I'm sorry you're in so much pain. I've seen some good improvement by doing the following, but you should talk to your doctor before trying:

1) lay on back and place moist heating across your hips and pelvic area for 15-20 minutes

2) lay on back in bed and let left leg dangle off side for 30 seconds while breathing. Switch sides. 3 reps

3) put pillow on floor and kneel on left knee. Place right foot on floor in front of you and keep upper body straight. On exhale, move hips forward until you feel stretch in front of left thigh ( hip flexors) then on each exhale move forward 1/4 inch more. 5 breaths. Switch sides. 3 reps. AVOID SENSATION IN LOWER BACK OR BACK OF LEG.

4) after a week add an arm raise to the exercise. Once you've moved your hips forward over 4 breaths, raise the arm on the kneeling side straight over your head and feel stretch from hip flexor all the way up through the fingers. This helps decompress the spine.

Do this all twice a day. These target the hip flexor muscles. If they are tight or knotted they can encourage compression in the lower back. Stretching and relaxing them encourages decompression.

Funny I joined this group awhile back but have never been here. I just thought to come here and post, "How do you treat your Sciatica?" and your post was top of the list. So here I am with the same question. As far as meds go Neurontin helps me the most with Sciatica and Neuralgia but not very much help. My friend bought me this stuff called DMSO from a health nut store, it's a roll on and to my surprise it helps with nerve pain and joint pain. I would still like to know what others do to get relief.

Sherry

Same thing, just joined here and only recently did I discover that the shooting leg and butt pain that keeps me awake for hours at night is Sciatica. I call it the Greek Goddess of Severe Pain. Tried some different positions and stretching. BEST is when it becomes very light during the day so it will carry over to night. Right now it is there in my right leg and butt, not bad but just hovering.

One week into first attack, and scouring this site for advice.

Dr has given some strong nsaid I've never heard of. Doesn't seem to do anything for arthric knees, so have no idea if it's helping yet.

Mild painkillers. No idea it they do anything. \Stopped taking them like clockwork, and now just when some annoying pain starts, which might fade away on its own for all I know.

Sleeping in recliner. Can't sleep in bed without generating a ton of pain. Hope this is not permanent. Feels like I've been in an airplane for the last week. But at least, I do sleep, if not well.

Have started mild exercise on my own during those times in the day when pain is lightest. Started this because with artritis, is you don't move aroun, you might as well freeze. Also afraid of deep vein thrombosis. Walking back and forth for 10 minutes while trying to stand up straight, arm exercises, and stretching... just strectching into the painful areas in slight ways that feel like "good" pain. Lying on bed for short intervals, doing a few sit ups, rolling hips and raising legs a few times. Today, raising affected leg did not hurt. This exercise seems to start a "warm glow" period that feels fair-- at least can sit in recliner without groaning.

Recommend -- Doctor John. Go download some of his music. Feeling jazz-happy probably works as well as the pain killers.

I'm hoping the time will be short that I'm in this first attack. I feel like I waht to go outside and play, but it hurts, dimmit.

I am no physiotherapist and this will all really depend on how bad and where your pain is but one of the best stretch exercises my physio recommended to eases sciatica is the Cobra pose:

http://www.ehow.co.uk/video_2351427_yoga-cobra-pose-back-pain.html

If it's too sore, don't go as far back as she does, just lift your shoulders up about 45 degrees above your hands.

It's great for strengthening your lumbar region and eases the discs off the sciatic nerve. The effects can be temporary, but I find it a great relief. Hope you work something out!

Hi..just joined here....... Ive suffered for a few yrs. Ive tried a few different meds...toradol, naproxen,tramacet. Nothing really helped the pain.

the meds have bad side effects...tiredness...upset stomach..nausea...etc,

I was thinking of starting yoga. Will try the "cobra pose"..thanks ginger.

;-)