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Ask HN: Anyone suffering from Sciatica? (And how do you manage?)

3 points by zerr 13y ago

Pain worsened significantly for me - but I have pains only when sitting. This is a real problem for me, since I'm a programmer. I wonder if there is anybody like me here on HN, and how do you get by? EDIT: Symptoms: For some time, I had only some pain in the both buttocks when sitting. Now, I have more severe pain in the both buttocks, plus a severe pain going down only through the left leg - again, when sitting. I feel best when laying down on my stomach.

kohanz 13y ago
My father's sciatica pain was when standing, not sitting, but eventually it was so severe that he had to get surgery to alleviate the pinched nerve. Have you considered a standing desk?
- zerr 13y ago
  Yes, I'm thinking about a standing desk. Although, I have fatigue/tiredness in my knees when standing [for some time].
memracom 13y ago
My sciatica went away when my health improved. Not saying this works for everybody, but you really should get a hold of books by Dr. Joel Fuhrman and Dr. Neal Barnard. Apply their learnings to your own lifestyle and get healthy. That way, even if you still have sciatica, it is much more bearable because you weigh less, and are much more comfortable in your body due to healing all of your chronic nagging health problems. And if your sciatica does end up being the kind that needs surgery to resolve, you will do much better if you are 100% healthy and non-obese when you undergo that surgery. Even the standing desk is a lot easier to manage for a person who is healthy and not obese. The above mentioned medical doctors are leading lights in a movement to sift through the medical literature and apply what has been learned to everyday living in a holistic way, taking all of the learnings into account. They, and other doctors who are doing the same thing, can back up every piece of advice that they give. In other words, they teach the science of health not faddism and quackery.
PaulHoule 13y ago
Do you have an actual diagnosis or do you just think it is sciatica? Describe your symptoms in more detail.
- zerr 13y ago
  Right, I self-diagnosed myself after some research... But I plan to visit a doctor in the near future. I updated the post with my symptoms.
  - PaulHoule 13y ago
    Go see a doc. There are many other conditions that can produce similar symptoms, particularly problems with the hamstring tendons.
justintocci 13y ago
Much abreviated story... I had pain down my right leg, needed a cane eventually. Then i read the book "walk yourself well" by a physical therapist and found a case like mine. She recommended a couple of odd leg lift type things. I did them, felt nothing, didn't think it would help. Next day 80% of the pain was gone. By the end of the week it was all gone. Call me if you want and I'll describe them to you.

3 points by zerr 13y ago

kohanz 13y ago

My father's sciatica pain was when standing, not sitting, but eventually it was so severe that he had to get surgery to alleviate the pinched nerve. Have you considered a standing desk?

zerr 13y ago
Yes, I'm thinking about a standing desk. Although, I have fatigue/tiredness in my knees when standing [for some time].

memracom 13y ago

My sciatica went away when my health improved. Not saying this works for everybody, but you really should get a hold of books by Dr. Joel Fuhrman and Dr. Neal Barnard. Apply their learnings to your own lifestyle and get healthy. That way, even if you still have sciatica, it is much more bearable because you weigh less, and are much more comfortable in your body due to healing all of your chronic nagging health problems. And if your sciatica does end up being the kind that needs surgery to resolve, you will do much better if you are 100% healthy and non-obese when you undergo that surgery. Even the standing desk is a lot easier to manage for a person who is healthy and not obese. The above mentioned medical doctors are leading lights in a movement to sift through the medical literature and apply what has been learned to everyday living in a holistic way, taking all of the learnings into account. They, and other doctors who are doing the same thing, can back up every piece of advice that they give. In other words, they teach the science of health not faddism and quackery.

PaulHoule 13y ago

Do you have an actual diagnosis or do you just think it is sciatica? Describe your symptoms in more detail.

zerr 13y ago
Right, I self-diagnosed myself after some research... But I plan to visit a doctor in the near future. I updated the post with my symptoms.
- PaulHoule 13y ago
  Go see a doc. There are many other conditions that can produce similar symptoms, particularly problems with the hamstring tendons.

justintocci 13y ago

Much abreviated story... I had pain down my right leg, needed a cane eventually. Then i read the book "walk yourself well" by a physical therapist and found a case like mine. She recommended a couple of odd leg lift type things. I did them, felt nothing, didn't think it would help. Next day 80% of the pain was gone. By the end of the week it was all gone. Call me if you want and I'll describe them to you.