I started PT twice a week and did the strengthening exercises daily. In theory it made sense, but I was just in more and more pain rather than getting better. I quit after two months.

I definitely have more trouble if I’m driving for a long time. Otherwise I can’t figure out a trigger, but I can be fine and pain free for a long time before it flares up again.

Anonymous wrote:This will take an anti-inflammatory and muscle relaxers and maybe a steroid.

My sciatica was treated with one round of a steroid, followed by anti-inflammatories, and a lot of PT. I had to do everything altogether -- the drugs without the PT would have just resulted in the problem coming right back. The PT without the drugs probably would have been less effective because I was in so much pain and never wanted to do anything during a flair up.

Anonymous wrote:I was recently told to stop stretching and start doing more strengthening and more nerve flossing. Stretching was causing flare ups.

I’m scared to ask this cause the phrase alone make me recoil…what is nerve flossing?

This will take an anti-inflammatory and muscle relaxers and maybe a steroid.

I was recently told to stop stretching and start doing more strengthening and more nerve flossing. Stretching was causing flare ups.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:For PP, do you do light workouts through flare ups? Or just stretching when you have pain?

Lots and lots of stretching. Between PT and trainer I have learned which ones to do to help when I feel it coming on. Also I can get on the bike and turn off some dumb TV and just ride. Not a class or timed and it loosens it up.

It is really terrible and I am sorry you have it.

Stretching is the key!