Sciatica. Cycle or not?

[AlanW]

Bizarrely, it never affected my cycling, in fact quite the opposite it actually eased the pain. But ask me to walk more than a few feet or stand still for more than a few minutes, not a chance! After a few 100 yards walking I would start dragging my right foot, which wasn't good! However, cycling 100 miles, no issues at all

It turns out that I had four herniated discs, which when I went in for the op it was only two, but while I was on the table the surgeon decided to do the other two suspect discs as well.

That was a couple of years ago and due to the two year back log on the NHS I had no real choice but to pay private. That said, 100% money well spent, without doubt. If you have sciatica to the point that its cutting the circulation of to your foot, which mine was, then the longer you leave it, the more irreversible it will do.

[Gearoidmuar]

Another week gone. Less painful, reacting less to cycling and to walking. Need to analgaesia...
Soft tissue injuries tend to go up and down, but on a sliding downward line. Doing that. Very hopeful.

[Gearoidmuar]

Another week gone. Less painful, reacting less to cycling and to walking. Need no analgaesia...
Soft tissue injuries tend to go up and down, but on a sliding downward line. Doing that. Very hopeful.

[Gearoidmuar]

I kept cycling...suddenly on 16th November no more pain in buttock or leg. 50m hard cycle with Spanish friends today
.. Half off-road stuff.. Perfect. That's seven days with no pain and more than 100m cycling.
What's my take on this..
I doubt that any of the physio exercises do any good. I think exercise probably does but how can one sure?
Thanks for all your suggestions...

[fastpedaller]

I've suffered with it recently - movement seems to help, cycling doesn't seem to make it worse, but standing (certainly doing bike maintenance does make it worse for me). I've found regularly stretching my hamstrings is helping, and also applying a heat pack.

[Gearoidmuar]

I stopped stretching before it disappeared.

[Mistu]

At last I've found a group of people who have very similar symptoms to myself.

My right lower leg, mainly my calf, is very painful when I stand or walk, and recently the pain is getting unbearable. I find that walking with my body bent forward eases the pain. I have no pain in my back, hips, and thighs.
I have no or very little pain when I sit or lie down, so get a good nights sleep thankfully.
Painkillers only dull the pain slightly.

This has been going on for 6 months now and I was feeling that I was losing strength in my right leg so started using an exercise bike and was surprised to find that the pain disappeared completely when cycling.

I managed to get an appointment with an Orthopedic Surgeon (NHS) and his initial diagnosis is a problem with disc L4-L5, probably a trapped nerve, I now have an MRI of the lower back next week but it will take 2-3 weeks to get the results.

From what I have read in this post, cycling seems to help. - I've only dared to cycle for 10 mins at a time in case I make my pain worse.

Would you recommend gradually increasing the time I cycle each day - just a little apprehensive but willing to try anything!
Your advice would be very much appreciated.

[yostumpy]

Sciatica, hmmm, tell me about it! Ok.. now strip down to your undies, and make sure you are warm. Sit on the floor, upright, and bring both knees up to your chest, and wrap both arms around them and squeeze. Now sit more upright and back a bit, so you are actually sitting on your pelvic bones, and then gently rock from side to side, so the weight is taken by each side in turn, it might hurt a bit. Do this slowly for 10 mins, and then go for a longish walk (once you have got dressed) and make sure you don't trip on any kerbs, pavements etc. Try that.

[Gearoidmuar]

At last I've found a group of people who have very similar symptoms to myself.

My right lower leg, mainly my calf, is very painful when I stand or walk, and recently the pain is getting unbearable. I find that walking with my body bent forward eases the pain. I have no pain in my back, hips, and thighs.
I have no or very little pain when I sit or lie down, so get a good nights sleep thankfully.
Painkillers only dull the pain slightly.

This has been going on for 6 months now and I was feeling that I was losing strength in my right leg so started using an exercise bike and was surprised to find that the pain disappeared completely when cycling.

I managed to get an appointment with an Orthopedic Surgeon (NHS) and his initial diagnosis is a problem with disc L4-L5, probably a trapped nerve, I now have an MRI of the lower back next week but it will take 2-3 weeks to get the results.

From what I have read in this post, cycling seems to help. - I've only dared to cycle for 10 mins at a time in case I make my pain worse.

Would you recommend gradually increasing the time I cycle each day - just a little apprehensive but willing to try anything!
Your advice would be very much appreciated.

I would do that...my recovery was slow till it was about 2/10. Then in one day it just went.
I'd weeks of symptoms and I'd had mild buttock pain from when this disc announced itself about 3y ago. Then it announced itself again in mid-summer with mostly leg pain. For last 8 days no symptoms of any sort. I don't think there's any decent evidence for all the described exercises. Cycle and walk easy. There will be resultant pain mostly after. When you can stop using analgaesia that's progress.

[Gearoidmuar]

BTW I only had pain. No loss of sensation or weakness. If you get loss of power and particularly urinary symptoms etc get seen pronto. Cauda equina symptoms. (I'm a retd.doctor.)

[irc]

BTW I only had pain. No loss of sensation or weakness. If you get loss of power and particularly urinary symptoms etc get seen pronto. Cauda equina symptoms. (I'm a retd.doctor.)

As above. My wife had Cauda Aquina sympoms, got a same day GP appt, referred to hospital same evening, a Friday. An MRI scan on the Monday showed discs compressing nerves. Spinal surgery a couple of days later. Outcome successful.

I had never heard of Cauda Aquina before but a quick google was a real frightener. Not one to be missed.

It wasn't a case of being offered an operation with alternatives. Her surgeon, while advising of risks of surgery, told her it needed done. Fast. He did it the day after seeing her scan.

[Mistu]

Thanks for your advice. I'll slowly increase the length of time on the exercise bike. No urinary symptoms, No loss of sensation. My leg just feels weaker as I've not been able to exercise much due to the pain which is why I started using the exercise bike. I'll let you know how I get on. Thank again

[roubaixtuesday]

At last I've found a group of people who have very similar symptoms to myself.

My right lower leg, mainly my calf, is very painful when I stand or walk, and recently the pain is getting unbearable. I find that walking with my body bent forward eases the pain. I have no pain in my back, hips, and thighs.
I have no or very little pain when I sit or lie down, so get a good nights sleep thankfully.
Painkillers only dull the pain slightly.

This has been going on for 6 months now and I was feeling that I was losing strength in my right leg so started using an exercise bike and was surprised to find that the pain disappeared completely when cycling.

I managed to get an appointment with an Orthopedic Surgeon (NHS) and his initial diagnosis is a problem with disc L4-L5, probably a trapped nerve, I now have an MRI of the lower back next week but it will take 2-3 weeks to get the results.

From what I have read in this post, cycling seems to help. - I've only dared to cycle for 10 mins at a time in case I make my pain worse.

Would you recommend gradually increasing the time I cycle each day - just a little apprehensive but willing to try anything!
Your advice would be very much appreciated.

Firstly, I don't think you should take advice from an Internet forum!

But sharing experience can be helpful.

I've had extreme pain in my hip in the last three months which came in slowly, eventually to the extent of being unable to walk more than a few metres, only after MRI diagnosed exactly as yours.

I've had a cortisone injection to the spine which has improved it immeasurably, but it's still likely I'll need surgery when it wears off.

Throughout, cycling has been fine, no pain at all. Medical advice has been to do as much as I can, nothing will cause damage our make it worse if it's not causing pain. But listen to your doctor, not me.

[Gearoidmuar]

BTW I only had pain. No loss of sensation or weakness. If you get loss of power and particularly urinary symptoms etc get seen pronto. Cauda equina symptoms. (I'm a retd.doctor.)

As above. My wife had Cauda Aquina sympoms, got a same day GP appt, referred to hospital same evening, a Friday. An MRI scan on the Monday showed discs compressing nerves. Spinal surgery a couple of days later. Outcome successful.

I had never heard of Cauda Aquina before but a quick google was a real frightener. Not one to be missed.

It wasn't a case of being offered an operation with alternatives. Her surgeon, while advising of risks of surgery, told her it needed done. Fast. He did it the day after seeing her scan.

Cauda Equina called after a horse's tail, as the nerves flare out from the spinal cord. You don't want nerve pressure down there as it can damage bladder function etc. Normal opererated on, pronto.
The other indication for surgery, but not always by any means, is foot drop. This is a loss of power where you can't raise the toes with simple toe power, to put it simply. I know two people, one a doctor, who got foot drop and decided they'd plough through it. In both, in a matter of months it reversed with no deficit. This can't be guaranteed, however.

[Pebble]

they gave me Naproxen (which is a NSAID the same as Iboprofen) gave me a stomach bleed, ended up in hospital.
...

I thought they prescribe Omeprazole with Naproxen to protect your stomach. I had Naproxen several years ago and they prescribed Omeprazole with it for stomach protection. (I didn't get on with Naproxen atall and stopped after a few days).

Ian

it was far worse than that - my GP records clearly stated I should not be given NSAIDs, but I was in hospital and here in scotland hospitals can't access your medical records (utterly ludicrous) - I tried to explain to the doctor there was something I had to avoid, but I was in a bit of a mess and not thinking straight - he told me to take want I'm given