You might try sleeping on your back with a couple of pillows behind your knees, or on your side with a pillow between your legs. This always seems to help me some. Massage is always good! Everyone has given very good advice. Sciatica is MISERABLE!!! It effects your state of mind nerves as well as your literal nerves. Hope it goes away soon!

Feeling any better, River?

Hi River! Sorry your in pain, ya I know it and I am still trying to forget it. As strange as this may sound? I slept for almost seven months like I was sitting in a chair with my back on the floor and my calves on the couch.

The only way I could get enough relief from the pain to fall asleep. herniated L-5 disc, intensive physical therapy during the 7 months seems to have helped. No surgery and no real problems since.

Felt like I had been stabbed, from the top of my butt to my left ankle.

How are you feeling RW? Any better?

Thanks everyone!

It's MUCH better! I've been doing the exercises that I was given during the first bout a few years ago and it has helped. It seems to have eased up, not so many aaaAAARGH moments where the pain shoots through the knee. I'm just going to keep doing the exercises even when it lets up completely, and maybe it will never come back again!!!

(I hate "exercising". I stretch every day before I get up and just go along with my daily activities, walking and working and doing what I normally do. I figure if I can't get enough from that, then I am doomed anyway! I don't mind swimming, but the whole "exercise" thang just bugs me and I hate having to add them to my daily routine!)

Hello my tall friend. Sorry you are having all that pain. I remember several yrs ago, when my L4-L5 were herniated and all I can say is OUCH!!!!

I went to PT and they did exercises, ultrasound w/heat, etc. *loved the ultrasound* I even tried Acupuncture and had 2 rounds of Epidurals, which I would not do again. I think I wore my heating pad out during that time.

I feel really bad for you RW, sciatic pain is the worse. Take care and try to relax as much as you can; I know~ hard when you have a job. I know you have a lot of bigtime pain tolerance, but you need to give this sciatic pain time to heal.


Sending huge healing hugs to you, my friend.

Just saw this Riverwild... what usually works for me is ice bag or even bag of frozen veggies. I do this in the beginning so don't know if it would take inflammation away after so much time.
Hope it's gone by now
Linda