For those movie buffs of a certain age, Sci-a-ti-ca can be pronounced like At-ti-ca, a debilitating pain literally in the butt that imprisons athletes.
Trust me when I say, sciatica is a pain in the butt.
Every athlete knows that groan of a hamstring pull and the immediate sensation that this injury will take a while to heal; there is no quick fix to a pulled hammy.
Stretching the hip flexor is a beginning.
Most people do not know (and until recently, I was one of them) that bulging or herniated discs in the very common L5 or S1 area can cause sciatica, leg pain that initially can feel very similar to a hamstring pull.
Although sciatica is usually caused with a back injury, it does not necessarily cause back pain.
As the sciatic nerve becomes more inflamed, it includes shooting horrific pain down the entire leg, causing the leg owner to take said leg to the doctor to confirm that pain is not a hamstring.
The doctor has this amazing chart that shows how pain in your foot can be related to a bulging L5 disc.
Who knew...
Top 5 things to NOT do and therefore avoid sciatica:
Visually, this accident was like Ruth Buzzy falling off the tricycle on Laugh-In.
No doubt, that was my last ride on the back of a motorcycle (I promise Mom!); the thrill is gone, but the pain is not.
Sciatica has led me to know about branches of medicine I had no idea existed, apparently because I fast-forwarded through all the commercials.
My neurologist assures me that I will run and jump like all the other reindeer and my visions of biking, hiking and kayaking will come true.
For now, pain management and physical therapy are my course of action as I join millions of Americans with a mid-life back injury.
Always in search of the silver lining, I am destined to a full recovery in short order and a lifetime of abs of steel.
Trust me when I say, sciatica is a pain in the butt.
Every athlete knows that groan of a hamstring pull and the immediate sensation that this injury will take a while to heal; there is no quick fix to a pulled hammy.
Stretching the hip flexor is a beginning.
Most people do not know (and until recently, I was one of them) that bulging or herniated discs in the very common L5 or S1 area can cause sciatica, leg pain that initially can feel very similar to a hamstring pull.
Although sciatica is usually caused with a back injury, it does not necessarily cause back pain.
As the sciatic nerve becomes more inflamed, it includes shooting horrific pain down the entire leg, causing the leg owner to take said leg to the doctor to confirm that pain is not a hamstring.
The doctor has this amazing chart that shows how pain in your foot can be related to a bulging L5 disc.
Who knew...
Top 5 things to NOT do and therefore avoid sciatica:
- Do not break your leg in a motorcycle accident.
- When falling off the motorcycle, do not twist to try to stop yourself from falling.
- When on crutches for 8 weeks (non-weight bearing for 5), do not assume all pain in your leg is because you broke your leg and have road rash or that long-term use of crutches throws your muscles off.
In other words, do not say to yourself, "Of course your leg hurts, you have second and third degree burns and you broke it you moron!" - When going through physical therapy to move your ankle and foot that has been in a cast, do not assume the pain in your butt is a hamstring.
- Like an athlete, do not assume that it is going to hurt to move frozen joints and just work through it.
That pain in your foot may be nerve related.
Visually, this accident was like Ruth Buzzy falling off the tricycle on Laugh-In.
No doubt, that was my last ride on the back of a motorcycle (I promise Mom!); the thrill is gone, but the pain is not.
Sciatica has led me to know about branches of medicine I had no idea existed, apparently because I fast-forwarded through all the commercials.
My neurologist assures me that I will run and jump like all the other reindeer and my visions of biking, hiking and kayaking will come true.
For now, pain management and physical therapy are my course of action as I join millions of Americans with a mid-life back injury.
Always in search of the silver lining, I am destined to a full recovery in short order and a lifetime of abs of steel.
SHARE
