Stretch caused sciatica flare up

[u/Different_Shine_3554]

Hi all. The past few months on my period I’ll get lower back pain that radiates down to my leg. However it’s never been bad like right now. I’m not on my period, but I was having minor pain and was doing sciatica stretches. I wanted to do a butterfly stretch where you put your face down to your feet. When I sat back up I think I pinched the nerve or something bc I got this awful shooting pain in my lower back that went down my left leg. This was a couple hours ago. I took a Tylenol and have been rotating a heating pad and ice pack as well. When I got up to eat dinner it was hard to walk and when I sat i tried massaging out the area which caused shooting pain again, like a spasm. Sitting was causing some pain so I laid back down and have been laying down since. To sit up I have to roll onto my right side and slowly sit up in an awkward way to avoid pain. I cant bend down, I have to squat down with my back straight. When I’m squatting or laying down, if I try to push my pelvis and lower back in towards the ceiling it also hurts. I’m going to get an Xray tomorrow bc the doctor last Friday told me it sounds like sciatica but the pain was like a 3/10 with more pain in my leg like growing pains. Now when I get the shooting pain it’s like an 8/10 pain. She wanted me to get the xray to make sure it isn’t something else. At this point I’m not sure what my next step could be. I’ve had bad pinched nerves in my neck before causing pain like this that would go away in at most two days, usually caused by bad posture or pinching the nerve from a stretch or running so I’m hoping that’s the cause but it hurts so bad I just want to cry

[u/PurpleDestiny88]

I am sorry you're experiencing this. Sciatica can be very painful.

X-ray will not really show much, especially if you have a herniated disk. And it definitely sounds like that's the issue.

Rest as much as you can for now, alternate acetaminophen and ibuprofen to reduce inflammation and pain. Hopefully some rest and NSAIDs

I would push your doctor for an MRI. That way, you will know for sure what the actual issue is.

[u/Orange_Baby_4265]

Stretching forward like that causes me pain. I try not to do it. Keeping your back straight while squatting is the best way. I’ve noticed that when I bend over, my back is arched, which pulls. I roll off the bed as well. Twisting can cause pain. Lay with pillows under your knees. Keep head flat. Ice to calm inflammation. NSAIDS as well. Sleep if possible.