Sciatic pain

[Ted Neff]

I’m 66yo 6’1” 190ish always have led a physical life in work and play. Not a stud at all but am still in good health. I couple months ago I developed mild sciatic pain. I thought it was cramping for about a month. When got bad and had pain from my hip to the top of my foot and unable to find relief. It may be improving but can’t really relate it to an injury. Ive carried full time for a bunch of years. A lot with a alloy 1911 5” and the last two years 686MG. Both in Simply Rugged sourdough pancake on a 1 3/4” SR belt. The pain is in my offhand leg. Can this be a cause as I age. Has anyone had this happen. Just searching for an answer. Cheers

 

[SweetMK]

I am 3/4 of a century old in July,,

I had some sciatic pain since I went to college in 1973, (after the US Navy)

Anyways,, I started KETO in 2018,, lost the weight I wanted to loose,,
I had not noticed,, the sciatic pain was gone!!
I was ready to quit KETO, assuming my weight would stay under control,,
THEN COVID hit,, the wife and I just stayed on KETO,, we could not go to restaurants anyways,,

The last couple weeks, I have been trying carnivore diet,,

I kid you not,, I hand loaded this 6 foot long tractor loader bucket with rock today,,
It took about a half hour,, ( I needed the rocks for a landscaping project )
The big ones I did not lift, I simply rolled them into the bucket,,
I guess the biggest ones weigh 250 pounds,,

ZERO back pain,, I could not do this when I was 55,, but, I can do it now,,

 

[chief38]

I suffered from Sciatica for many years when living up North. I went to multiple Doctor's, a Chiropractor and a Physical Therapist who showed me what exercise routine to do. The physical therapy did help temporarily but not long term.

When we moved down South I became much more physically active, I walked a lot more, started riding a cruiser type bicycle (no gears or hand brakes) for the first time since I was a teenager and lost 27 pounds. I did not really go on a diet either...... I just eliminated gluten, seed oils, desserts and bread. Not only are they very unhealthy, they cause inflammation! I have not eaten any of these things (at least that I am aware of) in well over a year and not only have I lost 27 pounds, I have become 98% pain free. Oh - I also had more back pain prior to doing all of this. Now my back is pretty good and when it does "go out" on a rare occasion, it is not horrible nor does it last vey long. Knee pain as been 100% eliminated!

I am still a big eater but now at 6 feet tall I have broken the 200 pound mark. My goal weight is 195 which is where I should be. I also now wear 36" waist pants and have dropped a full shirt size. On top of that, my cholesterol and triglycerides have dropped like a rock as has my blood pressure. My Internist actually called me a few months ago after a full blood workup to ask what the heck I had done to change my health so drastically! We were both immensely pleased with the results and at 71 I feel better than I have in 2 decades!

The ONLY time I ever feel any sign of sciatica now is when I sleep on my right side for hours at a time. I have now been sleeping on my back or my left side - no issues. I can't say any one thing was the miracle cure for sciatica but all these things combined helped me way more than I can believe. BTW sitting for long periods of time is bad and does not help sciatica at all!

BTW, I've been at this for well over a year now and have completely lost my craving for desserts, breads, fried foods and sugars. I have substituted oven roasted almonds, cashews, walnuts and berries (strawberries, raspberries, blueberries and blackberries). I eat lots of Ribeye steak, shrimp, lobster, chicken and glute free pasta. I eat a large salad every night before dinner which cuts down how much main course I eat. After dinner I am done eating anything. While others are eating cakes, ice cream etc. I will slice two strawberries and have them and a cup of tea or coffee - that's it.

Sometimes carrying extra weight causes you to walk differently, sit differently and can tire you out faster. Again, do not negate the well known fact that gluten causes inflammation!

Carrying a heavy gun can indeed add to sciatic pain. I gave up trying to carry a huge heavy gun 45+ years ago. After a failed two week trial of carrying a full size steel 1911, I carried a Chief's Special for decades. 6 years ago went to an even smaller, lighter and thinner Sig P365 which is in a OWB Kramer Horsehide leather belt holster 50% of the time and in my pocket in a DeSantis Nemesis pocket holster the rest of the time. The empty gun weighs 17.6 oz, 5 oz less than a 2" steel M60.

So all of these things I eliminated, the weight loss, the change of EDC gun, the elimination of gluten and seed oils, desserts and fried foods plus regular exercise has pretty much eliminated my sciatica. There is NO miracle cure. There is no easy, simple way. That said, after you get through fighting the tough changes and bad habits it will benefit you greatly!

 

[URIT]

My sciatica was caused by a pinched spinal nerve at L5-S1, so I can relate to the difficulty you are experiencing today.

The occupation physician I saw after the squad accident that caused my injury advised me to avoid pain killer meds because the pain was the body notifying you that change is needed.

I still wore my gun belt, but positioned things to balance out the belt.

Stretching exercises were good, but using resistance weight machines at the local gym helped more to strengthen my back and abdominal muscles to regain the curve in my spine and relieve pressure the disc applied to the nerve that caused the sciatica.

Check to see if there is a gym in your area that offers the "SilverSneakers" medicare program for 65+ folks - a freebee.

I'd definitely go to my doctor and ask to see a orthopedist to determine the root cause of the sciatic pain and develop a treatment plan.

Another thing I was forced to do was trimmed down my waistline. A big gut pulls the spine out of curve. I had to change my diet to a very low carbohydrate strategy (today, it's called KETO). I still try to keep my waistline from bulging.

I hope my experiences can help you.

 

[Barbarosa99]

My sciatica pain came from L4-5 pinched nerves and blown disks about 2X a year I get steroid injections.

 

[.38SuperMan]

I suffered with severe sciatic pain for several years. I’m 76 and did a lot of work with various physicians in hospitals and met a pain specialist I was impressed with. Working with physicians you quickly learn who to go to and who to stay away from.

Anyway he’s a specialist in pain management and nerve ablations. A nerve ablation is where they go into your lower back with a needle and use high frequency energy to kill the nerve. It doesn’t cure the problem but it disconnects the pathway that the pain travels. I’ve had 4 ablations over the years, two on each side, which totally eliminated the pain for about 3 years each time. Although it’s only temporary if your pain is severe enough you’ll be happy getting 3 years of no pain each time.

Eventually the nerve grows back and the pain slowly returns then you do it again. Ive been in the surgical suite and watched patients get the procedure. It’s generally but not always under mild anesthesia and there’s no cutting involved. It’s just stimulating nerves until the right one is located then killing it with high frequency energy. There’s no more blood than a needle stick and after you fully wake up you go home.

Let me tell you it was worth it to have several pain free years each time.

I’m retired now and haven’t needed another ablation in nine years or so. I exercise and that helps and just try to abuse my spine. I still have pain at times but it’s less severe and doesn’t last long and I can manage it with Tylenol and exercise. Now if I could find something like that for arthritis.

If your pain gets bad enough I’d suggest a pain specialist that does ablations. Bedd see t of luck.

 

[Malysh]

Why don't you run this by doctors?
I'm here and on other gun forums every day and I wouldn't seek advice
for medical problems on a gun forum.

 

[RobertK3026]

I have had really good relief from an Acupuncturist.

 

[hyena]

I second the suggestion to see a good doctor. I had a ruptured disc in my lumbar when I was in my 40's. Too many years of doing heavy squats and deadlifts that in hindsight were beyond the ability of my skeletal structure to sustain. Had to have surgery to fix it. Still working out at age 70, just using much lighter weights. And no squats or deadlifts. At 6'2", I keep my weight around 200 pounds.

Anyway...to my point. A few years back I switched from pocket carrying an LCP to belt carrying a J frame. (And occasionally a .45 Shield.) Bought a heavy leather gun belt, good OWB holster for winter and AIWB for summer. Having no hips or *** to speak of, I had to keep the belt cinched tight. After a couple years, developed numbness in the outside of my left (off hand) thigh, then that progressed to pain. Had a suspicion it might be the belt compressing nerves. Went to a good ortho person. X-rays and MRI, etc. Conclusion - it was nerve compression from the belt. She suggested I immediately get suspenders and go several weeks without the gun belt. I bought a pair of Hee Haw suspenders at the local farm store. After just a matter of weeks - pain and numbness gone. I went back to wearing those cheap cotton web adjustable belts I had worn for years, and also went back to pocket carrying, now a BG 380. I have found on those rare instances I want to carry something with a little more punch, I can AIWB the J frame fine on that web belt.

I threw away the Hee Haw suspenders, but do often hold my pants up with Hikers, especially when I'm on my morning three mile walk.

Sorry - got a little long winded. A good doc can help you pin down where the problem lies. The one I saw knew the location of the numbness/pain was consistent with nerve compression at the hip, and not impingment in the spinal column.

 

[URIT]

Continuing to carry a three-pound load on your strong side will likely inflame the sciatic nerve.

I hear my doctor telling me again to lighten the load and balance the weight on my belt if I have to carry.

 

[jimmyj]

I am 87 years old crppled with 35 surgeries in my past. Everything wore out and hurting 24/7. I alway carried a full sized weapon on and off duty. (45 years LEO and 8 years Military) I still do armed security. When working its a M1911 with two extra magazines. However when not working I carry a S&W Model 12 2" SB and one speedloader. What I found helps is heavy duty suspenders in addition to a good leather belt.
Prior to my shoulder joint replacement I found a "Miami Classic" shoulder rig was great. At present I waiting for another shoulder surgery so the shoulder rig is out.

 

[kleeber]

I had a bout of sciatic pain a few years ago. Various (painful!) stretching exercises I found on the internet helped a great deal, but didn't eliminate the pain.

At some point I started working out, and in particular was doing deadlifts: repeatedly straightening up with a barbell from the floor with a straight back and back down again (3 sets of 25 reps, 70 pound barbell). Coincidentally my sciatic pain disappeared and hasn't come back since.

 

[Bald1]

At 6’1” and 190 it does not sound like weight is a problem. Sciatic pain is usually caused by a pinched nerve. It’s not always spine related. Your sciatica runs through the piriformis muscle. It’s in your hip/buttocks area. A good physical therapist can manipulate this muscle( usually with his elbow) to make it relax and stop squeezing the sciatica nerve. He will also give you simply stretches to do daily. Of course X-rays are always the first step to see what your skeletal system looks like.

 

[greenwellg]

Almost died at 37 in a car wreck, almost decapitated. Told I was going to be in pain for the rest of my life at 42 and if I had any surgery the pain could drive me to suicide.

Hard physical labor much of that time (auto body repair). Chiropractors useless. At 52 I applied for SS disability and was refused. Lying in bed with a home made traction device contemplating ending it all.
Got a Sleep Member air mattress, then a Teeter hangup inversion table.

Now I am 74. Not pain free all the time, but I play pickleball almost every day, averaging 2-2.5 hours 90 % of the time over the last 17 months.

I have helped people who were young and in a lot of pain. In once case carried a yard sale inversion table to a friend 80 miles away who was almost crippled by pain at 42 and he got true relief and told me I was an angel for what I did for him.

Half my life has been learning therapeutic pain management. No drugs other than ibuprofen (two 200 MG overnight for sleep one every few hours).

Refused narcotic medication, changed doctors, sleep 6 hours a night and playing pickleball. I eat most anything I want, probably should diet but don't. My father lived to 103, Mom made it to 98, so I got super lucky with the gene pool. Left knee joint is so loose it rattles like an old worn out ball joint, but I want to avoid surgery as long as possible.

If not for the inversion table and air mattress I would have been dead long ago, very possibly self inflicted.

6 feet tall, trying to stay below 200. BP is generally higher than they like, but when relaxed I have seen it go down to 90/60 with a pulse rate of 49.

A quarter of a century ago I had chronic pain right between my shoulder blades. Twisting side to side on the inversion table I felt a vertebrae realign and actually felt myself get taller. After that I have had no significant pain in that area.

I learned all of this by trial and error with pain reduction as the driving force. Ct scans after 46 years of tobacco use show calcification in the lower back and neck but I keep on playing pickleball.

 

[pharman]

Where are you carrying your wallet?

Do NOT carry your wallet in either back pocket of your pants...if you do carry it there when you sit you put pressure on your sciatic nerve which can trigger sciatica...

 

[Bald1]

I am 87 years old crppled with 35 surgeries in my past. Everything wore out and hurting 24/7. I alway carried a full sized weapon on and off duty. I still do armed security. When working its a M1911 with two extra magazines. However when not working I carry a S&W Model 12 2" SB and one speedloader. What I found helps is heavy duty suspenders in addition to a good leather belt.
Prior to my shoulder joint replacement I found a "Miami Classic" shoulder rig was great. At present I waiting for another shoulder surgery so the shoulder rig is out.

You’re still doing armed security at 87? You are the man!!!!

 

[Arm]

For temp relief I use Advil Dual....not a cure but it dampens the pain quite a bit.

 

[Bald1]

GREENWELLG, I had a similar experience. In feb2022 I had anterior & posterior fusion at L5 S1. 1 plate 2 rods 8 screws. L5 was sliding forward. Being slightly bent or humped over relieved some of the pain. Apparently I was doing this without realizing it. After 3 days at hospital I came home and the first thing my stepson said was “ wow, your 6’2” AGAIN”.

 

[smoothshooter]

I have a lot of experience with sciatica. Mine was caused by a deteriorating disc.
Don’t do like I did for years. I tried to tough it out as it progressively got worse. If you ignore it you will end up with permanent nerve damage that causes numbness down the back of your leg, under the bottom of your foot, and into some of your toes.
I got lucky. The back surgeon put be out briefly, removed the piece of disc material that had flaked off. Outpatient surgery.
Mostly fixed the problem, but I am left with some permanent numbness down the back of the leg and part of the bottom of my left foot and a couple of toes. My Achilles’ tendon is permanently weakened also.
Moral of the story is to not dink around about getting disc repair done if you want to avoid long-term problems. The longer you wait the greater the consequences and increase in remedial surgery.

 

[bruce5781]

I have sciatic problems. I carry in a holster that is easily re-positioned such as a Myres Barton Special or one with a Franz-Loc, sometimes I carry in my front pocket, to offset the pain. Doc Barranti has been able to outfit me with any of these.

Recently, i tried one of the Signal pain patches. No drugs, works like magic. It has changed my sciatica from an almost unbearable pain to a warm feeling down my leg. Often no pain at all.

Regards,
Bruce