In 25% of the population the sciatic nerve routes THROUGH the piriformis muscle deep in the posterior hip; in the rest of us, this little 3" muscle can impinge the nerve and cause excruciating pain and/or numbness down the leg on the affected side and into the foot even.

Many if not a majority of people who suffer from sciatica don't have a spinal problem-- correction: most of us do have some mild compression in one or more vertebra of the spine, but this seldom develops into a problem. Most sciatica is caused by neuromuscular trigger points in the piriformis or one of its cousins in the Deep Six lateral rotator group of the hip. Trigger points in the gluteus medius can also contribute. But the piriformis muscle is usually the sole cause.

You may be able to release the trigger points yourself. Lie on the floor on a tennis ball, roll your buttock of the affected leg on it till you find a painful spot (about the size of a quarter or even a dime), then press your weight into the ball; breathe deeply...after 3 or so breaths you should feel a "melting" and a lessening of the pain. Roll around some more, searching for other painful spots. A better, more certain solution, however, will be a session of therapeutic massage with a therapist qualified in neuromuscular therapy (NMT), which concentrates specifically on finding and releasing trigger points.

I'm no expert, but from the receiving end i believe that acupuncture breaks up energy blockage at the chi sites in the body (chi means energy). Chi is believed to be a primary element, like fire or water. Once any blockages are removed, the healthy flow of energy can resume in the body, and health in general is restored.

I've used acupuncture for years to stop the swelling of osteoarthritis & most of the pain associated with it, and to control headaches that only Vycodin +prednisone could knock out.

My acupuncture doctor uses needles of widely varying diameters & lengths. He also prescribes various herbs, teas, extractions, & other plant-base concoctions. I have as much fait in him, after 20 yrs, as in my AMA doc & for the same sorts of reasons. They work together now.

Am sorry to read this. I was diagnosed with acute sciatica from spinal stenosis 6 years ago. I found an aqua therapiast who taught me to water jog in the pool and to just hang on the side of the pool which decompresses my spine. It takes the pain away in the water. It has waxed and waned all of this time and now I have an acute flare up which is sending me over the edge with the pain.I am on neurontin and a muscle relaxant and now Vicodin, not helping, and PTwho is teaching me stabilization,not doing much and so I am going to try Reiki and am seeing a LISW Mind over back pain. However I drag myself to the pool daily for one hour and that really helps. I am slated for 2 epidurals in Feb. I am fighting back surgery. Seen too many bad outcomes. I use a tens machine that works a bit and a brace sometimes.
I am so depressed with this latest attack the pain is all consuming and pushing my BP up. I have gone to a chiro but it seemed to make it worse.
Better days have to be ahead for both of us. Have not tried ice too much.
Other than drugs what else have you considered?

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I've been interested in a TENS unit and/or ultrasound therapy, but without knowing anything about them or really how to use them, I'm scared; plus I don't know what brands, etc are the best if they do work?

I have had 20 major spinal surgeries since I was 12 and I am now 48 - I have severe sciatic nerve pain and have tried all the remedies you listed plus about 1000 more.

The TENS units are wonderful. If you are disciplined and use it correctly - make sure the person you obtain the unit from tells you how to use it - for example - if you use it at a constant rate for long periods you brain gets used to it and it doesn't work as effectively - TENS has several options for pain interruption signals - play with them and change it up often and it has worked wonders for me.

Also, there are stretches for sciatic nerve pain - that truly help - go online and research this and try the various stretches - and do them religiously!

I also began meditation - I didn't believe in it and tried it many times before since I was 12 years old - and now I spend at least 30 min (two 15 min sessions each day) during which I practice meditation.

Meditation is many different things - and once you learn the correct breathing - and apply it - your entire life changes....however all these practices require extreme discipline - don't give up after one week or even two weeks of practice -

Whether it is exercise, TENS or meditation - you can make your life what you want it to be - if you knew my history - you wouldn't believe that I am even saying this kind of stuff - I learned the hard way -

I hope you research ultrasound and everything else you can before you take any drugs or have surgery - I have been on the pain pump for 10 years and now it is removed....I have been on narcotic therapy since 1998 - and every other kind of drug in the book......

I am currently trying to retrain my brain to learn to function on low doses or no meds at all - and I have severely impinged nerves, arachnoiditis, failed back syndrome, stenosis, radiculopathy, disc degeneration and every disc in my spine is ruptured, torn, herniated and/or bulging etc....

If I can do this with the negative thinking I have - anyone can do it - retrain your brain to do whatever and live however you want......Thinkit - DOit!

K

hello I have a little advise for you I have simular pain I can tell you that I had the same problems and also I had to many conditions that rattled my doctors I have a pinced nerve in my groin area told it was a condition called meralgia paraesthetica man excersie stretch raise your arms crawl your fingers up the wall and do the knee touching the wall to a crouch bend it works stretching the arms all the way over your head lay flat on the floor try it also bend the knee and pull in to chest with right hand and do the same to the left another excersice that helps is lie aon ya back pull the right knee up and sway it to the left touch the floor with the knee while its bent and while your hand is pulling it toward chest do the same to other knees I am constantly in pain and i still do this excercise often or else i think i would be in a wheel chair now i take pain meds and try to keep moving good luck jeff

I highly recommend the TENS units - If used correctly and consistently they can change the way your brain processes pain signals - and truly for the time I am using the TENS it is many times like the pain is gone.

The pain does return once you are done with the TENS session but if you continue to use it everyday once or twice even three times a day - even if you aren't in terrible pain - you change the neurons in your brain and you perceive the pain differently - and for many the pain is reduced significantly.

It takes a long time to achieve long term results using TENS and great discipline - most people only use it when they are in pain or in response to a pain jag etc...most people do not use it daily for 15-30 min sessions twice a day or even three shorter sessions....

Do not get discouraged - just stick with it. It doesn't matter which settings you use - use which ever settings work for your pain at whatever intensity. Remember - more is not better. Do not use for more than one hour per session.

The big key to success is consistency and long term discipline - consider it as important as say eating or even breathing....

I would also recommend learning meditation and/or deep breathing exercises to do while using the TENS unit. I know you are rolling your eyes right now and think meditation is for the birds....and "those kinds of people" - I used to think the same thing....

I learned how to meditate without even realizing what I was doing - I started praying the Rosary which I never believed in - and found that after a while I would fall into this extremely relaxed state within seconds of starting the Rosary(the Rosary is a bunch of beads that you can use and you say a prayer for each bead - look up prayer beads on Google it is very interesting)

After about two years of doing these prayer beads I started going to the library and renting CDs on meditation or went on the internet and wanted to know how to do it.....I realized that I had taught myself meditation through using the prayer beads....

The meditation, however you do it, changed my life - It impacts every daily life situation you encountered and you become more at peace and able to process situations including pain much differently....

The big kep to pain management is perseverance - it is most likely going to be wtih you every day for the rest of your life - so you try to learn coping skills that you can use for many years.....like TENS and meditation etc.

I have had 12 majory spinal surgeries and 100s of surgical procedures beginning at age 12 - I am currently 48. I have had spinal pain pumps, stimulators and been on ever drug available for pain....the best results I have gotten have been from exercise, stretching, TENS and meditation plus pain meds (I do not recommend narcotic pain meds unless absolutely necessary and remember you will always needs more and more as time goes on to get pain management - it is a viscious cycle if you are not very careful.)

I pray that you will find some information in the email helpful with your journey. (I would also advise that your family learn about chronic pain and what you are going through - most people have great misconceptions about pain and if your family has a better understanding they can support you better.)

K in WIS