Sciatic Back Pain

by Magdalena

This is my 6th week with sciatica. It is caused by a massive left paracentral disc extrusion on L5/S1 (there are also degenerative changes there), and my S1 nerve is pinched.


Everything started as simple back pain (not very strong) so I went to chiropractor. After 2 weeks I had extremely painful leg, and that is the beginning of my sciatica problem.

1 day after the pain started, my leg started getting numb, and after 2 more days it became completely numb (and still painful). Mornings were the worst, I used to scream while getting out of bed.

I was prescribed painkiller Tramadol and it really helped. I also take Diclofen (don’t know if it helps). I definitely recommend painkillers because you will be able to do some activity and you will still feel what you can’t do. After that I could do some activity, a bit of walking around the house (and leaning on walls).

Since I had the sleeping position you are suggesting, sleeping was relatively ok even without painkillers (I do wake up sometimes and sleep on the side with pillow between my legs, I like that position too). I could sit only on wooden chairs (very firm) and sofas were out of question.

I saw the specialist and had MRI second week. Specialist recommended surgery, but since first improvements happened around the same time I decided to postpone it.

3 weeks after it started I got steroid epidural injection and a week after that, I stopped taking pain killers. There is pain, but it is not strong, so I don’t need any pills. I am quite happy about that because of side effects (if there was still pain I would continue to take it). I know that these injections are controversial, but it worked for me.

My physio started on 4th week. I like the exercises, specially the second one from your list of sciatica exercises. I do it slightly modified, my hips are moved a bit to the right (my left leg is problematic). Ultrasound was also helpful, it brings immediate relief (it doesn’t last for long, but never mind).

From week number 4 (after the pain stopped) I am confident and stable enough to walk outside. At first, about half an hour (very slow, limping), but now I can spend several hours walking (still limping, but much less and I walk faster).

Numbness is slowly disappearing, it is still significant, but I can see improvements, so I’m optimistic. I feel that walking is the most beneficial right now, because numbness of some part usually disappears during the walk.

Good luck to all sufferers, and thank you very much for this wonderful informational web site.

Comment from Paula

Thanks so much for sharing your story Magdalena and thank you for your kind words about the site. I am really pleased you are improving, and that you found some helpful information on here.

As a reminder to everyone else reading this, the information on this web site is not here to replace a medical consultation, it is here to support it, so Magdalena has done exactly the right thing by getting some professional help with her back pain problem.