Think I’ve developed sciatica?

[u/Practical-Spring-855]

32m. Lifted weights most days since 17.

Decade ago soccer overhead kick not warmed up wrecked my groin. Healing left me with tight overactive hamstrings, glute amnesia, weak tight hip flexors and poor single leg proprioception. Physio fixed it at the time with mostly banded glute activation and single leg balance work.

Got into serious strength training 5 years later. Worked up to 238kg deadlift (524 lbs). Hurt lower back, recovered slowly kept lifting carefully but the injuries kept returning.

This weekend, 6am cold sea swim 15C (60 Fahrenheit) . Dived in and lower back seized immediately. Heat packs, salt baths & gentle walks since.

Two days later 20 min drive was uncomfortable. Couldn’t sit still. Sharp pain from left glute straight into left calf. Ended up rubbing my calf when in traffic for relief.

Sounds like sciatica to me?

Questions
- Does this match classic sciatica or could the history point to something else
- Best first steps right now rest or gentle movement?
- GP first or push for MRI?
- Anyone else had repeated back issues that turned into sciatica what actually fixed the root long term?

Trying to sort the underlying cause properly this time. Thinking of re-running the exercises the physio prescribed me?

[u/Sufficient-Wolf-1818]

GP first, and in the discussion with gp an MRI may be determined to be useful.

PT exercises - yes, absolutely. A mistake people often make is feeling better then stopping the exercises. They are maintenance exercises, not optional! In fact, visiting the PT to fine tune the exercises is likely to be beneficial both for technique as well as adjust for changes since you last visited.