Need Help with Sciatic Joint Troubles, Please

[Tim McMichael]

OK, I knew this would happen. It’s an old condition that has flared up again. The ligaments in and around my sacrum are stretched. This allows my SI joints to lock up causing all kinds of problems: tight hamstrings, referred pain in my legs, inadequate enervation, loss of balance, unilateral weakness, so forth and so on. On top of this, my sciatic nerve runs right through my glutes instead of under them. This means that it is vulnerable to any tightness and inflammation. Does anyone out there know what I can do to alleviate this condition? I have my own methods, none of which are really helpful. They are more Band-Aids than cures. I am looking for a way to realign and stabilize these structures. HELP!

[dbwsportz]

I have had good luck with a product called the Sacrowedgy. It is 29.99 and is the best $30 I have spent for my back and sciatica troubles. I use it once or twice a week or whenever I have a flare up. I have no affiliation with them. Don't know if it works for every one, but I sure get relief with it.

www.sacrowedgy.com

[GeorgeN]

Hello: I gave this same advice to another vaulter on this site. I am 47 and injured my back by missing the pits and landing on the standard tracks at West Point 30 years ago. After I have my cast removed I cleared 15 feet, but I knw my spring in my left ankle was gone, so I quit. I was clearing 16'6" in practice the week before my suicide vault.
Years later I could not get out of bed unless I log rolled onto the floor. I thought I would be crippled for life.
I went to a patient of mine and she practices "prolotherapy". It works by injecting an irritant into loose ligaments of the back and other joints to shrink and thicken them.
I became pv coach at a local hs, began vaulting, and will competing in masters events this year. I feel like I am 20 again, except for less speed and strength of course. But no pain. NFL players are opting for this now instead of surgery.

The end.

[jumpbackin]

Tim, I'm very sorry, but I'm about to introduce you to the world of being a complete geriatric. The best thing I have found for Piriformis Syndrome is to keep it as warm as possible. That means (here it goes) sleeping with a heating pad on your Glute. I have one that switches offf after a couple of hours. I set it for low and if I wake up in the middle of the night I flip it on again.

I've known this helps for a couple of years but recently I leaned it is a tremendous help. My cat got mauled by a dog so I gave him my heating pad and immediately felt the difference.

Also, In my experience the Piriformis/Glute stretch is a no no. I'm sure you know by now heavy loads (squats) are aggrevating.

Please let me know any of the little things you have found that helps. Thanks.

[Tim McMichael]

Thanks for the advice and help with this injury. I’m definitely going to try heating it, and the sacrowedgie (what an unfortunate name for something that might actually work) looks like a manufactured version of something I have actually tried - using pillows, shoes, bricks, tennis balls - in short, anything I can get under my butt to stretch and align things. As far as prolotheripy goes, I don’t think I’m ready to have saline injections into ligaments yet – probably won’t ever be, but who knows?

I'm actually kind of enjoying fighting with an injury again. It beats sitting on the couch any day.


I wonder how many times an injury has followed the words, "Come on coach, you can do it."

[rainbowgirl28]

Hello: I gave this same advice to another vaulter on this site. I am 47 and injured my back by missing the pits and landing on the standard tracks at West Point 30 years ago. After I have my cast removed I cleared 15 feet, but I knw my spring in my left ankle was gone, so I quit. I was clearing 16'6" in practice the week before my suicide vault.
Years later I could not get out of bed unless I log rolled onto the floor. I thought I would be crippled for life.
I went to a patient of mine and she practices "prolotherapy". It works by injecting an irritant into loose ligaments of the back and other joints to shrink and thicken them.
I became pv coach at a local hs, began vaulting, and will competing in masters events this year. I feel like I am 20 again, except for less speed and strength of course. But no pain. NFL players are opting for this now instead of surgery.

The end.

Jillian Schwartz had prolotherapy on her ankles where some ligaments were stretched out and had good results.

However, there is no indication that Tim necessarily has any kind of problem with stretched ligaments. It's an interesting therapy, but not one I would recommend to people without knowing more about their condition.

[Tim McMichael]

I think the wisest thing to do with any injury is to go from the least extreme remedy and progress gradually to more desperate measures. I also believe in the benefit of having, as Earl Bell says, "a good quack." I've seen amazing things from acupuncture, for instance. I’ve seen some terrible results from surgery.

One of the best ways to get rid of pimples is acne-puncture.

[Robert schmitt]

Disclaimer- I'm a chiropractor-
I have seen many patient helped through chiropractic with SI joint problems. This is something you need to address. When an Si joint is not moving properly the Chroinc SI problem will cause problems in the lower lumbar spine as the forces of walking and running are tranfferred incorrectly into the lumbar spine.

I would also see a PT in conjunction.

there are many ways chiropractic can be practiced, so finding one that is right for you can be difficult. Obviously try to find one who specalizes in athletes

[lonestar]

Disclaimer- I'm a chiropractor-
I have seen many patient helped through chiropractic with SI joint problems. This is something you need to address. When an Si joint is not moving properly the Chroinc SI problem will cause problems in the lower lumbar spine as the forces of walking and running are tranfferred incorrectly into the lumbar spine.

I would also see a PT in conjunction.

there are many ways chiropractic can be practiced, so finding one that is right for you can be difficult. Obviously try to find one who specalizes in athletes

I swear by chiropractic I know lots of people think they're quacks, but I've gone from only being able to turn my head about 45 degrees to the right, to 90 degrees with just a few adjustments. It also corrected my swayback problems, reducing my lower back pain by probably 80%. I just go once a month for $30 for a maintenance adjustment now. My best adjustments are done in sequence: Work out to get everything warmed up and loose, get a 30 minute deep tissue massage, then a chiropractice adjustment. I feel like a million bucks afterwards.

[Tim McMichael]

I’m already seeing a chiropractor, and it is definitely helping. He has to get a running start from the next room to make anything in my back move, but it is making a difference. I am also going to see my PT guy next week. The main issue is to keep things in place once they get there. I also need to find a massage person. Too bad my wife has little tiny hands. Her massages feel like somebody poking me gently with a stick.

Lonestar, are there any exercises or stretches that might help make things more stable down there?

[jumpbackin]

Chiropractic care has been a godsend for my neck, but I must tell you, Tim, I broke with Piriformis Syndrome shortly after my Chiropractor began mobilizing my SI joint - same side. I'm almost certain it was a contributing factor. Obviosly your case isn't going to be exactly the same as mine and SI joint mobilization may be a good thing for you, but be objective and highly critical of how you feel the day or two after. Especially if your Chiro is doing "Drop piece adjustments".

Regarding Physical Therapy. They will want you to stretch the area. I can't urge you strongly enough not to do this! Most Physical Therapists you will see have never delt with Piriformis Syndrome. I've been dealing with it for almost 6 years and I can tell you nothing good will come from stretching it. Any stretch where you pull your knee across your body is bad as is the stretch where you put your foot over your opposite knee then pull that knee to your chest.

If you do PT, go ahead with ultrasound, electrostimulation, active release, the exercises - done very lightly, but don't stretch! One more thing that agrivates my Piriformis is stress. My glute is aching as I'm sitting here typing this because I'm stressing over how PT's are probably going to talk you into stretching it.

[jumpbackin]

I also need to find a massage person. Too bad my wife has little tiny hands. Her massages feel like somebody poking me gently with a stick.

I've also found vibro-message to be mildly helpfull. Your wife doesn't need big hands press a vibrator into the side of your Glute. (I had to be very careful how I worded that one!)