Mel (& Paul) Posted August 6, 2007 Share Posted August 6, 2007 Some of you may remember I had a tumble from a horse a few months back - but with some physio I seem to have recovered. However over the last few weeks I have been suffering from pain I can only describe it as a "pulling" pain that runs from the top of my right buttock down my thigh and into my calf muscle. Sometimes it is ok, but others it is REALLY painful - and most of the time I am aware of it all the time. I have to do a lot of driving for my job and I am sure that this does not help. Do you think it is something like sciatica? and can anyone recommend some stretching / other exercises - I would rather not take painkillers and whilst my physio is fab she is £42 per half hour Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
theherd123 Posted August 6, 2007 Share Posted August 6, 2007 It does sound like sciatica Mel I get it occasionally and it doesnt half make you come up with a start! How about yoga? I go to a class every week and love it and once you have a hang of the basic movements and positions you can do it at home Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mel (& Paul) Posted August 6, 2007 Author Share Posted August 6, 2007 someone suggested pilates? Not sure of the difference - but as I am away on business this week can I just rely on wine Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
theherd123 Posted August 6, 2007 Share Posted August 6, 2007 I dont know the difference either. I know there are many different types of yoga - i do the Ashtanga one and love it I cant yet get my feet behind my head but i can balance on one leg and twist a lot! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gallina Posted August 6, 2007 Share Posted August 6, 2007 It sounds exactly like sciatica. I get it too, but that's no comfort to you. Yoga is good if you can make yourself do it. I find it very hard finding enough room on the floor in our untidy house. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mel (& Paul) Posted August 6, 2007 Author Share Posted August 6, 2007 aha - I hadnt realised you needed a clear floor - I might come up against the same problem as you Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ladylucan Posted August 6, 2007 Share Posted August 6, 2007 def sounds like sciatica. .. You can get a big tubigrip support to wear. you may have to go to the docs, or i got mine from the physio dept at the local hospital. but i found it great, it help pull things back into place, and helped to support the back which greatly relived the pain in the leg. Good luck and i do hope you get better soon, is not very nice to have. xx and you have my sympathies.xx Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mel (& Paul) Posted August 6, 2007 Author Share Posted August 6, 2007 Thanks I already have a large elastic belt which holds my pelvis together following the tumble from the horse (fantastic - a large elastic belt which holds in all my fat around my pelvis and allows it to spill out above and below ) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ladylucan Posted August 6, 2007 Share Posted August 6, 2007 well yes i just didnt want to mention that bit as well, the tubigrip i had went from under my bust to over my bum, kept me lovely and warm in winter. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mel (& Paul) Posted August 6, 2007 Author Share Posted August 6, 2007 perhaps not the best thing for this weather then? but under bust to over bum certainly sounds a better bet (specially if it pushes all the fat up to my bust............) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ladylucan Posted August 6, 2007 Share Posted August 6, 2007 now theres a thought... but considering my belly is alot bigger than my bust, a tubigrip is no where near man enough for the job Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Dogmother Posted August 6, 2007 Share Posted August 6, 2007 I had sciatica Mel.. went to my osteopath and it went. I love my osteopath! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chocchick Posted August 6, 2007 Share Posted August 6, 2007 Yoga in my uneducated view is about flexibility. Pilates is focussed on the back and I found it tougher, although I have only done gentle forms of yoga. It's more about strengthening the back. My friend can touch her toes far too easily and she was told to do pilates to strengthen her back as yoga would make her more stretchy. back to my day job..... How is your horsey? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Dogmother Posted August 6, 2007 Share Posted August 6, 2007 That sounds like what I heard Choccy - Pilates strengthens the core muscles that support your back and helps posture. Buffie's into yoga and she's all bendy... perhaps I ought to do it; I used to be very bendy, now I can only just get my feet behind my head Old age creepng up! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Christian Posted August 6, 2007 Share Posted August 6, 2007 I used to be very bendy, now I can only just get my feet behind my head Way too much info there Claret! Sorry to hear about your back Mel. As someone has said Yoga is more about flexibility and relaxation. OH describes pilates as slow aerobics! It works on your core body muscles and strenghtens your major groups. I did one class years ago and it nearly killed me! (i was doing 12 other classes a week at the time) My sports physio recommended kneeling on all fours and very slowly raise one leg (bent) so the sole of your foot is horizontal. Very slow movements, 5 on each leg then rest. Also push ups from the waist only, keeping pelvis on the ground (i.e not on your toes) and then from this position move back on your calves with bum touching heels and stretch arms forward. I will not be taking taking photos to illustrate I know exactly what you are going through at the moment! See my blog! Hope you feel better soon. C x Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Snowy Posted August 6, 2007 Share Posted August 6, 2007 Poor you Mel Wine sounds like a good option in the short term! Worth taking some anti-inflammatories such as ibuprofen to ease any inflammation that may be irritating the sciatic nerve (yes it does sound like sciatic pain) Pilates is excellent - it's important to keep the back muscles strong, but also useful to do any exercises that will stretch out those leg muscles. Might be worth trying both, but def. pilates. But keep it moving, even if it's painful sometimes - it usually settles down on it's own eventually (actually horse riding will do it good - gets all those thigh muscles working!) Hope it gets better soon! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mel (& Paul) Posted August 7, 2007 Author Share Posted August 7, 2007 Thanks chaps Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mel (& Paul) Posted August 7, 2007 Author Share Posted August 7, 2007 How is your horsey? He's very well indeed. I am in Romford, Essex, on business and I spoke to (& Paul) yesterday - he was just about to ride him out into the woods in the beautiful sunshine whilst I am in Romford Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
moochoo Posted August 7, 2007 Share Posted August 7, 2007 Hi, sorry I missed this thread yesterday. I work at the Royal Orthopaedic Hospital in Birmingham and we specialise in spinal problems. It definitely is sciatica, which is caused by a prolapsed disc usually between one of the lower 3 vertebrae of the the lumbar spine compressing the sciatic nerve that supplies your leg (s). As much as I agree with some gentle movements I fear that too much yoga or pilates at the early stages of sciatica may prevent the disc from retracting. There are several methods used to help....physio wise: lie on your front and gently push up with you arms to arch your back and hold for about 10 seconds, repeat if you feel you can.(I know that's a yoga position but it's very easy going on those poor bulging discs!) Pain relief.....ibruprofen is a great anti inflammatory but a tens machine is much better and drug free.These can be bought or hired from your local pharmacy. Most of all REST do little and rest often. Don't retreat to bed but don't over use your back at this stage. If you follow these steps you should be sciatica free within 7-10 days. Good luck! Let us know how you go Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mel (& Paul) Posted August 7, 2007 Author Share Posted August 7, 2007 Thanks Sarah - a big help. One of my problems is that I drive an awful lot for my job (I'm in Essex this week and have Leeds, Leicester and Birmingham coming up). Do you think that wearing my elastic strechy belt round my pelvis will do any good at all (It helped a lot when I fell from the horse but am not sure whehter it will help at all now) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
moochoo Posted August 7, 2007 Share Posted August 7, 2007 Give it a go it really can't do any harm and will probably prevent you from over stretching. Is the pain you get just in the buttock and top of the thigh or does it move down to the lower part of your leg/foot? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mel (& Paul) Posted August 7, 2007 Author Share Posted August 7, 2007 It goes down my thigh and ends up on the side of my calf (if that makes sense) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
buffie Posted August 7, 2007 Share Posted August 7, 2007 Mel I've got a friend coming over today who is a yoga teacher, I'll ask her about exercises. Movement is good, walking. Arnica and the 'Weleda' arnica and lavender rub is wonderful. BBxx Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
moochoo Posted August 7, 2007 Share Posted August 7, 2007 Ok, well the further down the leg it goes is a good indicater of how large the disc prolapse is. It sounds quite big but not completely compressing the nerve if that makes sense. If you get any pain or numbness below where you are now it might be prudent to take time off work and see your doctor. If you're doing lots of driving this can actually cause the problem. The spine is under a lot of pressure in a seated position especially when your legs are tensed against the pedals. I know it's hard but try and take it easy. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mel (& Paul) Posted August 7, 2007 Author Share Posted August 7, 2007 Ok, so take it easy, but keep moving gently, some gentle exercies and some sort of pain relief. Might just stick with Snowy's suggestion for the evenings Wine sounds like a good option in the short term! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
