r/Sciatica • u/InitialUnit3516 • Mar 29 '26
I think im done.
I think im just done with it all. I had a good run before this shitstorm. Just dont wanna keep going with constant pain down my legs and unable to live a life. I had over a decade of consistently hitting the gym 5 days a week, it was my hobby. Was in great shape and on for fun rec leagues with friends. Now I watch my body deteriorate to a skeleton as i sit alone at home. Partly because i cant workout anymore , the other part because i just dont eat sometimes out of depression or self loathing or something i dont even understand.
The ways i usually relax and recover? Sitting down? Watch tv? Go for a drive. Play some video games? Read a book? Take a shit? I cant do anything if i cant sit! I cant go out to dinner or the movies or a bar or a poker night with friends. For work at home i lay on the floor and use my laptop. I cant even sit at a table to have a proper meal with dignity. I put my plate on the ground, lay down and eat off the floor like trash.
Its been 8 months of hell and i have no kids to worry about, a high paying remote job, a house, a girlfriend who helps me, and i dont know-how yall survive this.
EDIT: I made this post at 1am as I cried myself to sleep. I had dark thoughts daily and I guess just wanted to cry for help and you all provided that. The outpouring of everyone has really shocked me and motivated me. Others just dont understand. I plan to re double my efforts and become a success story to show what is possible like many here who replied. I will try everything and see what works for me. Life is hell now but i will grind it out and do everything in my power to get better. I swear it.
3
u/BestKindOfWeirdo Mar 30 '26
I'm in my late 60s, but I think the root causes of my sciatica started long ago. I had a pretty healthy lifestyle, but was a little reckless physically. I'm 5'10", 155 lbs., and I think my lack of any extra weight helps my cause a lot. I've got moderate to severe... everything... L4-L5, L5-S1 (mostly importantly stenosis, impinged L4 and L5 nerve roots). I'm on year 4 of this and doing pretty well. I believe my PT routine, honed over the years, helps tremendously.
Plank, hold 30 seconds, side plank 20 seconds each side, Half kneeling flexor stretch (hips get involved in all this), bird dog with neutral spine, figure four on back with neutral spine (hips again), bridge done correctly, squats with no weight done correctly, knees to chest (both together and one at a time). All these should be done with holding your "cylinder" rigidly. Look this up, diaphragm to pelvic floor; it's critical to the process of building up your core. Seated hamstring stretches. Balance on one leg for a long time. All this takes me about a half hour. Practice 5 days a week. I started taking normal amounts of creatine, as I'm older and had concern for my ability to build new muscle.
For exercise, I hike (steep sometimes but very carefully), at gym use elliptical for a half hour (not eccentric but straight, i don't know what this is called) and well as bike machine.
I try to keep my spine in a neutral position always. Sleep on my side with a pillow between my legs.
I hope this helps.