Sciatic nerve problems

JUST BECAUSE ONE DR. SAID YOU HAVE SCIATICA DOESN'T MEAN HE'S RIGHT, PIROFORMUS SYNDROME, MUSCLE IMBALANCES, FROM THE CROTCH, THE HIP ALL THE WAY DOWN THE LEG THE BACK OF THE LEG, THE FRONT, ALL THE WAY DOWN TO THE ARCH OF THE FOOT. IT STARTED WHEN I DROVE LOCALLY WITH A COMPANY THAT HAD CRAP EQUIPMENT AND HARD CLUTCHES. I HAD TO QUIT BECUASE OF IT. WORKMANS COMP???? HA!! GOOD LUCK! I WAS OFF FROM FEB. TO SEPT. AND COULD HARDLY WALK THOUGHT IT WOULD GO AWAY...IT JUST DOESN'T. DRIVING LOCALLY AGAIN AND I HAVE TO DEAL WITH THE PAIN. CONSTANTLY. CAN'T SLEEP. CONSTANT CONSTANT CONSTANT PAIN FROM CLUTCHING ( YESS i FLOAT IT. IM THE KING OF FLOATING GEARS) I CAN' TAKE ANYMORE. WHERE AM I GOING TO FIND A JOB THAT PAYS WHAT THIS DOES. AND AT AGE 51. WHO'S GOING TO HIRE ME? i'VE ONLY BEEN DRIVING SINCE 2007. THIS STARTED ALL BECAUSE I FEEL I HAD CRAP EQUIPMENT TO DRIVE. I DON'T KNOW. AFTER MY FIRST WIFE DIED I STARTED DRIVING. IF I HAD TO DO IT ALL OVER AGAIN? I WOULD'NT. ANY HELP????????????

 

If OP walked 25 minutes, he'll get better. I can't walk 100 feet without having extreme pain.

 

That is some good advice of taking the billfold out of the back pocket, and putting it in the front pocket. I also found that loosening the belt and maybe top button of pants is important, especially OTR for hours at a time. This is for better blood circulation.
I have had big back problems, tho no surgeries, thank God. It was recommended by my Dr. to take 2 tennis balls and put them in an old sock. Tie a knot down close to the balls where the balls are tight together. Lay on your back on floor, or in bed, whatever is comfortable, and lay down with the balls straddling the spine.
What this does is 'deep tissue massage'. The Dr. explained it that the back muscles tighten up but do not release as easy as say, the arm/bicep-curl motion. So lay on the tennis balls and let yourself down onto them at where the muscles are really tight. Then relax as much as you can. Give it a few minutes. It often is effective. You can have a partner too, press really hard on a sore area. Just push and hold. 'Deep pressure massage'. Not 'kneading' it like bread so much, just steady pressure. It is great.

I had a sciatic problem too, and it magically disappeared a few days after it appeared. It too made me miserable. I ended up treating it myself by laying on my side and pulling my knee high as I could up to my chest, and hold it as long as possible. Stretch and hold. This stretches the back side of the leg muscles. I did this a few times and have also laid on the side of my shoe, too, when I didn't have those tennis balls w/me. Lay on something hard on the sore area. It is weird but it seems to relieve the tightness of the muscle. Then try and not over do it in daily activity. Go easy. Keep stretching every chance you get I think is the best thing one can do to resolve pain.

I was trying to trim my toenails the other day. Years ago I could just prop my leg up on the sink counter, and whack away at 'em. (lol) Well, I did that the other day and almost died...lol. My legs have gotten so tight and muscles atrophied w/age. I realized I really need to get to stretching way, way, way more than I've been doing the last couple years. Old age is kickin' in, and it ain't happy... So now I am committing to more leg stretches.

Try laying on tennis balls, or side of your shoe if nothing else. It is amazing. Put it right under the sore spot, and lower yourself on it. Give it a few minutes of ,,,and relax on it the best you can. I'm betting it will help you out. It will be painful at first.

 

Why not go back to what you were doing before 2007? Did it involve a clutch?

 

For what it is worth--medical science is coming a long way-in new treatments--BUT--IMHO first you MUST assertain if this is strictly sciatica of a disc problem--if it is just sciatica--or lower back pain--stretching and walking will help immensly--for the most part--simple sciatica and lower back pain are directly related to how loose you are and ESPECIALLY how tight your hamstrings are--also the strength of your stomach muscles has a great deal to do with it--There are many stretching exercise you can easily do to combat some of this--sitting long periods of time--just naturally tightens your lower back and legs--and stretching and walking WILL help to counteract some of these problems---
Now if it is actaully a disc failure(of any kind)it is important to remember thas discs DO NOT heal--once they are ruptured etc.--they can't go back--as neuro-surgeon explained to me--it is like trying to put the jelly back in the doughnut after it has been squished.
DB--I also played division 1 BB(a looong time ago--LOL)and as high as doubleA ball--and know just what you mean about healing easily and being in shape--I say this because I am currently recovering from disc replacement surgery--although this was from a recent accident--I am amazed at the ease and recovery from what was once--major spinal surgery--without taking up too much space--Disc replacement (in this country) is a very new procedure and is a very viable alternative to the old spinal fusion--replacement allows for as much movement as you have naturally--so if you actually have a major disc problem--this is now a very viable alternative--there are many variables--and mine was the easiest(neck c/5-6)--my orthopedic surgeon(who is the nflpa second opinion dr.)has an amazing amount of success stories with this--he has over 150 ex-nfl players as patients and I have spoken to quite a few that says this procedure has given them there life back.
But remember--most of us(drivers)had what is considered a very sedimentary life style--and a little bit of regular exercise can go a very looong way.
Just my$.02

 

Like olhand says, it's best to have the docs figure out just what exactly the problem is. There are several things that mimic the symptoms of sciatica, as I have found out over the past 5 years in trying to find out what the problems with my back are. I actually have several different problems that make for a very fun (NOT) time. X-rays, CT Scans and MRI's are all necessary to figure out the true source of the problems. Only when the true source of the problem is figured out can a proper treatment plan be figured out.

 

Back problems don't have to keep you ftom driving a truck.

Like others here, I've had bad back problems for years, long before I began driving a truck. In 2003 I had spinal fusion with 4 rods and 6 screws put in. They replaced discs L4 L5, L5 S1 with carbon fibre cages filled with rib bone (they took it from me) and bone putty.

I'm not 100% pain free but I'm not in pain all the time as I was before. I rarely ever take pain meds for my back and when I do acetaminophen will usually take care of it. Over the years I've learned what my limits are and what the consequences will be if I over do it. The back pain most people get over in a couple of days may take me a couple of weeks but it doesn't keep me from driving. In fact, I'm most comfortable in the drivers seat because it keeps me from slouching and gives me more support than any other chair I sit in.

Also, what has helped me the most is having Miss Luci, my Shih Tzu. When I'm at home she keeps me mobile by insisting I play with her. I'm as more mobile now than I was before surgery. I was able to pass Maverick's Worksteps Abilities test with no problems.

 

I had surgery a little over a year ago. I thought I would have trouble getting a job but it turned out it was no trouble at all. I had a herniated disc L4, I went through just about every alternative you can think of before the surgery, and after 8 months with no relief and only able to walk from the couch to the bed I decided I had nothing to lose by having the surgery. It went very well and my back hasn't felt this good in ten years. I am extra careful now whenever I am cranking the landing gear or sliding axles. I don't ever want to go through that again. I'm grateful that I'm getting another chance. Work smarter not harder.