End of My Sciatica or Muscle Spasm?

Question

I'm 18 with 3 herniated disc (L3-L4, L4-L5, L5-S1) and have been dealing with a sciatica for the last month and a half. Now I can't lay on my stomach or back on a solid surface(floor) and relax my back without terrible pain in my lower left back and upper thigh. I also feel like I'm not able to stand up completely straight. Is this a muscle spasm? How do I make it away?

Answer 1

Hi Grace

Have you had an MRI?  If so, make sure you have a follow up with a neurologist.  If not, get an MRI done.  I also have herniated discs L4/5 and L5/S1.  I feel your pain (leg and back!)  I am 28 and first injured my back many years ago.  Some days are good for me and other times it will all flare up (leg numbness, back pain etc).  Some advice that has helped me over the years:

You need to sleep on your side with a pillow between your legs.

Take Glucosamine Sulphate. Drink lots of water.

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See a PT or Osteopath, they will be able to massage certain trigger points which may relieve some of the leg pain and ease the muscle spasm in your back.

Make sure you stretch every morning and evening when it is not acute, be gentle with this during extremely acute phases. Stretch your hamstrings, glutes and hip flexors in particular.

Ice the lumbar spinal area, or some heat on the muscle spasms will help (yes that is muscle spasm you describe - its your body's way of protecting you from further injury by freezing you up with a spasm)

REST while it hurts, whatever you do, do no physical excercise.  This is disc injury and it needs to heal.

Take anti-inflammatories like diclofenac sodium enteric and see if your doctor may prescribe some muscle relaxants just for this spasm stage?

Finally, be realistic, this may never heal 100% and you must always be aware that you have had these injuries and that you are weak there.  Good luck (especially if you ever decide to get pregnant like I did, my baby is due in seven weeks and my discs are playing up badly again!)

Answer 2

take ibuprofen for inflammation and take vitamin D and calcium for muscle cramping milk may help because it is enriched with those. Take a HOT bath.  Fatty acids will help with the sciatica, omega 3, 6 and 9 flax seed oil, primrose oil and borrage.   All of the B Vitamins will help you relax.  A water bed helped my back problems.  I will pray for you and your doctors.  Cold bath after hot bath may help.