Sciatica Problems when driving for a few hrs?

I'd see the GP rather than getting advise from a forum.

Hi Axle,
I would see a physio therapist and see if there is some stretchs or excercises that might help.
William

Axle.
I have had similar for over 35 years. No disc at base and damage 5 up from there. Besides taking some drugs when too much I often use an orbital sander to agitate the lower back and if angled, the plate, with some cushioning, tends to impact the area. A speed controlled one would be good to regulate the action. Even at home I use it regularly if feeling slowed, then all ok and I continue. Sometime I couldn't lift my leg into the vehicle. Don't laugh, but I used the same sander on our arthritic aged dog when joints were stiff. If she saw me pick up the sander she hobbled over and waited for a treatment, then zapped off outside happy again. I did all this after I visited a Top back surgeon, who stated the disc damage and said, " ,come back when you can't walk. That was 17 years ago. Sander cheap, surgeon costly. I take a small inverter and the orbital if travelling. Makes life nicer.

Physiotherapists on top of their game can make a huge difference…mine sorted me out years back.

Everyone is different. I get sciatica from tight hip flexors pulling on an old ruptured disc. My best help has been getting my feet sorted and wearing slight orthotic inserts to align everything again. Then there's the stretching, drugs and a great physio as mentioned above - we haven't had a good session on the hip flexors until tears have been shed - but the relief is awesome.

My wife gets this often so I showed her your thread

She uses a "tens" machine, a small electronic gadget which gives a tingling sensation in the area of application

She said that sometimes it is like magic and others not so good but definitely worth a try

Maybe you could borrow or test one

Hi axle,

Have you thought about replacing the seats in your vehicle for one with better lumbar support?

For what it is worth, my Son-in-law who is a physio says tens machines are no longer used by most physiotherapists anymore, as they were found to not actually do much. Of course they may have a therapeutic affect that makes you feel better, whilst not actually doing anything.

Macca.

Obviously everyone is different, and different on different days, what treatment you've had, nature of the complaint. I find anywhere between 4 and 6 hours starts to get really uncomfortable and you squirm in the seat trying to get relief. Changing the seat position, angles etc., making sure your whole calf is supported, stopping for a break, walking around usually helps in the short term, but sometimes you body tells you its had enough time behind the wheel.

I've had similar issues with a bulging disc and a displaced and damaged vertebrae while I was employed.

Lots of Physio, good and bad, but ultimately with little long term effect. My first Physio was fantastic but a bit later moved interstate. Following ones were ineffective due to being a lightly built female and inexperienced, another was a back breaker and one female with long fingernails that did more damage than good. Some of the exercises recommended were even aggravating it.

The Surgeon I saw basically was all about pain management and exercise and that if you can stand the pain don't get operated on. Work was a main culprit for management as too much office and desk related.

Magic happened when I got self initiated redundancy. Spent the first 6 months doing about 2 hour walks each day in Darwin tropical heat, generally in the middle of the day. Lost a bit of weight and strengthened the back and stomach muscles.

Although not cured I have far less issues but probably around the 80% mark for strength and durability but better at recognising when I'm approaching the danger point.

As far as vehicle seating is concerned I generally always have to have a lumbar cushion as vehicles don't have enough adjustment in that area to suit me. It's normally the seat base that limits distance driving but not pain in the lower back. Would love to try a Recaro seat in this 4x4 as I had previously had one earlier on, costly for airbag compliance ones and would need to try a long trip to verify what they would be like again.

We've always had a water bed and that hasn't caused any issues, but there's differing opinions on their suitability but the Orthopaedic Surgeon said that if it was comfortable then keep it. Not all water bed bladders give good support where it's needed, especially with far different weight partners.

Axle i hear you ,long term sciatica suffera myself, Chiropractor , got me sorted out to a degree years ago, physo wasn't working.
there are some good stretches on all fours arching the back etc, that do help relieve the pain, probably an idea to a professional, and get some exercises,to do.
long term probably easier than cutting of the offending part.


Cheers Rob

Have you considered getting on one of them inversion/hang upside down machines? Might help.