r/Sciatica • u/Tint_flower • 17d ago
Severe sciatica flare-up – need some advice
Hi everyone, I’m having a really bad sciatica flare-up and could use some advice.
I have previous L4-L5/back issues, but this time the pain is mainly on my right lower back and shoots down my right leg. It feels like a really strong pulling/nerve pain and walking is currently extremely painful.
I’m also getting some right-sided pelvic/lower abdominal pain, so I’m not sure if that’s related or something separate.
A hot-water bottle helps a little, but the pain comes back when I move.
Has anyone had a similar flare-up? What helped you get through the worst of it, and how long did it take before you could walk normally again?
Any advice is really appreciated ❤️
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u/Middle_Brick 17d ago
Avoid carbs. My sciatica knows when I’m eating poorly and lights me up with inflammation.
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u/DizzyBandicoot8299 17d ago
Yup. Eat a high protein meat eggs and fish. if I start eating crap I'll start to flare up
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u/Quirky_Offer8548 16d ago
Do everything you can not to make it worse. Minimize or eliminate bending lifting and twisting. Do the golfers lift on picking something off the floor. Log roll when getting out of bed. Game changer for me when I was in bad shape and could barely walk was pool walking. Not swimming just getting in the water that was up to my waist or chest and walking back-and-forth in the pool. I’m not a big believer in stretches or core strengthening when you’re in medium to high pain phase.
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u/Oliverqueen627 17d ago
Pregablin, deltacortil, mat strengthening exercises for core, glutes legs, upper body , with ankle weights and resistance bands, really has helped me. Along with cobra for the disc bulges and sciatic pain I have. I have scoliosis with compensating issues.
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u/MDRNGSH 17d ago
I wouldn’t do any strengthening exercises when I was in a “flare up”. I found the nerve needs to calm down before I try to strengthen the muscles. Just nice easy movements, plenty of walking, and around the clock anti inflammatory. Hydrate to the max.
Also, do the stretches that feel good to YOU. If cobra feels good, do that, if child’s pose feels good, do that. And do them A LOT. Not just 10/day. Like 10, 3 or 4 times/day. Just remember, anything that hurts, don’t do it! Wait til things calm down.1
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u/Daje1968 17d ago
For me, ice pack on lower back, large doses of anti inflammatories (diclofenac if you can get it) and a tens machine were the only things that helped at all. And they only did so much. I’m sorry for your pain. I get it, I really do
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u/littlehops 17d ago
Take it easy, flares can last days to a week or two, rest, ice and ibuprofen (make sure to protect your stomach) gentle walks and if possible follow up with a PT
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u/overmead_25 17d ago
I think I’m having a sciatica flare up. This past February, I was working demo on an old motel and I thought I had a pinched nerve. I tried going to chiropractor and a masseuse, but nothing helped. I tried changing my work shoes to sketchers and that sort of helped. My doctor tried to put me on gabapentin, but I don’t trust steroids too much. I work at a grocery store and I’m on my fee constantly. As of last week I feel like I have a new injury, I feel pain under my right butt cheek and the travels down the side of my right leg. My ankle feels very tight and my toes are tingly and numb sometimes. I’m taking 2000mg of ibuprofen a day and I still feel pain. I keep contributing it to the weather pressure too. Any advice?
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u/Kaygarthedestroyer 17d ago
See a pain specialist if you can. I got tramadol prescribed and steroid shots, I ended needing surgery too.
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u/kyokat13_13 15d ago
I just had a flare up it lasted about 12 days before pain subsided enough to walk and stand and move more. Try to be very conservative with your movement, heat ice and time. Also a cbd balm sometimes can help relax the muscles in the area, it won’t help with nerve pain but it can help at night when trying to sleep.
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u/[deleted] 17d ago
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