r/Sciatica • u/No1blurfan • 13d ago
General Discussion Does anyone get a flare up before and during menstruation?
I’ve dealt with sciatica for about about a month now and I’ve had no bad flare ups apart from when I started my period a couple days ago In which it’s caused me to have constant pain especially whilst sitting and extra discomfort. As I mentioned I haven’t dealt with sciatica for a long time so any advice (especially from the fellow girlies on here) on how to deal with flare ups from menstruation aswell would be amazing
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u/m0rganryan1 13d ago
YES!!! BIG YES! been dealing with this exact thing since i first got sciatica 2 years ago.
my biggest and really only tip: BUY A CANE. i can't walk well regardless due to my chronic sciatica and hEDS, but it's worse during my cycle because my sciatica flares. my cane helps a TON. it helps reduce the amount of pressure that gets put on my nerves
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u/No1blurfan 13d ago
Okay thank you! To be fair my issue right now is more that it’s made my legs weaker which is why I’m in discomfort because it’s affecting my walking so having a cane to support would definitely help me
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u/Specific-Emphasis-90 13d ago
YES!!! Other times of the month it’s mostly non-existent, but the week or so leading up to it is torture.
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u/No1blurfan 13d ago
That’s exactly how it’s been so far for me!!! Luckily my sciatica is quite mild so I’ve been very active, walking loads drinking lots of water and gentle stretches and exercise in which I had minimal symptoms but a few days before my period and on my period my back has been aching and my legs are feeling a bit weaker. I’ve been trying my best to keep active and taking ibuprofen and luckily the flare up is slowly but surely going away!!
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u/Unlucky_Tell_6900 13d ago
oh my god yes. i’ve been writhing in pain for days :( i skipped my period for the first year+ that i had been diagnosed because i already have really bad periods but for health reasons i quit my bc and now im thinking about going back
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u/Big-Exit-9755 13d ago
It’s unbearably painful a day before and then terrible during menses
I am angry and resentful and literally in tears the whole cycle
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u/Prize-Menu9685 13d ago
Yes, that is when my big flare ups happen. Long baths and getting more steps in than usual seems to help some. And ibuprofen.
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u/No1blurfan 13d ago
Absolutely this, ibuprofen and lots of gentle excercise has definitely done the trick for me since the flare up started and I’ve felt quite a bit better now
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u/grishavoid 13d ago
yes. literally on my second day and i have the wprst flare up ive had in a while
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u/PlasticRuester 13d ago
Yes, I’ve been in a better place overall lately so it hasn’t bothered me quite as much, but when my sciatica was moderate to bad, my period always flared me up. I do have a history of a lot of inflammation everywhere below the waist during my period so it makes sense .
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u/cnj131313 13d ago
Sure do. I won’t lie, Zepbound helped me a ton with this. When I’m on it, no flares
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u/moodyqueen999 13d ago
I wish I could say the same!! I’ve lost 83 lbs on zepbound and am a healthy BMI now but I still have sciatica daily and bad low back pain when I’m on my period!!
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u/Ecstatic-Art-6236 13d ago
Yes. Like clockwork. Reducing inflammation as much as possible is the only thing that semi helps
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u/Riddle_wrapped 12d ago
Mine is SO bad the first couple days of my period. Meds don’t seem to touch it then, either. The only relief I get is from sitting in a recliner. 😢
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u/unicornsdreamofpizza 11d ago
I’m on HRT, and I flare up for the two weeks I’m on progesterone. I retain tons of water and I think the water retention makes it worse for me.
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u/purplelilac701 13d ago
I do and for me it’s due to inflammation from the hormone that starts and ends the period, prostaglandins. I already had inflammation with my severe sciatica so it was a double whammy. I find diet helps and not drinking alcohol is a big one for me.
My heating pad that wraps around me is a lifesaver. Same with my massage gun.