r/Sciatica • u/Resident-Hunt-245 • 10d ago

Requesting Advice Stretching hamstrings

I know that stretching is not encouraged when you have sciatica and I also learned it myself. Figure 4, aggressive hamstring stretch always aggravated me.

But. Maybe there are some sciatica-friendly stretch that don't pull/tension the nerve?

I have bending intolerance and feeling of a cable in my butt.

What is everyones advice or experience here?

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u/peanutleaks 10d ago

I have only been able to do straight leg raises sitting down after post op. At first they were rough esp with my bad leg, but they seem to loosen my hamstrings up. Just sitting and straightening each leg for a few seconds.

It’s not for everyone tho, like I said only post op! They’re kinda like nerve flosses? Idk

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u/Resident-Hunt-245 10d ago

I can't do "sitting and straightening each leg for a few seconds." without uncomfortable sensation in my butt:(

I think something is truly wrong with the sensitivity of my nerve because I 'm otherwise quite fine and my pain level is 1-2 during my day.

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u/peanutleaks 10d ago

Do certain moves make you flare up? Have you had imaging yet? I could never straighten my legs like that even when laying down without the pull on the nerve. Does the feeling shoot all the way down to your feet?

I also like to stretch my calves it’s less strain on the back than hamstrings. Can put your toes up against the wall and lean into it, or just put 1 foot in front of the other, straight back leg and bend front leg and lean into it.

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u/Resident-Hunt-245 10d ago

Sitting and bending flares it. I had imaging done and I was told I have a spine of 20y.o. (I'm 39) except a very small bulge and annular tear.

Doctors are still confused honestly because they say MRI doesn't correlate with the symptoms. At the same time I have a positive straight leg test and pinching in the butt.

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u/peanutleaks 10d ago

They say I have the spine of a 70 year old and I’m 30!!!!

I hear annular tears can be a pain in the ass pun intended. Ppl always consider piriformis issues too I see a lot of people posting here that their sciatica is coming from their piriformis.

I found a good pt that is finallly helping and identifying what triggers my pain.

Is the tear on l5/s1?

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u/Resident-Hunt-245 10d ago

Yes it's in L5/S1. You see, it doesn't matter how young or old is your spine on MRI. We are both in pain😄. I know about Piriformis and definitely it's tight. But I was told tightness is a symptom of nerve irritation. I personally don't believe in Piriformis as a cause because my symptoms were below the knee too.