Syatica

Discussion in 'Driver Health' started by Grumpy1, Dec 19, 2008.

  1. Grumpy1

    Grumpy1 Light Load Member

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    Dec 19, 2008
    Carthage, TX
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    Does anyone out there suffer from syatica and if so what have you found to help it. I have it in my left leg and it gives me fits at night when I try to sleep. Most of the time it only bothers me when I lie down flat, like in the bed, but sometimes when I'm sitting also. I gues I'm lucky because my leg never goes numb, only have this dull pain running down my entire leg. I've tried different surgeries, stretching, and even the chyroprator (I'm sure I spelled that wrong). It never bothers me enough when I'm driving to cause me any problems but I sure would like to be able to sleep in a bed again. Right now I spend most of my nights in a recliner or on a hard floor sleeping. When I drive a long distance I just stop after 300 or 400 miles and walk around a few minutes and stratch then I'm good for a few hundred more miles. If anyone has found relief for this please, please share!
     
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  3. luvmyhubby

    luvmyhubby Road Train Member

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    My hubby had this painful condition when I met him, and I made him see the bone craker....it took several trips and electro therapy BUT it has been gone now for about 2 years. I also had him remove his wallet from his hip pocket while driving, changed the shoes he was wearing and made sure his pants waist band did not cause tension when he was sitting down.

    Today he is fine, we just have to keep an eye on the footwear, some well known brand names will cause him HUGE syatic pain and once we find some that work we have to make sure they are in good condition bad soles will get him too. A couple of months ago he had a flare up (work boots needed replaced) while on the road. He found doing cat stretches helped (arch your back like a cat while on your hands and knees, then imagine trying to push your stomach to the floor, its a 2 step stretch).

    Our chiropractor says once a muscle/nerve sends pain signals and it gets worked up (angry) it can develop a memory and is very difficult to get that muscle/nerve to settle back down...so treatment could take awhile, JUST DONT GIVE UP. My sister is a physical therapist and a massage therapist and says the same things. I had 3 disks in my neck in 2007 that the docs wanted to do surgery on...living on pain pills, numb arm the works...I had accupressure, massage therapy and saw my chiropractor for 4 months 3 times a week, NO SURGERY and the neck is GREAT.

    I realize some of this is NOT conventional medicine but it has worked for me and other members of my family and friends so it might be worth a try. You might also want to see about a vitamin supplement for nerve health. I am NOT a doctor but having seen the mess that surgery can cause and being in SEVERE pain and responsible for my father who was criticaly ill I could not have surgery at that point....it's worth a try.
     
  4. Mrs T

    Mrs T Road Train Member

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    Are you sure its sciatica, and not restless leg syndrome? maybe its both.
    Mr T gets similar pains, I think its something a lot of truckers live with, guess its the long hours of driving that do it.
    Pain is a warning, it has a purpose, its an alarm to tell you there is damage being done. Damaged nerves are painful, but at least when they are hurting they are still functioning. Numbness is the danger sign, it means REAL damage, maybe permenant.
    Luv's suggestions about shoes and clothing are good, maybe also think about the seat too, can it be adjusted any better?
    There's lots about exercise on this forum, maybe read thru and see what is practical for you. Think of it as undoing the repetetive strain damage that driving does, as well as restoring blood circulation to your legs. Clots, (deep vein thrombosis) used to be thought to only happen on long-distance flights, but it can happen to drivers too, as little as four hours can do it. So if your circulation gets restricted when driving, that gives you a pretty good idea of the effect it has on nerves too!
     
  5. Grumpy1

    Grumpy1 Light Load Member

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    Dec 19, 2008
    Carthage, TX
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    Thanks to both of you, a huge thanks! Unless a person has had this condition they can't understand how bothersome it is. The pain is one that bad but it's there all the time and night time is the worst for me. It's just enough to cause me problems sleeping which after 9 years really start to eat at ya. The lack of sleep also causes other problems, hince my the name my kids gave me. I've learned to live with it for now and am used to the 4 to 5 hrs sleep each night but I sure would love to be able to sleep 8 to 10 hrs in a nice bed.

    I've got where I never carry my wallet in my rear pockets, this really does make a difference. I also watch what kind of shoes I wear. I found some work books made by a company called Stag and man are they comfortable, only problem is I can't find anymore. A lot of times I end up taking my shoes off when I drive because the shoe will cause me pain just from it rubbing the top of my foot. I even took A&P classes at the local college to learn more about the human body so maybe I could figure something out. I did find out that about 40% of Americans suffer from sciatica but most don't even realize it. Also learned that it is the largest nerve in your body, about the size of a pencil.

    The doctor I have been seeing has tried a few things like steroid injections, fiber sealant, and a treatment called IDet where they run a fine wire around the nerve and heat it up. None seemed to help. I'm considering the electrical device that they implant in your back. If I try it I will wear one on a belt for a few months and if it helps they will implant one under my skin.

    I really appreciate the advice from both of you and I'm gonna give the stretches a try along with the ones I do now.

    Oh and if anyone has this condition and is thinking of trying an inversion table be careful. I bought one a few years ago and it made my condition much worse. It may work for some but not for me so use caution if you try one.
     
    Mrs T and Big Don Thank this.
  6. healthadvocate

    healthadvocate Bobtail Member

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    Dec 23, 2008
    Asheville, NC
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    Grumpy,

    I can suggest two things. 1) Ibuprofen (advil). It will help reduce the swelling. Sciatica is basically neuritis, which is inflamation of the nerve. It's a real tough thing to heal and the best thing to do is not do any of the things that seem to aggravate it (easier said than done, I know). The second thing, and it is something you might ask your Chiropractor or a physical therapist about, let them show you how to do this once and then you can do it for yourself (but given the location of the pain, you might always need help from another person) and that is Kenesio taping. I am recovering from radial neuritis (runs from the back of my shoulder, all down my arm, over my funny bone, and into my fingertips). It feels like I whacked my funny bone all the time. I have been using Kenesio taping for about two months and the nerve is slowing getting better. Kenesio taping is very flexible so it will not affect your range of motion, but it will hold and help to stabalize all the structures around the nerve, so that each time you move, your muscles, and veins and tendons, etc, don't rub up against the already upset nerve. A lot of atheletes use Kenesio taping to help give them stability whild doing strenuous work. You may have seen that strange black tape that snaked over the shoulder of one of the gold medal winners in the women's volleyball tournament at this years olympics. That was Kenesio tape. They also use it to move edema from post surgical patients. It's really pretty neat stuff and they are finding all kinds of beneficial uses for it. I have a hard time finding Kenesio taping in a drug store, but I bet you could get it from a medical supply company or ask your Chiropractor to get some for you. Until then....nothing helps as much as Advil.
     
    Baack Thanks this.
  7. IronRydr

    IronRydr Light Load Member

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    Luvmyhubby,
    As a sufferer of this same condition, I'd love to know what brands of shoes that your hubby has found that helps. If you'd prefer, you can also let me know my PM.
    Thanks,
    IronRydr
     
  8. Grumpy1

    Grumpy1 Light Load Member

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    Dec 19, 2008
    Carthage, TX
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    IronRyder.... I've suffered from this for almost 10 years and have tried all sorts of stuff. One pair of boots I found to be really comfortable and causes me less pain is made by a company called Stag. They have a big horned stag on the bottom and on the inside. I can wear these boots all day and they don't bother my sciatica and my feet never hurt. Only problem is I can't find anymore of them. I found a store in Longview that was going out of business that had them marked like 70% for $20 a pair and I bought the only four pair in my size they had. That was about two years ago and I am about half way through my second pair. I swear if I could find some more I would buy them just so I would know I have some for later.
     
  9. Markk9

    Markk9 "On your mark"

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    Lehigh Valley, PA
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    Do not lay flat on your back, that is bad for sciatica. My doctor has me put a pillow under my knees to sleep, need to keep the knees bent. This has helped me sleep through the night more than anything else I have tried.

    My Doc also recommended Motrin at 800mg twice a day.

    Mark
     
  10. luvmyhubby

    luvmyhubby Road Train Member

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    Sidney MI
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    My hubby has had various makers but right now he is in REDWINGS and seem to be the best ones so far. They are pricey 156.00 a pair but for his comfort and durability they have been well worth it.My dad wore them his entire driving career and never had problems with them.
     
  11. IronRydr

    IronRydr Light Load Member

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    Luvmyhubby,

    Thanks for the reply! I have Redwings now and they seem to be as good as anything I've found, I was just curious if something better existed. In warm weather, I also like Merrell...
    Thanks again and have a Merry Christmas!
    IronRydr
     
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