Sciatic Nerve!!!

I am no GP or Physio but have suffered goodness knows how many injuries playing football over the years and I used to get similar pain but this was from an abducter muscle in the groin area.

Sciatica usually starts from the small of the back through the buttocks and right down the back of one or even both legs if unfortunate, a bit like have a very tight hamstring muscle.

Have used an osteopath in the past for ailments, although very gentle manipulation did the trick every time.

Thank you everyone for taking the time to send me your comments. At the moments its so bad I can hardly even leave the house, and as such Mrs SF's Xmas presents have not been bought!! I will definately be asking around locally to see if there is some expert with a sporting background who maybe able to help. Any of you folk by chance from the Ruislip, Middx area know of anyone?
Like I have said I am relatively fit for my age, but not an 'Ironman'. Since I packed in competitive team sport I have turned my hand to badminton over the last year and although I did have a few problems with my left 'achilles', I cured this by simply wearing appropriate footwear.

With skiing in mind it has been pointed out to me that I do have a lack of flexability in my ankles which causes me problems in both technique and boot comfort and I have been doing simple stretching excersises to help this. Connected! I know not.

I am hoping that when I was up my loft moving stuff around on sunday to get at my Xmas decorations that due to the lack of foot room up there I may have moved something that was awkward as opposed to being heavy, and as such did not have my feet poistioned appropriately and although I did not feel it at the time maybe stretched something!!

Totally selfish I know but more worried about how this may effect my skiing than how I will cope over Xmas!! Talking of which may I take this opportunity to wish you all where over you may be on the globe a Merry Xmas and fantastic injury free and safe skiing 2010.

Just accept it SF, you're getting on a bit now )

Scarlet Fez, a colleague of mine has had the same problem and it was diagnosed as a prolapsed disc in his lower spine which was linked to the Sciatic Nerve.
However, depending on age, determines whether you need to have an operation or not.
My colleague does and it is an 8 week recovery period.

Hope you get well soon.

If you are skiing in 5 weeks you really need to be seen ASAP, by anyone with Physio qualifications and not a GP.

Dependant on what the injury is, which to me seems more groin area than sciatic problem (But what do I know) that can take 3 to 4 weeks dependent on what you have done and you will need excercise to strengthen ASAP.

A few days rest will probably sort it out anyway, but just doesn't feel like that right now, but it would be useful to know what it is to exercise that area properly to prevent it happening while you are away too.

There is a good Physio site www.physioroom.com that you can see if anything matches what you have, though the danger is you will have everything on there and the rehabilitaion times are always about 6 weeks!!

Hope you find out soon and get sorted.

You must try and find someone immediately, as it may take a few to find the right person.

I had two nerves trapped in a disc, including the sciatic, and was in agony (carrying heavy crockery in high heels as you ask!)I went to an oesteopath who didn't want to touch me in case she did more damage, my doc sent me to NHS physio everyday for a week where they gave me a few exercise to no effect, until I finally discovered a chiropractor who was sports injury oriented.

There are various forms of chiro out there, but Aidan had a treatment bed with a lever between your legs (oooh, matron)and once he identified which discs it was trapped between he gently levered them apart. Don't be scared by this, he did the sessions for a very small amount of time and it wasn't painful at all. It took about 4 weeks to become fully mobile but it was about 18 months ago and I haven't had a problem since.

Tony_H wrote:Just accept it SF, you're getting on a bit now )

Tony you are probably nearer to the truth than you realised!! )
I must accept I am not getting any younger. My daughter (17) works in a specialist 'running' equipment shop in Eastcote, and she pointed out to me that her boss is a sports physio and she is going to mention my dilema to him tomorrow to get some treatment as and when I can.
Does feel not quite as bad today but it seems to be made worse when I sit at a particular angle putting weight on my left buttock. To much detail I know, but your sympathies and advise are well recieved.

Hi.
From what you describe I have suffered from the same injury at the beginning of this year. I had a shooting pain going dowm my left thigh and across the top of my foot which when was not really painful I felt like I had constant pins and needles in my leg.
If this is similar to you try changing your trainers as it could be the gait of your foot not gelling with your footwear as it was in my case or so it seemed to be as within a week of changeing my footwear my problem cleared up after months of agony. Hope this is of some use to you
Jay