progress in the weeks to come.

Thanks, Paula! I hope you do find a good massage therapist where you are. Maybe there should be a “looking for” section on the boards in case someone can refer you to someone in your area?

I had never had a massage before in my LIFE until the brief one Monday. I didn’t tell her that and tried to act nonchalant. I had my first pedicure this year also. Breaking down the boundaries!

I didn’t mention this, but I have scoliosis (spinal curvature) and when I was 15 had a spinal fusion of 9 vertebrae, middle ones, so all in all I’ve been extremely lucky that I’m able to be active and pain-free the vast majority of the time. Back then we spent 10 months in body casts. Nowadays the surgery is so different, and kids recover much faster.  I still have a curve, but it was lessened by half.

I’ve never had a problem with sciatica but my husband has and he swears by the help from the chiropractor. Since he’s been going regularly, he hasn’t had a bout and that’s been at least 5 years. I’d ditto Paula’s comment that if the person you’re going to doesn’t help, get a recommendation for someone else to try. It seems as if some are much better than others--and isn’t that true in every field?

Good luck.